Page 196 of The Snowball Effect

I’ll never have enough time to say everything Regan has been for me in my life. A constant confidante, support, reality check, defender, comedienne… a sister, in the truest, most meaningful definition of the word. I want her to have a lifetime of joy and love more than I want it for just about anyone else on the planet. – Sutton Spencer

P.S. Please forgive me, Regan, when you read this. I know you’re probably beating yourself up about how wrong everything seemed to be going tonight. I’m sure you’re going to understand, though.

P.P.S. You always take so much joy in saying that you get to be responsible for my finding love. I can’t tell you how thrilled I am that I get to take responsibility for your love story, too.

Regan gasped as she read that – specifically, Sutton’s apology. Suspicious and eager, she looked down at the final page.

Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine myself in a relationship with this woman.

Loud and messy and chaotic and gossipy…

And sweet and thoughtful and romantic and protective and hilarious and observant and talented and loving.

She has the most beautiful smile on the planet. She makes me feel calm and like everything is going to truly be okay, even in the most tumultuous of times. She’s the best lover I’ve ever had (she’ll appreciate that comment).

Building a life with her feels as natural as breathing, and sometimes I look around at my life – in the apartment we share – while she’s baking or singing to herself or talking to me about articles I want to write or while we’re going to visit my grandmother, and I think… this is it. I don’t want anything or anyone other than this woman for the rest of my life.

10/10 would recommend. – Emma Avery Bordeaux

Her breathing was choppy, and the backs of her eyes burned with tears, and shefeltlike she knew what was going on, but she needed –

“What’s going on?” She demanded, as Emma opened the bathroom door. She pointed at the book. “What is this?”

Emma’s hair was dry, and she’d changed into the Brandeis sweatshirt that she’d confessed to Regan that she’d worn regularly through the years.

“Did you actually read the cover?” Emma teased, even as Regan could hear the edge of nerves in her voice.

… fair question.

Quickly, Regan closed the book and actually read the swirling font on the cover:Regan Reviews

Shaking her head, she blinked back at Emma. “I just… I don’t…” She trailed off, dragging her hands through her hair. “I’m overwhelmed and amazed, and confused.”

“I’m asking you to marry me,” Emma clarified, biting her bottom lip as she lifted her hand up to show Regan the ring she was holding.

Oh. Wow. Okay. Regan had suspected it, and still, she felt her knees shake, and she jumped forward. Wrapping her arms tightly around Emma’s neck, she held her so close, feeling Emma’s heart pounding along with her own.

Unable to contain herself, she inched back enough to pepper Emma’s face with kisses. Her perfect lips, her cheeks, her nose, her eyelids, her forehead, her chin, back to her lips.

Before she let herself get too caught up in kissing Emma, she pulled back to look at her. “Why did you torpedo this weekend trip that I planned?!”

“Because! When we talked about getting engaged, you said you’d prefer a surprise!” Emma insisted.

And… that was true.

They’d sat down together when Emma had gotten her promotion to talk aboutthe future. Regan had indulged Emma in this conversation, coming prepared with her own notes. Emma loved to sit down together and make detailed plans, and Regan thought it was absolutely the most adorable thing.

“This way, we’ll never have another misunderstanding like the roommate contract,” Emma had explained, the first time they did this – which had been the weekend before Emma had moved into Regan’s room.

“I’m ready. To really think about marriage,” Emma had started their conversation off, a couple months ago.

She’d listed off her reasons: her career was finally where she wanted it to be, Regan felt good about her own situation, Sutton had officially moved out of their apartment and in with Charlotte. All of these were things Regan knew mattered a lot for Emma to have in place, before taking any further steps in their relationship. Which was fine by her.

Because Regan had never really thought about marriage, before. She’d definitely never wanted to marry any of the guys she’d hadthingswith. She wanted a future with Emma, and she loved their life, and she was happy to go at the speed Emma wanted to move at.

True to form, Emma had discussed her thoughts on proposals – she wouldn’t want Regan to propose somewhere public or to make a big fanfare out of it, and she also didn’t love big surprises. All of which were details Regan knew about her, already.

Regan… was the opposite.

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