“What can I say? I’m a thousand-page thesaurus.” His sarcasm is thick, a smile attached.
I want to laugh but my lips draw down. “Really, though, you’re starting to worry me. Did something happen—”
“No, I promise, Willow, everything is perfect.” His eyes grow far more tender, and he reaches a hand across the table.
I place my palm in his, and his thumb strokes my knuckles, expanding my lungs. His gaze is welling up, just looking at me.
It causes me to tear up. “Why are you staring at me like that?”
“Because I love you, Willow Hale. You’re the greatest friend I’ve ever had, the most beautiful heart I’ve ever felt, and every morning I wake up, I can only hope to wake to you. Thinking of a single day without you in my life is physical torture.” He takes my other hand, careful not to knock over the candle. “There was a time where I didn’t even want to live till tomorrow, and now I don’t ever want this life with you to end.”
Overwhelmed tears roll down my cheeks, emotion that I can’t conceal. Emotion that I don’t try to hide.
He keeps going, his voice choked, on the verge of crying. “I want to play Street Fighter when we’re too old to work the fucking controllers, and I want our kid to beat every high score we set. I want my girl, my greatest friend, to be the mother of my child, and to be my wife.”
His wife.
He lets go of my hands, and my palms fly to my mouth.
Garrison.
I watch as he scoots his chair back.
“Garrison?” I croak.
Is he…?
I glance around, but of what I can see in the dim restaurant, no one is filming. People are watching, but no one has cameras out…or phones.
He planned this.He must have.
He planned this for me? For us.
“Willow.” He takes a knee in front of my chair.
I’m still in tears, still stunned, and I angle towards him.
Garrison reaches into his back pocket and pulls out a black box. He wipes the wet corners of his eyes and flips the lid. “Will you do the biggest honor of my whole existence and marry me?” His voice trembles.
I cry, pinching my eyes, and I nod and say, “Yes.” And then we’re in each other’s arms. Hugging. He brings me to a stance, to his chest, and our lips meet with so much soul and life and love that I feel like I’m soaring.
When we pull back, he slips a dainty ring on my finger, a diamond on a thin gold band with six tinier diamonds scattered like a vine. It’s beautiful, but I don’t have the chance to tell him.
Rouged curtains open behind me, and I hear applause and cheering before I see them.
My family.
Lo and Ryke. My dad. And Connor, Rose, Lily, and Daisy. My friends Sheetal and Tess. They’re all here. Smiling. Crying.
I’m more overcome with more happiness. Seeing so many faces I love in one room. One place. In London.
I don’t let go of Garrison’s hand as I greet everyone.
I’m engaged.
To my guy, my greatest friend, to the someday father of my child, to my whole, beautiful future. It’s going to be full of him.
* * *
