I swallow hard, my mouth suddenly dry, so I clear my throat, pulling at the collar of my shirt. “It feels stifling out here, doesn’t it?”
“Out where? Outdoors?”
I nod, not catching on at all because I’m internally panicking. I’ve never wanted something to be perfect in my life until this moment. Honestly, I think a piece of me never thought I’d get to have this with anyone.
There’s so much I never got to experience, and I want it all with her. And that’s fucking with my head right now.
I rub a small circle in the middle of my chest.
“I’m feeling a little tight,” I say, turning toward the crowd to find her.
Chase sounds like he’s talking someone off the ledge.
“Noah ... buddy. You’re supposed to be the chill one. The calm to my storm, okay. If you pass out or have a stroke, I don’t remember CPR. I was too busy making eyes at some woman taking the class with me. And forget about the dummy. The mouth is crudely suggestive. Point is, I can’t save you ...”
But I’m ignoring him because I’m staring at my girl, watching her smile and brush her hair over her shoulder. She’s fucking spectacular. It doesn’t matter how nervous I am. How fucking petrified I am about fucking up. Goldie’s my anchor. And there’s no goddamn way I’m not asking this woman to marry me. I would rather try and fail than to never shoot that fucking shot.
“I can’t do this—” I say as his brows hit his forehead.
But I don’t get out the rest because Chase cuts me off with “Noah, this is with love” and smacks me right across the face.
Our eyes instantly connect as I tilt my head. “Whoa ...”
He gives me a smug look, pointing his finger at my chest. “That’s right. I slapped you. And you’re welcome. You’re my best friend, and I’ll always be here to slap the hell out of you because there’s no time for hysteria. You gotta get it together. Nobody wants to marry a bitch. Now, you go drop to a knee and stop fucking around.”
I’m staring at him, unmoving, completely silent as a smile grows on my face.
“I was going to say, ‘I can’t do this to myself anymore. I just need to ask her ... now.’”
“Oh.” He frowns, and his mouth falls open before it closes, and he raises his brows again. He takes a deep breath and smooths my lapels. “Well, I can see now I may have rushed the pep talk. Sorry about that.”
The smile stays on my face as we both slowly turn, our backs leaned against the bar, eyes on the party as he continues. “I was going for the locker room coach effect. You know, like ‘bottom of the ninth’ kinda shit. You get my meaning. It was an oversight.”
I shrug. “Yeah, I mean, it was premature but good.”
“I can work on it,” he agrees as he passes a drink to me.
I down it before we both chuckle. Jesus Christ.
“I don’t know why I’m freaking out,” I say after another beat of humored silence. “She’s willing to move across the country for me. Why wouldn’t she marry me? Because you’re right—she loves me, and I love her. So if she says no—”
Chase cuts me off again, turning to face me. “We burn it all down and fuck her friends.”
I shake my head. “No. What the fuck is wrong with you tonight?”
His eyes bug out as he shrugs. “I don’t know. I misjudged where that was going ... sorry ... I’m still in the locker room. I’m nervous, ya know. You’re getting engaged. This is a big moment.”
My expression deadpans, and he looks apologetic again. “Sorry, yep ... I hear it. Continue.”
I clear my throat. “If she says no, then it’s just not the right time. It’s a no for now, but not for forever.”
“I like it. Playing the long game ...” He claps his hands together. “You good now? Are we getting engaged?”
Now?This fucker. He’s going to tell the story about how he had to slap me back from the brink at my wedding. I can feel it.
“Yeah. We’re getting engaged,” I say with a smirk and then hold out my hand as I look back at her. “Gimme the box.”
Goldie’s dad looks my way, giving me an approving wink, and I give him a nod. I called him last week to ask for his blessing. He doesn’t know today’s the day, but it doesn’t matter because he gave it without hesitation.
