“You really love it here.Is it because you get to watch Little League?”I ask.
“Yup.They remind me of the easy days when we were kids.”He wraps an arm around my waist and I lean back against his chest.
“It’s wild how those days feel like yesterday.If you could go back, would you?”I look up at the side of his face.
“No.”
My eyes widen.“Why not?”
“Because I don’t wanna see you in that horrible thick makeup again.”He chuckles.
“Oh hell no.You jerk.I told you not to bring that up again.”I slap his chest lightly and pull away to sit up.He laughs, and I can practically hear the grin in his voice.I fold my arms and look away.
“You’re still childish, you know that?Getting annoyed over a little teasing.”He smiles on my right side.
I turn my face left, lips tight.I don’t wanna talk to him.Well… maybe just for show.
“Come on, admit it.It was kinda funny,” he says, switching to my left side.
“I just don’t like it when you keep bringing up people’s embarrassing stuff from the past,” I snap, still facing away.
“That’s too bad.Guess you’ll have to deal with the fact that I’m gonna use that against you every day for the rest of our lives.”
“What the hell are—”
I stop.Blink.My breath catches and freezes in my throat.Heart sinks, pulse skipping.My hands tremble on my lap, a cold tingling crawling from stomach down to legs.Every muscle turns to jelly, as if gravity itself grew heavier.
“Laird?”I whisper.
He’s holding a small black velvet box right in front of me.Closed, but unmistakable.Everybody knows that shape.
“Fenella,” he whispers into my ear.
He pulls back and sits beside me.I look right into his green eyes catching the afternoon sun.My chest tightens, my stomach flips, and for a second the world feels like it’s holding its breath.
“Will you marry me?”
My hands fly to my mouth, covering my open jaw.My stomach twists, my heart hammers in my chest.I get numb all over me.
The world freezes completely, like the air itself has disappeared.My fingers tremble against my lips.He pulls the lid up slowly and shows me the diamond ring.
“I’ve never done anything this impulsive in my life.You know what, I quit the law firm today.”
“What?”I choke on air, my chest tightening so much it hurts.“You quit?For real?”
“Yes.I ran to the jewelry store and bought whichever ring had the biggest diamond in your size they already had.It’s not Prestishe, I didn’t buy it with some unlimited platinum black credit card, and we're not in a skyscraper three Michelin star restaurant, but I hope you don’t mind.”
“Laird…” I cover my mouth again.My chest shakes.I can’t find words.Too much news.And the ring.God, the ring is stunning.
“I know it’s probably too soon for you.But all I can think about is how I’m finally free to choose my life without my father controlling everything.You’re the symbol of that freedom.You’re my dream girl, my Lady Liberty.”His lips tremble.He pulls a breath.“So please.Tell me I wasn’t wrong to trust my instincts and jump into a new life with you.”
“No planning at all?”I whisper, searching his eyes.
“No.”He shakes his head.
“Oh baby,” I exhale.
“What do you say?”he asks with a serious look in his eyes, like he’s genuinely afraid I might say no.
