Page 77 of Why We Break

I’ve already told you there’s no getting rid of me this time, but I decided it’s time to make it official. Will you spend the rest of your life with me?

Will you marry me?

I freeze as I realize what he’s asking, before looking up and seeing him down on one knee. “Will, what?” I murmur, trying to catch up. “You want to marry me?”

“Of course I do, Hannah,” he confirms, and I feel a tear run down my face. “I told you a long time ago that all I wanted was a life with you, and I meant it.”

I smile at that, taking in the sight before Will clears his throat. “So, uh, do you need to think about it, or…”

“Oh my gosh, of course I will!” I say, “I didn’t mean to leave you hanging. I just can’t believe this is actually happening.”

He smiles, holding out a ring box before he opens it. I feel a fresh wave of tears at the sight of my Mimi’s ring nestled against the velvet of the box.

“How in the world did you get that?” I sob, rubbing my eyes and trying to convince myself that I’m not imagining this moment.

“Your gramps gave it to me when I told him I wanted to ask you to marry me. He said it was about time we both pulled our heads out of our asses and made it official,” he says, and we both laugh at that.

“Yeah, I guess he’s right,” I say, laughing as he slips the beautiful vintage square cut diamond onto my finger. Standing to kiss me, I sink into him for a moment before pulling back and furrowing my brow. “Wait, so where the heck did you ride me around for the last twenty minutes if we never left the property?”

“Up and down the driveway,” he replies sheepishly. I was trying to give our friends time to set this up and get Leroy and Ruby in position, but you can see how well that went.”

“Wait, then where the heck are they?” I ask, expecting Margaret and Caroline to pop up from behind a tree any minute.

“They had plans,” he answers dismissively, and I look at him in confusion.

“My two best friends were just up here setting up for my proposal, and they didn’t stay because they had plans?” I repeat skeptically, and Will nods.

“But anyway, I’m sorry the flowers were a bit of a mess, but they originally spelled out ‘Will you marry me?’ Caroline and Hannah spent all day collecting what they could find from the field over there, so if they ask, don’t tell them that Leroy ruined it,” Will begs, and I laugh.

“We’ll keep it our little secret,” I agree, starting to walk back toward the clearing to head home before Will grabs my hand.

“Wait, before you go I have another surprise,” he murmurs, and I feel my eyes widen at that.

“What on earth?” I ask, as he reaches down into his pocket and pulls out a long black box. I take it from him, and my mouth drops open in shock. Inside the box is the ruby necklace he gave me years ago, and I blink back a fresh wave of tears.

“Oh my God, Will. I can’t believe you still have this,” I cry, lifting the jewel out and smiling as it sparkles in the sunlight.

“Yeah, after you left I told myself I needed to throw it away or get rid of it. But I couldn’t do it. I found a little jewelry bag in my sister’s stuff when I got home and I tucked it in my truck. I told myself if I kept it, you’d find a way back to me. And it looks like I was right.”

I don’t know what to say, so instead I just pull his mouth to mine, kissing him hard before whispering, “You know I really do love you, Will Thompson.”

“And I really do love you, Hannah Scott,” he replies, fastening the necklace around my neck before grabbing my hand and pulling me to the truck. “Now come on, I want to show you something.”

“I think I’m surprised out,” I tease, sitting in the truck while he loads up Leroy and Ruby.

After he has them safely in the little trailer Caroline and Margaret left up here for us, he slides into the driver's seat and heads in the direction of the house.

“So I was thinking about asking Dr. Ava if she thinks—” I start, before noticing the driveway full of cars. “Wait, what the heck are all these people doing here?”

Will just smiles, continuing down the drive until I see a huge white tent full of all our friends and people from around town. He barely has time to stop the truck, before Caroline and Margaret are running in our direction, tearing open the passenger side door and pulling me into a hug.

“Oh my God! You’re engaged!” they scream, and I hold out my left hand to let them see the ring.

“It’s so gorgeous. Caroline told me it belonged to your MiMi, and I think that’s so special. Did you cry when he asked you?” Margaret babbles excitedly, pulling my hand closer to her face to get a better view.

I smile at her excitement before nodding. “There may have been a few tears. It is really special. But what the heck is everyone doing here?”

“Come on, Han. You know we couldn’t have an engagement in Springside without an engagement party,” Caroline says with a laugh. “Your grandfather was talking about it with Gladis at the nursing home earlier this week, and obviously it hit the STS within an hour. Thank God you don’t usually look at that stuff.”

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