Billy grabs my other hand and kisses the back of it. He gives me that sexy smile that makes me melt. “Roxy, you’re the light of my life. You brighten every day, and I never want the sun to set without seeing your beautiful face before I go to sleep. Will you do me the greatest honor and marry me?”
He holds out his other hand, and Cam drops a little black box in it.
My eyes are saucers as Billy opens it and pulls out a diamond ring that he slides on my finger.
“This belonged to my grandmother. She wants you to have it.”
I wipe the tear that escapes. “You know this is forever, right?” I whisper.
His smile goes soft. “I’m not sure that’s long enough.”
I grab his handsome face and kiss him. “Yes, I’ll marry you.”
Everyone cheers, and he picks me up in a hug.
So much for being objective, but I can’t bring myself to care. The man of my dreams just asked me to marry him, and I couldn’t be happier.
It takesa while to leave the stadium. Billy wants me to wait for him, but he has to shower and get his stuff. I swear, he’s the last one out of the locker room.
While I wait, Tater shows me the footage of Billy proposing, and I want to let out a girlie squeal at the sweet expression on Billy’s face. I can’t believe he coordinated this.
My dad made a point to pull me aside afterward to let me know Billy had asked him for his permission—to marry me and pop the question at the press conference. Coach told him the only way he’d go along with the post-game proposal was if they won today.
Coach says that definitely put an extra fire in the furnace.
I gave my dad a look, and he hugged me and whispered he would’ve let Billy propose whether we won or lost.
After the press conference, Billy’s driving us home when he turns off early.
“We have to go pick up Marley from the babysitter’s,” I remind him.
“Don’t worry, biscuit. This won’t take long.” We pull into the parking lot of the Yellow Rose Bar & Grill. “Let’s grab some dinner to go.”
I hop out of his car and hook my arm in his. I’m so happy, I suspect my feet are floating off the ground. Coming here todayreminds me of our first “official” date after we signed our napkin contract. We danced to slow music, and Billy sang in my ear.
I don’t know who I was fooling, but he nabbed my heart right then and there.
“I’m really excited to be your wife.” Skipping alongside him, I grin at him like a fool, unable to contain my excitement.
“Good, because you’re stuck with me.” He winks and opens the door for me.
“Congrats!” everyone shouts.
My mouth drops open again. All of our friends are here. My parents and brother. His mom. Dozens of Billy’s teammates. My cheer coach. Paige and Abigail. Even Charlie and Jake and a few of our friends who graduated the year before last.
Across the back of the room, it says, “Congrats, Billy and Roxy!”
My mom brings me Marley, and I snuggle her to me as Billy wraps his arm around us.
I press my face to his chest where I finally let out all the happy tears. “Thank you. This is so thoughtful.”
How did he know I would want an engagement party? Something to replace that terrible memory from last January?
Billy lifts my chin and gently wipes the tears before he presses a tender kiss to my lips. “Thanks for being my forever. You and Starley mean everything to me.”
Marley opens her arms for him, and he picks her up and blows raspberries on her belly, which makes her giggle.
“We might need a new contract to replace the old one,” I tease as I watch him hold her.
