My heart swelled with pride and love. Without thinking, I reached out and squeezed his free hand. West’s fingers intertwined with mine, and I felt him squeeze back.
A movement in the crowd caught my eye. A young boy, probably no more than twelve, was wiping his eyes. His friend beside him had an arm around his shoulders, offering silent support. It hit me then, the weight of what we were doing, the lives we could change.
“We’re not just offering a place to stay,” I chimed in, unable to contain myself. “We’re offering a family, a home, a future.”
West shot me a grateful look, a silent thank you for jumping in. We’d always been in sync, anticipating each other’s needs.
“Exactly,” West nodded. “Because every child deserves a chance to shine, to discover their own star.” And with that, he raised the microphone as if making a toast.
As the applause died down, West’s hand found mine, giving it a gentle squeeze. “Hey,” he whispered, his hazel eyes twinkling, “come with me. I want to show you something.”
My heart did a little flip. “Now? But…everybody?—”
“Trust me,” he said, his crooked smile making my knees weak.
Before I knew it, we were slipping away from the crowd, West leading me through the hallways I now knew like the back of my hand. The excitement in his stride was palpable, giving me a mixture of curiosity and nervous anticipation.
“West, where are we—” I started, but my words caught in my throat as he pushed open a door, revealing a breathtaking rooftop garden.
The setting sun painted the sky in hues of pink and gold, casting a warm glow over a sea of vibrant flowers and lush greenery. Fairy lights twinkled among the foliage, creating a magical ambiance that took my breath away.
“Holy crap,” I breathed, taking it all in. “How long has this been here?”
West chuckled, pulling me farther into the garden. “It’s been a work in progress. I wanted it to be perfect before I showed you.”
As we walked, I noticed little touches that screamed West—a cozy reading nook tucked away in one corner, a small fountain that reminded me of the one at our first group home. Each detail held a memory, a piece of our shared history.
“This is incredible,” I said, unable to keep the awe from my voice. “But why all the secrecy?”
West’s hand tightened around mine as he led me around until we stopped by an arch made with what looked like succulents. There was a slight tremble in his touch, and when he turned to face me, his eyes were filled with an intensity that made my heart race.
“Drew,” he started, his voice husky with emotion, “I brought you up here because…”
His voice trailed off as he took a deep breath, his hazel eyes shimmering with vulnerability. My pulse quickened and a mix of anticipation and concern flooded through me.
“Because?” I prompted gently, giving his hand an encouraging squeeze.
He cleared his throat and began again, his words pouring out in a heartfelt rush. “Drew, you’ve been my rock, my home, my everything since we were kids. We’ve been through hell and back together, and there’s no one else I’d rather have by my side.”
My breath caught as West slowly lowered himself to one knee, fumbling in his pocket before producing a small velvet box. Holy shit, was this really happening?
“I love you more than I ever thought possible,” West continued, his voice cracking slightly. “You make me want to be better, to do better, every single day. Will you marry me?”
I stood there frozen for a moment, my brain trying to catch up as I processed what was happening. West’s face began to fall, uncertainty creeping into his expression.
“Baby?” he said softly, a hint of worry in his tone.
That snapped me out of my stupor. “Yes!” I practically shouted, yanking him to his feet and crushing him in a bear hug. “God, yes, you big idiot. Of course I’ll marry you!”
West’s arms wrapped around me tightly. “You had me worried there for a second,” he murmured into my neck.
I pulled back just enough to look into his eyes, my vision blurring with happy tears. “Sorry, I was just…overwhelmed. In the best way possible.”
As West slipped the ring onto my finger—a simple yet elegant band that was perfectly us—I couldn’t help but laugh. “You know, for two guys who hate surprises, we sure do spring a lot of them on each other.”
West grinned, pressing his forehead against mine. “Yeah, well, you bring out the romantic fool in me, Drew Carter.”
“Soon to be Drew Hart,” I corrected, my heart swelling with love and happiness.
