We buckled in. Miles talked the entire drive—about school, about how Sassy snored, about how Aunt Em liked pink but nottoopink—and I listened to every word like it mattered. Because it did.
When we pulled up to the stadium lot, I parked in the exact spot I’d picked weeks ago. The one with the clean sightline. The one Ivy had insisted on that showed the best of Chicago.
“Okay,” I said, turning in my seat. “Here’s your job.”
Miles leaned forward, serious. “Okay.”
“You hold Sassy’s leash,” I said. “And when Em gets here, you walk her over to me.”
His eyes widened. “Is this a surprise?”
“Yes.”
“Is it abigsurprise?”
“The biggest.”
He grinned so hard it hurt to look at him. “I won’t mess it up.”
I squeezed his shoulder. “I know.”
A few minutes later, a familiar car pulled in.
Em stepped out.
She looked fucking beautiful. Eyes red. Hair a mess. Hands shaking as she pressed them to her mouth when she saw us.
Miles hopped out before I could stop him, Sassy trotting proudly at his side.
“Aunt Em!” he yelled.
She dropped to her knees in the lot, catching him as he ran into her, laughing and crying at the same time. Sassy barked once, thrilled, and wedged herself into the hug like she belonged there.
I walked forward slowly, the ring box heavy and solid in my pocket.
Em looked up at me, eyes full, chest heaving.
I stood, suddenly aware of every single bone in my body. My palms were sweaty. My mouth was dry. The ring felt like it weighed ten pounds in my pocket.
Miles tugged on her hand. “Aunt Em,” he said proudly. “This is the last clue!”
She looked down at him, then back at me. “Did you help your uncle with this, you rascal?”
“I planeverythingwith him,” Miles said, beaming.
She laughed, shaking her head, and I took that as my opening.
I dropped to one knee. The world narrowed. No crowd. No noise. Just her.
“Em Sanders,” I said, voice steady even though everything inside me was shaking. “You are my best friend in the entireworld. You’re my teammate. My partner. My everything. I love your passion, energy, wild hair, snack cravings, the way you protect Miles, the way you stand up for yourself and me…I can’t imagine my life without you. I don’t want to.”
Her tears were already falling.
“I want to be your teammate,” I continued. “Your partner. Your family. I want to build a life that’s loud and messy and full of love with you.”
I pulled out the ring—a princess cut diamond with a gold band. “Will you do be the honor of a lifetime and marry me?”
“Please! Uncle Noah, you didn’t say please!” Miles nudged me, and that broke me.
Tears fell down my face, and I choked back a laugh or a sob. Hard to tell. “Will youpleasemarry me?”
She didn’t hesitate. Not even a second. “God, yes. Both of you. Forever.”
Miles cheered, and that was when we heard it. Applause broke out, and the doors burst open as my damn team ran out from the doors with pom-poms and airhorns and glitter.
I remained there on one knee for a second longer than necessary, just staring at her and memorizing this moment. Her hands were shaking when she cupped my face, her thumbs brushing over the tears I hadn’t realized were falling, and when she leaned down to kiss me, it wasn’t hurried or performative. It was warmth, love, trust, and confidence all at once. It was like she was choosing this life the same way I was—eyes open, heart full, no hesitation left in either of us.
Miles wedged himself between us again, proud and buzzing and completely convinced he’d orchestrated the greatest moment in human history, and Sassy barked like she agreed. Somewhere behind us, my teammates were still yelling and clapping and making fools of themselves, but they all faded into background noise. What mattered was right in front of me: thewoman I loved, the kid who trusted me with his whole heart, and a future that finally felt like hope and happiness.
For the first time in a long time, I didn’t feel like I was bracing for the next hit. I felt planted. Like Nat would’ve smiled at this and shaken her head at how long it took me to get here. And as I slipped the ring onto Em’s finger and she laughed through her tears, I knew—without a doubt—that this was the perfect moment. The start of my family and I wouldn’t have it any other way.
