Page 175 of A Sky Full Of Stars

“Lainey, my love, my universe. I’m going to keep this short because we never let a day go by without telling each other how we feel, and I hope that never changes. But while you’ve given me the world just by existing in it, I’m selfish. I want more. I want to be connected to you in every way possible. I want you to be my wife.”

Though I’m sure she knew this was coming, Lainey’s hand flies to her mouth as tears coat her eyes, and before I’m able to get the words out, she drops to her knees to meet me.

“Lainey.” I chuckle. “You’re supposed to stay up there.”

“We make our own rules, remember.” She sniffs as she wipes her eyes and I can’t help but smile.

“Alright. I’ll give you that one. But you at least need to stay quiet until I’m done.”

“I can do that.” She nods.

“Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.” She winks.

With a shake of my head, I pull out the ring box I’d hidden earlier and open the lid, loving the way Lainey’s jaw drops as I finally render her speechless. “Lainey Bennett… there aren’t enough stars in the sky to quantify how much I value you. You are my life, and just as the vows go, we are ‘till death do us part’ and maybe even beyond that. I love you, and I want to spend the rest of my days with you by my side. Will you marry me?”

She stays quiet until I nod to say I’m finished, holding back a growl.

“Yes.” She giggles. “Of course I’ll marry you. It’s always been you and always will be.”

“Always.” I guide the ring onto her finger and smile when it fits perfectly.

Lainey lets out a shriek before throwing herself into my arms and telling me she loves me over and over. We fall back onto the blanket, our lips crashing together as she lands on top of me.

I let out a groan, and she giggles against my mouth until I grab her face in my hand, pouring everything I have into the kiss.

“Chasing Cars” by Snow Patrol plays, and I almost sing, until Lainey presses a finger to my lips. I chuckle in response, but when she locks me with her intense gaze, staring into my soul, my heart clenches as a wave of emotion takes over me.

This beautiful woman is soon to be my wife. Lainey, the goddess…the caring soul…the other half of my heart, is mine, and I’d give her the world if I could.

“I love you so goddamn much,” I rush out as she smiles and leans forward, resting her hand over my heart. A lifetime ofemotion shines behind her eyes, and while I’ve never thought much about my future beyond having her in it, I now can’t wait for it to begin.

“God, I love you, Thomas Kelly,” she whispers, her watery eyes bouncing between mine. “And no matter what, I’ll always be yours.”

We’re still for a moment until Lainey kisses me again, before lifting her hand between us.

We both smile at her ring, and when she whispers my name in awe, a peace settles inside me—one I’ve never felt before, like I’ve been waiting for everything to click into place.

Waiting for this moment.

“I don’t know what I did to deserve you, Lainey Bennett,” I say, my voice holding its usual awe. “But I’ll forever be grateful that the stars aligned.”

Lainey

“Hey old man,” my younger brother, Ryan, says to Thomas the second we arrive for Friendsgiving. “When are you going to retire?”

He’s entering the draft this year and constantly jokes that he wants to be the Storm quarterback if only they’d get rid of Thomas.

“Who invited you?” Thomas jokes. “How did Friendsgiving go from being a small group and their partners to everyone we know?”

Dylan laughs as he wanders over with Wes, giving a shrug by way of an answer.

“I’m guessing you’re to blame,” Thomas says to Wes as he gestures toward Ryan. “I thought we were friends.”

“I’ll own it. But I didn’t inviteeveryone.” Wes rolls his eyes. “Just the people I know that are related to your girlfriend.”

When he says the word girlfriend, I bite back a smile, subtly brushing my thumb across my beautiful ring, smiling as the giddiness I felt last night returns.

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