Page 151 of Gracefully Yours

“You know I’d given up hope until you asked me to kiss you? And then I thought that maybe, maybe I had a chance…”

“I always thoughtIwas the one who didn’t have a chance with you,” she murmured. “You were this cool, older guy. And tall. So much taller than me.” She rested her forehead against my chest.

“Cool?” I laughed. “I wasn’t cool. I was a shy, quiet nerd who liked music and engineering. I had three friends freshman year. It’s a wonder I could even find anyone who wanted to date me.”

Charlotte made a grumpy face. “Don’t remind me. I don’t enjoy thinking about you with anyone else.”

“Good thing I married you and not them then, huh?”

“Shut up.” She punched my shoulder playfully.

“I love you,” I said instead, brushing my nose against hers.

Sighing, she closed her eyes. “I love you too.”

Wandering back downstairs, we headed outside, as I guided her into the middle of the quad, where I’d written out the words in flower petals.

“Smile, baby,” I said, brushing a piece of hair behind her ear.

“Is this…”

I couldn’t stop my face as it split into a brilliant smile, even as I kneeled on one knee in front of her, taking her hand with my ring in mine.

She exhaled deeply, searching my eyes for whatever truths she needed.

But she already had all of mine.

“Yes.” I squeezed her hand as she blinked up at me, like she couldn’t believe the statement was true.

“What are you doing?” Charlotte asked, her voice barely detectable as I slid the ring off her finger.

“Giving you the proposal you deserved in the first place.”

She deserved more than what I’d ever offered her, and now it was my turn to prove that. I’d been selfish before, proposing a marriage pact. Agreeing to a fake marriage had been selfish, and I knew it. But even so, it was worth it. It had all been worth it.

But I wanted to do it right now. The proposal—the way I should have the first time. Photos, so she could remember it and hopefully show them to our kid one day. The way she wanted it. A story to tell our friends. The story I would have chosen if we were madly in love and I was asking her to marry me.

Gabbi was in the bushes, snapping away on her Nikon. She’d been all too happy to say yes when I explained what I wanted to do.

And Angelina and Noelle were hiding with biodegradable glitter to shower us with when she said yes.

The flower petals behind me read:Will you marry me?

“Why should we wait until thirty when you’re the only person I want by my side?” I cracked a grin. To think what might have happened if I’d waited another year. I was already twenty-nine. Thinking of going another year without loving Charlotte went against every fiber of my being.

Charlotte laughed. “I already told you I’d marry you again, silly.”

“I know, but I wanted you to have everything you’ve ever wanted.”

“Thisiseverything I’ve ever wanted, Daniel. Youareeverything I have ever wanted.”

“I was hoping you’d say that.”

I slid the ring back onto her finger.

“I vow to love you, to cherish you, to protect you and feed you marshmallows and doughnuts whenever you want them—especially when you’re pregnant—and I promise that no matter what happens, you’ll always have me on your side. Because I’m not going anywhere, baby.”

And I sealed my vows with a kiss.

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