Page 109 of Unbreakable Love

He shrugged and blew me a kiss before crossing his arms over his chest.

“You are one lucky woman,” Faye muttered to me, walking past me but obviously not missing that Josie’s entire family was there.

“I know.” I grinned at her, Josie’s morning announcement still at the front of my mind. “Ready?”

“As we’ll ever be.”

All the students in the school were on their feet, cheering for the kids who’d sang their hearts out.

Faye and I stood in the front but off to the side, extending our arms as the kids bowed and curtsied like we’d practiced. Some even did it correctly.

The concert was over, the classes would be dismissed, and then our students could go home with their parents if they were checked out.

The day was almost done, so I was surprised when Carol Reece, the school’s principal, strolled to the front of the gymnasium with a microphone in hand. “Can I have everyone’s attention, please? For just a few more moments?”

Teachers on the sides of the gym flashed her a look of confusion and then went to work corralling their students, shushing them, and getting them back to the floor.

“I know. I know you’ve all been sitting for a while and you need to move those bodies, but we have one last surprise performance for you all today. So can we all please have a seat? I promise to get you out of here soon.”

The crowd’s noise started to die down as teachers worked ferociously and efficiently getting kids back to their bottoms.

“Come here,” Faye said, surprising me at my side.

“What?”

“Come on.” She threaded her arm through mine and tugged me to the center of the risers, right in the middle of the floor.

I turned and gaped at her. “What are you doing? I’m not a part of any surprise…”

“Oh. But I think you are.” She shot me a devilish wink, grabbed my shoulders, and then spun me around.

It happened so fast I went dizzy, and it took me a moment to blink away the vertigo and notice what was directly in front of me.

Gavin Kelley. On one knee.

Popping open a ring box.

Gasps rang out, but none louder than my own. “What in the hell?”

Gavin chuckled and I quickly covered my mouth.

“Penelope Pesco, Josie and I are madly in love with you. Will you do us the honor of joining our family and becoming my wife?”

His voice boomed through the now silent gym. Sniffles echoed, and there was the rustling of restless kids.

All broken up by Josie’s cry. “Come on, Penny! Oops! I mean, Miss Pesco! Say yes!”

At once, kids started pounding their fists to the wood floor. “Say yes! Say yes!”

The chanting grew so loud my ears rang with it, and as Gavin reached out and took my left hand in his right one, he tugged. “What do you say, Miss Pesco. Ready to try out being Mrs. Kelley?”

“Oh God. I can’t believe you’re doing this.”

He smirked, a luscious, sexy smirk I couldn’t wait to kiss off his even sexier face. “I can’t believe it’s taking you this long to say yes.”

A laugh burst from me, and I shook my head. Tears started streaming down my face. “Yes,” I finally said. “Of course I’ll marry you!”

He stood, pressed his hands to my cheek, and kissed me. Right there, in front of half the town and my students, Gavin kissed me hard and fast, and right as I leaned in to take it further, he pulled back.

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