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and she was too impatient to wait .
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that was payton .
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`` how far from us ? ''
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`` sounds like it 's that stretch on highway 67 after you leave collinsville and get into shallow . ''
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`` okay , i 'll drive from this direction and the squad car can drive from that direction and one of us should find her . ''
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god , i prayed one of us found her and she did n't get picked up by some lunatic .
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please , show me what i 'm looking for .
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i drove down highway 67 about 10 miles and saw what i thought was her in the distance .
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i sped up , anxious to confirm her safety , and saw her walking with hellacious heels in one hand and something i could n't identify in the other .
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when i came to a stop in front of her , she lifted her skirt and stuck out her long leg and gave me the hitchhiker 's thumb with a big smile on her face .
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i jumped out of my car and ran to meet her in a dramatic reunion in the middle of highway 67 in shallow , tennessee .
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that 's when the potential severity of the situation hit me , along with my tears of relief .
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i grabbed her face and stared at it because it had been too long since i saw it .
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`` i could beat your ass right now .
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do you hear me ? ''
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i pulled her into my arms and squeezed her way too hard .
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`` you scared the shit out of me .
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why are you out here this time of the morning ? ''
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tears were streaming down her face by handfuls .
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`` i had to see you .
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i was wrong , so very wrong and i had to tell you the minute i figured it out . ''
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`` what caused this revelation for you to drive to my house at four o'clock in the morning ? ''
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`` this . ''
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she held out my journal .
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`` and i 'm not sorry i read it .
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it told me everything i needed to know .
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everything i should have already known . ''
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`` where did you get this ? ''
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and then it clicked for me what my sister meant .
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`` dallas .
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she gave it to you . ''
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`` do n't be mad at her .
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she did it because she loves you so much and knew it was the only way i 'd see the truth .
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can you ever forgive me for being so stupid ? ''
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`` there 's nothing to forgive . ''
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i leaned in for the kiss i thought i 'd never have again and i felt her smile against my mouth .
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`` what ? ''
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`` i want to see your newest tattoo .
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you did n't describe it at all and i 'm dying of curiosity . ''
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i lifted my shirt and showed her the infinity symbol with her name entwined within it .
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she reached out to touch it and all those familiar feelings emerged from under the surface .
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`` i love it .
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i want one just like it with your name . ''
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she pointed to the place over her heart .
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`` i want it right here for your eyes only . ''
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my name tattooed over her heart sounded like the best idea i 'd heard in a long time .
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`` i think that can be arranged . ''
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`` and now i want my birthday present . ''
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she was n't kidding when she said she read my journal .
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`` you do , huh ? ''
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`` yes .
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i want it now . ''
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i had it with me .
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i always had it with me so i could look at it and be reminded of her .
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`` well , what if i had it in my pocket ?
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would you want me to give it to you right here in the middle of shallow ? ''
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`` yes . ''
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i pulled the black leather box from my pocket and balanced on my palm .
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`` is this the birthday present you 're talking about ? ''
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she licked her lips .
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`` i believe that could be it . ''
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i dropped down to my knee and then reached up to pop the top .
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she saw the ring i had saved to buy and i watched as her eyes filled with tears .
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`` payton caroline archer , will you be my wife ? ''
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`` yes , nickolas aleksei hawke , i will marry you . ''
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i took the diamond engagement ring from the box and slid it on her left ring finger .
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`` and will you let me put babies inside you and watch them grow ? ''
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she burst into laughter , remembering what i had told her i wanted to do the night we broke up .
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`` yes and i 'll even let you practice first .
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a lot . ''
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`` god , i love you .
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you 're gon na be the best wife ever . ''
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`` damn skippy . ''
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epilogue 3 years later payton i could n't believe it was time .
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we had waited for months and it was finally here .
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i reached over and shook nick 's shoulder .
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`` baby , wake up . ''
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he rolled away from me onto his stomach and put his face into his pillow .
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`` no , woman .
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i just pulled a double and i 'm tired .
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i want to sleep . ''
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i shook him again .
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`` get up .
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it 's time . ''
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he groaned .
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`` time for what ? ''
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`` it 's baby time .
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we need to go the hospital . ''
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`` you 're kiddin ' me , right ?
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the baby is choosing to come now ? ''
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`` yeah .
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get your ass up . ''
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we got in the car and i 'd never known nick to drive so slow .
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for the love of god , he used to race every chance he got and now he was a cop .
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he could speed if he wanted to and he had an excuse to get a move on .
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did he need me to put a flame under his ass or what ?
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there was a baby on the way .
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we walked up to the front desk .
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`` claire boone 's room , please . ''
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we waited as the receptionist looked her up in the computer .
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