Her eyes filled, and she burst into tears before throwing herself across the cab and onto my lap. I rubbed my hand up and down her back before lifting her chin. “Hey, why are you crying? I thought you’d love it.”
“I do. Oh goodness, I do.” She kissed my face, my chin, my cheek, my temple, and then my eyebrow. “I can’t believe you did this.”
“I love your smile and your selflessness for the world. It’s time you get to be a little selfish.” I pressed my lips against hers before baring my soul. “I love you, Becca. I want to give you the universe, but we’ll start with a ten-day trip to Spain. Spring break works for me and, if I recall my research, the girls leave the house then?”
“Yes.Yes.” She hugged me tight, her cheek squished against mine. “I love you, you big, wonderful man. I’m so happy you shared your heart with me,” she whispered and then kissed the side of my neck. “I’ll take care of it. I promise.”
My breath caught in my throat at her confession. I held her tighter, so damn thankful we got our second chance. I got a taste of what life with her was like and I’d do everything to make her happy.
EPILOGUE
BECCA
One year later…
Iran my fingers over the banister near the fireplace, wincing at the dust I’d missed. It would be my last Christmas at the sorority house, and it hit me hard. I was thrilled to be going back to school, but that meant starting a new chapter and saying goodbye to the current one. The sorority house was my first love, and I had learned so much from it. Though my life needed to go in a different direction, it still hurt. So many memories. So many wonderful moments.
I wrapped my arms around myself and sniffed, just as Marissa joined me in the room. “I can’t believe you’re breaking up with all of us at the end of the year. I figured you’d always be in the house, even though I know it’s selfish thinking.”
“Stop it.” I gave her hug and squeezed extra tight. “I’m not breaking up with you, and I definitely wouldn’t live here forever.” We embraced for several long moments before I pulled back. “I’mgrowing up.” I put the words in air quotes, and we both laughed.
“I guess I never thought about you having a family or getting a normal job.” She eyed the family room and all the decorations before her gaze landed on me again. This time, her expression was filled with warmth and something I couldn’t place. Glee? Excitement? “Promise me we’ll stay in touch no matter what.”
“Duh.” I rolled my eyes and stared at the front door. Harrison was supposed to pick me up for dinner ten minutes ago but he’d texted that he was running a little late. “I dare you to try to get rid of me from your life.”
“I don’t know. You might become too busy with… your new life.” She smirked and glanced over my shoulder. Turning, I found a handful of girls standing there with smiles on their faces. My skin tingled. Something was going on.
“Spill it. What did you all do?” I marched to the other room, expecting to see something that would explain the looks, but it was empty. “Did you sneak a boy in here or what?”
“Something like that.” Marissa walked up to me and handed me a knitted square with a million colors. It was misshapen, poorly done, and looked like a child did it. “This is for you.”
“Oh, thank you,” I gushed because a handmade gift was better than any gift card. I knew a friendship was over the day I got a gift card in the mail. “Did you make this, Issa? I love it, but what is it exactly?”
She shrugged and walked out of the room. Quinn, a sophomore, approached me next and handed me a window ornament before walking away. It was a rectangular window—that was it—and also handmade. Next came a box of hot chocolate, a sweater that saidThis is My Hallmark Movie Watching Shirt, and a small box. “Okay, ladies, what the heck is going on?”
None of them answered, and my heart raced. Was this… could it be…
“Becca.” Harrison appeared from the kitchen wearing a dark green sweater and jeans.
He was so handsome, and I melted when he gave me an appreciative glance from my head to my toes. His gaze landed on my mis-matched toe socks, one side of his mouth quirking up. The socks were the school’s football team colors, and while they started out as a birthday gift, I wore them all the time. He’d bought me two more pairs.
Harrison gestured to the small box in my hand, and my throat closed up.
A box. A small box. Oh God.My hands shook as I blinked, trying to calm myself down. The gifts from the girls… he’d planned it. He’d been planting hints about proposing for the past six months, but I shrugged it off. It was football season, and my job required me to live at the house full-time.
But I move out in June to go back to school, and we haven’t talked about where I’ll live.
“Open it, Becca.” He stepped toward me with a nervous smile.
I snuck a glance at the small crowd of girls watching, and Marissa gave me a thumbs-up.
I can do this. Deep breath.
The paper was dark red and poorly wrapped, making it all the more endearing that Harrison had done it himself. I set the paper on the table and popped open the box, expecting to see something resembling a ring.
Instead I found a small figurine of a man pulling down his pants. I cackled. “Oh my goodness.”
“Do you remember?” He stood closer now, and his clean aftershave greeted my nose like an old friend. I loved how he smelled like home, and I fought the urge to jump into his arms. I hadn’t seen him in two days, and I missed him. “We saw these in Barcelona.”
