I dare to believe... you’re worth the wait
He lets the last chord fade, his gaze never leaving mine. My tears fall freely now, but I’m smiling, breathless with wonder.
And in this room filled with petals, candles, and promises, I know—this is it. This is forever.
He lifts the guitar over his shoulder, setting it down then reaching for my hands. “Ivy…I’ll never forget that day, eleven months ago, in New Orleans. When you grabbed my hand out of nowhere because your friends dared you to.”
He lets out a quiet laugh, shaking his head.
“I had no idea who you were. But somehow…I think part of me already knew you were going to change everything.”
His voice softens as he takes a step closer.
“I used to think love had to be loud to be real. Wild. All-consuming. But then you came in—soft and sure, and somehow wrecked me in all the right ways.”
He draws in a breath, his expression more serious now.
“You are the calm to my storm. The answer to every prayer I didn’t know how to form out loud. You’ve taught me what it means to love patiently…to trust God’s timing, especially when it didn’t make sense.”
He swallows, emotion thick in his voice.
“You make me want to be better—not because you expect it, but because you believe I already am. You’ve seen every part of me—my broken past, my shaky in-betweens, and my redeemed present. And somehow, you’ve still chosen to stay.”
He lets out a shaky breath and drops to one knee, the ring in his hand glinting in the soft light.
“I’ve already given you my heart, Ivy Taylor. Now I want to give you every part of my future. The music. The mess. The quiet mornings and the late-night prayers. The laughter and the tears. My black coffee and your overly sweet lattes. All of it—with you.”
His smile is crooked, full of love.
“I dare you to marry me. I dare you to spend the rest of your life with me. I dare you to raise a family with me, grow old with me and share the gospel and spread love any chance we get.”
Time stills. My breath catches.
I throw my arms around Gray, laughing through the tears. “Yes,” I whisper. “Yes, a thousand times, yes.”
And then, behind me, through the doorway, a flood of voices rushes in. Laughter. Cheers. Applause.
Our people.
Everyone we love is here—Harper, Olivia, my parents, Gray’s friends, our church family. The ones who’ve walked us through the hardest and most beautiful parts of this story.
Gray rises to his feet, pulling me into his arms as the people we love pour into the room. I'm still holding his face when I feel Harper tackle me from behind in a half-hug, half-sob. “You’re engaged!” she squeals, practically bouncing.
“I’m so happy for you two!” Olivia says, giving Gray a high five before hugging me like she’s never letting go.
“Wait,” I say, dazed. “The party...the all-white dress code…Galentine’s Day?”
“You’re the only one in white, babe,” Harper says, wiping under her eyes. “You didn’t notice that?”
Gray grins beside me. “You always steal the show anyway. We just made it official this time.”
I glance down at my dress, suddenly seeing itdifferently—no longer just a cute outfit I picked out for Valentine's Day. Now, it’s the dress I said yes in.
He leans in, his lips brushing my ear. “You look perfect.”
“Do not make me cry again,” I whisper.
Too late.
