“Is this okay, love?” I ask.
“It is so okay,” she says, her laugh shaky too.
“I love you with all my heart,” I tell her.
“Say it in the mic,” someone says.
We laugh and Penn rushes over to hold the mic for me.
“Do you wanna be heard?” he asks quietly.
“I want the whole world to hear this, but it’s only important if you do,” I tell Elle.
“Let us in on it,” Penn says.
Elle laughs and nods happily. “May as well, since we’re all here.”
“Now you’re talking.” Penn holds the mic close to both of us.
“Being with you has made me the happiest moth—man alive,” I say, rushing to clean up my language with the kids that are here. “Every day with you has always been enough, but now, every day, knowing that you love me back, holding your hand and living by your side…there isn’t even a word for how happy and content you’ve made me.”
There are lots ofAwwsover that.
“But the one thing that would make me the happiest is if you'd be my wife. What do you think? Will you marry me, Elle Benton, and be mine forever?”
“Yes,” she says, crying. “Yes!”
I glance over at Levi and he’s ready. He runs over with a flower and lifts it up to Elle.
“Be mine foh-evah too?” he asks.
She leans down and puts her forehead against his. “Forever and ever.”
He beams and I think there are a dozen sniffles going around the room, mine included. We all share a hug and when Levi goes back to sit down, Elle pulls my face to hers and kisses me.
Everybody claps as we kiss and kiss and kiss, until someone says, “Get a room!”
We break apart, laughing, and I hold up the five-carat princess-cut diamond ring. She stretches out her hand and I slide it on.
“Oh, it's so pretty, Rhodes,” she whispers. “I love it. I love you.”
I kiss her again, and then I stand up, leaning over her chair, until she lifts onto her feet and stands flush against me, returning my kiss. The girls throw flower petals on us.
That was their idea, not mine. But I have to admit, it's a festive touch.
We spend the rest of the night with our family and friends. The tables are cleared out and Rose & Thorn turns into a makeshift club. We dance with Levi for a long time and then my parents take him home to put him to bed.
When the countdown begins, I yell, “There’s no one I’d rather be bringing in the new year with than all of you!”
In Elle’s ear, I add, “But as long as you’re with me, I have all I need.”
My lips are on hers when the clock strikes midnight.
And then I take her home and ring in the new year in the best way—making love to her all night long.
Life is just getting started.
CHAPTER FORTY-TWO
