I glance at her, but then I look deeper, really look. There’s something in the way she’s smiling, the warmth in her eyes, that makes my chest tighten.
She catches me. “What?”
I reach into my pocket. My hands are shaky already, but I manage to grab hold the very small yet very expensive diamond ring, not pulling it out of my pocket to reveal it yet.
I reach out my other hand. “Come here.”
Her face blanks as she hesitates but still places her hand in mine, and I pull her closer to me.
“What?”
I can’t help but grin, looking down for a moment as I try to collect my thoughts I’ve already rehearsed a hundred times. Whatever those were have completely left my memory. I’m left with this lump in my throat instead and tears threatening to emerge.
“What’s going on?” she whispers, trying to see my face. When I look at her, the color of her cheeks changes as she sees the emotion I’m showing.
“Ella Kate.” I pull the ring out of my pocket, lowering to one knee, I hold it up between us. “Marry me.”
Her eyes grow wide, softening and glossing over with tears in seconds. Covering her mouth, she lets out a breathy sigh that turns into tears.
Unable to speak, she just nods her head yes and attempts to pull me up off the floor to kiss me, her lips trembling against mine as the tears continue to fall. My heart rate steadies, switching from nervous to excited.
She pulls away from my kiss. “Are you serious?” she whispers, her voice thick with emotion.
Her tears are wet on my cheeks as I pull her close. “I have loved you since I was sixteen years old. Yes, I’m serious.”
My words make her cry more. I bring her hand up and slip the ring onto her finger. My hands are shaking as I push it into place.
“Jess, it’s beautiful.”
“You make it beautiful.”
She blushes, staring at it still. I laugh softly, feeling the weightof everything settle in. She wraps her arms around me again, and I rest my head on top of hers. My heart is starting to slow now.
“Shall we still go have a celebratory breakfast?” I ask.
Her face brightens. “Yes!”
“Then we should go back to my place and tell my family. They didn’t know I was doing it.”
“What?!” Her eyes are wide with shock.
“They knew the original plan was to ask after our dinner, but then you were sick so I told them I’d figure out another time.”
“Oh, well, then yeah, they’ll be so surprised!” She smiles and grabs a heavy flannel jacket to throw over her sweatshirt.
“We can call your parents too.”
She looks to me. “Did they know?”
“You think I wouldn’t have talked to your dad? El …”
“You talked to my dad?!”
“And mom. Yeah.”
“When?!”
“When you got back from Texas.”
