Page 158 of Could Have Been Us
It’s where we’ve laughed, and in truth, it’s where it all began.
When we were kids, the woods is where we played. Willow Creek Valley is all mountains and trees, and Stella has always been the ground that kept me steady.
However, right now, she’s tapping my stomach and just pinched my side. “Yes?” I call to her, turning my head to the side.
“Can you stop?” she yells.
I stop where there’s a break in the trees, and Samuel comes beside me. “If you go up just a little bit, the trees open, that’s where we’ll camp. I have a tent already there. Go on ahead, I want to talk to Stella.”
“All right, I’ll unload and get ready.”
Samuel and Kinsley drive off, leaving the two of us.
When I turn to her, she’s grinning. “You’re taking me to the spot we were at last time, where I almost died from a bear attack, because everyone is here and you’re going to propose.”
I stare at her as she raises her brows. “Seriously? You stopped me here, right here, before we got to where you believe that was going to happen, to what?”
She shrugs. “Prove that I’m right.”
“You couldn’t just let it go?”
“Does that sound like something I’m able to do? Admit it. You got me all dressed up so you can propose.”
I groan, getting off the quad. This woman, this absolutely maddening woman who I love more than anything in the world, is a pain in my ass. Still, there’s no other pain I want besides her.
Suddenly, I don’t want to ask her in front of the world. Because the world never mattered. She’s what does.
She watches me. “What’s wrong? You’re mad? I’ve practiced my surprise face all day, so don’t worry, I’ll get it right. Look.” She opens her mouth, and her hands go flying up.
I laugh and shake my head. “You look ridiculous, and nothing’s wrong.”
“Then why are you making that face?”
“What face?”
“It’s a mix of: I have to poop and I’m thinking so hard my head might explode.”
Stella climbs off the ATV and walks over to me carefully since she has freaking heels on. I take her hands in mine and then drop to my knee.
“Stella Parkerson, I love you more than I have ever known another could. I’ve never been worthy of you. Not the day I met you when we were kids. Not the day I kissed you and made love to you. Not the day you gave me a child or any day in between or since. I have always loved you, but have never deserved you. Today, I kneel before you, despite all we’ve been through, and ask you to let me try to be worthy. That you give me your heart and your hand, knowing that I will always fight to be more—for you. I wasn’t going to do this now. I planned for this to happen just through those trees, but this isn’t about anyone else but us. I choose you, Stella. I love you, and I am asking if you will be my wife?”
Tears fall down her cheeks as she drops to her knees with me. Her hands cup my face, and she kisses me. “Yes, I’ll marry you, you stupid, amazing, wonderful man. I have always been yours, Jack. No matter what you think, you are better than anyone in this world.”
I kiss her again, clutching her to my chest.
“Now, I’m going to have to do this again when we go through those trees,” I tell her.
“Why?” she asks, rubbing her thumbs along my scruffy jaw.
“Because everyone you love is there, and they’re desperate to watch me grovel.”
She laughs. “Well then, let’s not keep them waiting.”
“One more thing,” I tell her.
“Yeah?”
“I’m not waiting long to marry you.”
