Before he could respond, music blared into the quad over the loudspeaker. It was soft and romantic and totally weird to be played out of the school speakers. People murmured behind me and I spun to take in the scene.
My heart stopped, literally stopped in my chest when I saw Sawyer walking toward me holding a microphone. It wasn’t him, or the mic, or the music that made me stop dead, it was the custom t-shirt he wore.
“Future Mr. Calloway-Hudson,” it read.
I burst into giggles, but then grew serious as I realized what was happening. Was he… proposing? Was this it? Eugene stepped back with a grin as the crowd opened up.
Sawyer placed the microphone to his lips. “I am of sound mind and body, with not a single love spell in my system,” he declared, and the entire student body erupted into laughter, including myself. “And I choose you, Demi Calloway. I choose you.” My laughter died in my throat as he dropped to one knee and pulled a giant shiny diamond ring out of the tiny pocket in his jeans. Sans box. “I publicly humiliated you in front of everyone, and so I think it’s only fair that I do the same to myself, wearing this ridiculous t-shirt.”
The crowd cheered and I grinned. I loved the shirt, I loved him, I loved it all.
Sawyer looked up at me from on his knee and I peered into those bright blue eyes. “I choose you, Demi. Now, if only you will choose me back, I would be the happiest man alive. Marry me?”
Tears leaked from my eyes. He was reversing the public shame he’d caused me, and it meant everything. Sawyer wasn’t afraid to look like a fool for those he loved, and it made him more perfect than ever before.
I tapped my chin, eyeing the diamond. “I’ll have to think about it.”
A few students snickered, and Sawyer responded with a growl before I burst into laughter, crying. I felt insane right now, going through so many emotions. “YES! It’s a huge yes from me, Mr. Calloway-Hudson.”
He dropped the mic on the ground as the students erupted into applause, and then he tackle-hugged me, his mouth on mine in an instant. We kissed each other hungrily before pulling away so that he could put the ring on my finger.
It was the size of a toaster.
“I know you don’t care about expensive shit, but I want everyone who meets you to know how much I love you and will take care of you.”
Fucking swoon.
“I love it. It’s like a little extra murder weapon.” I made a slashing motion through the air and he grinned. Reaching out, I tapped his shirt. “This is adorable, but you know the guy doesn’t hyphenate as well, right?”
His face fell. “They don’t?”
I burst into laughter, shaking my head. “Were you prepared to change your name?”
He nodded. “I was about to have the hospital renamed and everything.”
Lightness flooded through my body and I just wanted to stay in this moment forever. I grinned and he reached out and fireman lifted me, throwing me over his shoulder. “She said yes!” he screamed, and the entire school erupted into more cheers and applause.
I hated attention like this, but Sawyer thrived in this type of environment, so I was going to let him have his moment. I wanted to freeze time and stay in this perfect love bubble that Sawyer and I had created.
It wouldn’t last forever, not with war brewing… but I wanted it to. I wanted marrying Sawyer to be the only thing on anyone’s mind for a long time.
* * *
Sawyer carriedme through campus over his shoulder the entire way, raising his fist to anyone who passed and screaming, “She said yes!”
It was adorable.Like baby kitten adorable. And I wouldn’t take this from him no matter how much his shoulder bone was digging into my ribcage. When we reached the doorway to our shared apartment, he set me down, sliding me along the length of his body.
Reaching out, he cradled my neck in his hands.
I stared at the ring, still in shock. “I wasn’t sure if you were going to propose.”
“The custom t-shirt got delayed or I would have sooner.”
“Seriously?”
That was the freaking hold up!
He nodded. “Seriously. Once your dad said yes, I was good to go.”
