Page 55 of Love Never Happens with your Brother’s Best Friend

“Right then. I think I’m all set.” Brodie breathes deeply. “I’m going back to Boston tomorrow. And I need to ask you something… important.”

“Alright. Go ahead.”

“Phew! Right. Rita.” Brodie takes my hand. “There’s a big game coming up against the Dolphins, and… I would love it if you came to watch.”

I stare at Brodie, then start laughing. “I don’t know what to say… Of course. Of course, I’ll come and be there at your game.” Brodie hugs me close. “Is that the big thing you wanted to ask me?” I laugh some more. “I thought… well. I had an idea that…”

“I was going to ask you to marry me?”

“No! No. Nothing like that…” I nudge Brodie playfully. “Gosh. No! Haha. But I was wondering what is going to happen now…” My finger points, switching direction swiftly from me to Brodie and back. “… between us. Because, I know that you have… that you may still be seeing someone… or…”

“Rita.”

“Brodie.”

“Have you forgotten what happened just yesterday?”

“No. But I’m aware that we were all caught up in the drama and whatnot. And we kissed. And it was very nice, by the way. But, your life is over there.” My voice sounds weird. I wave my arms around. “And I am here.”

“Rita. Stop.”

“Okay.” I drop my arms by my side.

“Has it never occurred to you, Rita, that perhaps I’m still single because I’m in love with you and always have been?” I shake my head. Brodie goes on. “I know there are pictures of me, you know, at parties with women.” I nod and I’m about to interrupt. “I know how it looks. But I’m only being friendly. Maybe a little bit flirty.” Brodie laughs. “But it’s not me… Rita. I tried to not be in love with you.” He gently sweeps a lock of my hair behind my ear. “I believed you didn’t want me. So, I went out… a lot… thinking, well, there must be someone else out there for me.” Brodie looks straight ahead. “Then, after a while, I just accepted that I was going to be single for the rest of my life because no one, and I mean no one, came close.” He leans his head toward me and says with sincerity. “Truth is. It’s you, Rita. It has always been you. It’s you or no one. Alright?” I nod slowly. Brodie holds my hand in his. Our fingers entwine. “But, I regret that I ever gave up on you. I should have come back and told you everything instead of staying away. I feel like an idiot and I am sorry.”

“No. I’m sorry. I let you down. I shouldn’t have been so angry with you for leaving. I should have been your biggest fan. I should have been at every game.”

“Now, I know you’re lying.” Brodie laughs and kisses me. I relax against the tree trunk and kiss him back. Fully. Passionately. With everything that I am. I close my eyes and I am lost in the kiss until Brodie pulls away.

“I want to know Rita, seriously, how you imagine us… You know, the future us.”

“Gosh. If I’m honest, and in an ideal world where dreams come true, then I picture us living somewhere around here. Together.” I stroke Brodie’s face. He kisses my fingers. “And we’re happy. It’s a bit vague regarding details, but the main picture is you and me. That’s all.”

Brodie wraps me in his arms, then closes his eyes and sighs. “You have no idea how happy that makes me. I’ve been putting off asking because I’ve been scared about what your answer might have been.”

“That’s so funny. I’ve been scared to ask you in case you just wanted to play football for the rest of your life.”

“Oh. But I do.”

“Really?”

“Nah. Just kidding.” Brodie laughs. Then he sits up and reaches for his bag. “I thought that my last game might be that one against the Dolphins.” He unzips the daypack and rifles around inside. “Then… I thought…” Brodie kisses my lips and my eyes close as I immerse in the pleasure of it. “Rita.”

“Yes.”

“Will you marry me?” I open my eyes to see Brodie holding open a small black velvet box with a sapphire and diamond ring sitting in its white satin cushion. It’s as familiar to me as Brodie’s beautiful smile. He pulls the ring from its satin slot as unexpected tears begin to stream down my face. “Is that a yes?”

I gulp down a sob and yelp, “Yes! Yes, please. A thousand times yes.” Brodie takes my hand and pushes the sparkly ring onto my finger then kisses me long and deep.

“I’m going to make you so freakin happy,” Brodie says wiping away my tears. “You have no idea of the amount of love inside of me that I want to give. I have been waiting for so long.”

“I love this ring!” I say eventually when I have stopped blubbing and regained some composure. “When I was growing up, I believed it had magic powers. It’s a magic ring.”

“Well, yes. I believe it is magic too.” Brodie smiles at me. “You said yes, didn’t you?” He does his adorable double eyebrow lift. I melt. “Well, then. That’s the magic,” he says leaning to me and kissing me again.

“So, tell me,” I say breaking away from Brodie’s embrace. “This is my great, great grandma’s ring. How come you have it, huh?” I look sideways at Brodie with suspicion.

“Your mom gave it to me.”

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