Page 81 of Defensive Zone

“He’s going to be pleased to see you. Happy New Year,” Steve says as the elevator doors open.

“Happy New Year, Steve.” I smile before stepping inside and pressing the button for Zach’s floor.

Once I’m inside the apartment, I switch on the TV and find the Thunder game. They’re currently winning 3-1 against Dallas, and it’s halfway into the third period, which gives me a little bit of time to get everything in order.

I know Zach will be eager to get home after the game, thinking he’s going to FaceTime me so we can watchReturn of the Jeditogether, but little does he know he’s in for a surprise.

I get started preparing his chicken and broccoli Alfredo so it’s ready for me to cook as soon as he gets home, then fetch blankets and pillows from the guest bedrooms and put them on the couch. It won’t be exactly like that night when we were ten years old, because why would we put our bodies through sitting on the floor when he has a perfectly good couch?

It might have been the night he fell in love with me, but I plan on making tonight the night he knows I’m so fucking in love with him, he’s the reason my heart beats.

Anxiety pools in the pit of my stomach as the game ends with a win for the Thunder, and the clock begins to count down. Blaine texts me to let me know as soon as Zach leaves the arena, and I have just under thirty minutes. When twenty have gone by, I start to cook the chicken and boil the water for the pasta.

My hands are literally shaking as I hear the electronic lock of his door engaging.

I watch as he walks in and stops just inside the hall, his brows furrowing when he sees the TV on. He still hasn’t spotted me when he says, “Uhh…”

I round the counter and hold my hands out. “Hey, baby!”

Zach’s mouth drops open, his eyes widening as he drops his bag on the floor with a heavy clunk. He closes the distance between us and engulfs me in his arms, squeezing the breath out of me and hiding his face in my neck.

“Hey, baby,” I say again with a chuckle under my breath, wrapping my arms around his back.

I kiss the side of his head, and when he lifts it to look at me, his eyes are glassy. His hands cup the sides of my face, thumbs sweeping over my cheeks.

“I can’t believe you’re here,” he whispers.

“I wanted to surprise you,” I whisper back.

His wide smile lights up his face before he presses his lips to mine. The kiss is gentle, but it’s filled with emotion. It says,I miss youandI love youand everything in between.

“Why don’t you have your shower while I cook your dinner? Then we can watch a movie.”

“Return of the Jedi?”

“You got it, baby.” I give his ass a slap. “Go shower. If we’re going to time it just right, you got five minutes until we need to hit Play.”

With a final kiss, he collects his bag from the floor and rushes into his room. I finish cooking his pasta, and when he returns in only a pair of low-slung sweatpants, I let out a low whistle.

“Damn, you’re sofine!”

He laughs and falls onto the couch next to me. He eyes the mountain of blankets, then notices the bowl of pasta waiting for him on the coffee table along with his favorite donut and a bottle of water.

“You got me a donut too?” He gasps.

“Yeah, I did.” I nod, leaning in to steal a kiss from his lips because I can’t help myself. “I had it on special delivery and everything.”

“I fucking love you.”

I grin. “I fucking love you too. Now eat up while I start the movie, or it’s going to be all out of sync.”

We settle back into the couch, cuddled under the blankets as he eats his dinner, then the donut. I subtly check my pocket under the blanket, and my heart rate begins to skyrocket as the scene comes closer and closer. From our spot on the couch, we have a perfect view of Navy Pier, where they will set off fireworks, making it even more perfect.

Slipping my hand under the blanket again, I grab hold of the box, and the second the Death Star explodes on the screen, fireworks paint the night sky over Lake Michigan in a multitude of colors.

It’s my cue.

I slide off the couch and get onto one knee with the velvet ring box in hand, flicking the lid open to reveal the black platinum wedding band I had custom made.

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