Page 78 of Strong Side
After we catch our breath, I roll off of him, but I snuggle into him and rest my head on his arm, and we both look up at the sky. He’s slowly running his fingers up and down my arm, and I suddenly feel like I’m going to cry, but in a good way.
I sit up and look down at his gorgeous face, illuminated by the candles and the stars in the sky. “Casey …” I start to tear up. “I love you so much. Thank you for letting me have the time I needed, but really, thank you for loving me, flaws, insecurities, and all.”
He cups my cheek and looks me in the eye. “It’s my honor and privilege to love you and be loved by you. Never ever question that. You are mine, and I am yours. Always.”
EPILOGUE
CASEY
For Noelle’sbirthday this year, I decided to combine her party with my sister’s Christmas PJ party. Charlie loves to celebrate the holidays and usually plans it out for all of us. She sets up the gift exchange and everything.
This year is no different. She’s specifically told everyone they have to wear funny Christmas PJs, or they can’t come in the house. She takes this very seriously. But she’s also helped me plan something else.
I’m going to propose to Noelle tonight. And I want everything to be perfect. I even wrote it out in my playbook, on its very own page.
Charlie usually goes to Chicago on the weekends to see Beck, but because this is such a big moment for me, she really wanted to be here. It sucks Beck can’t be here, but he plays tomorrow afternoon and wouldn’t have the time to come down and get back in time.
My sister, Bo, Silas, and I are in the kitchen, finishing the meal prep. Bo and Silas have come a long way with their cooking skills, and Charlie says they’ve become quite the sous chefs.
I’m in charge of getting the appetizers ready and set out on platters around the island in the kitchen. Every time I hear a car door outside, I look toward the front door. I’m so distracted that I almost drop one of the platters, but … wide receiver here.
“Casey, I literally can’t with you right now. You’re making me anxious because you’re anxious. I’m feeding off your energy, and I feel like that’s an unfair twin thing. Go do something while you wait for her to get here. Like go make sure none of the light bulbs on the tree have burned out.” Charlie pushes me toward the family room, but I don’t budge, and I lean against the island. “Bo, you finish getting the appetizers out.”
“They’re LED lights, Char.” I huff.
“Dude, why are you so anxious anyway? Didn’t she just leave a few hours ago?” Silas asks me.
They don’t know what I plan to do today.
“I just can’t wait for you all to see our PJs. We’re totally gonna win the PJ competition.”
“Hold up. There’s a competition?” Silas holds up his hands. “No one told me this.”
“No, Silas. I told you to be creative with your choice. And this is what you went with.” She motions up and down, spoon in her hand.
“First of all, my pajamaralls are tough. Look at the detail. The caribous are banging. Literally. That shit’s funny.” He smirks.
“I’ll give you that, but are you not going to wear a shirt under it?” My sister laughs.
He looks at her incredulously. “Why would I? This meat is prime, baby.” He flexes his biceps and cracks up, which makes us all start laughing.
“Bo, I didn’t see yours. What does your shirt say?” Charlie looks over her shoulder at him.
He’s wearing black-and-red plaid pajama pants and a black shirt. “Uh … it saysI Have Everything I Need.”
“Okay, cute, but also I don’t get it.” Charlie shrugs.
Charlie is wearing pink Christmas pajamas with Beck’s face all over them. He’s not even smiling in the picture, which makes it even funnier.
“Knock, knock!”
“We’re in here, Brooke!” Charlie yells.
“Hey, everyone! Merry Christmas!” Brooke, Beck’s sister, bounces into the room, wearing pajamaralls too. Hers have Christmas trees in a pattern on them though with a crop top underneath. Brooke is in her first year at Walker, and she spends a lot of time here at the house with us. She’s like our little sister too.
“Oh. My. God. Did you two plan this?” Charlie looks between Silas and Brooke.
“What?! No!” She sets a wrapped box on the island.
