Page 144 of Mr. Picture Perfect
I recognize the tension in his eyes. The tightening of his lips and jaw. I see his nervousness painted across his face.
Cole Harding, the nervous one.
Me, the confident guy coming down to meet his man.
Who could have imagined it?
“Noah, baby,” Cole greets me, then takes a breath. “I’m so glad to see your beautiful face. I’ve got … something I need to tell you.”
Normally, those words would have been terrifying.
But I know what he needs to tell me.
Today, there is no terror in my heart.
“I’m listening,” I say boldly, unable to wipe away my smile.
Cole either doesn’t notice my overabundant glee or is far too nervous himself to pay attention to anything except the script in his head. “Noah, for as long as I can remember, you have been the only person in my life who takes up permanent space in my heart. Right here.” He pats his chest. “My whole life. Since we were kids. I might have had to go many years without knowing what it could be like, the whole time we were teenagers, living our own lives. But in just the course of these past few months, I’ve gotten a taste of our life together. A taste of what it could be … if we were closer, if we were with each other, if we were—”
I kiss him right then, stunning him.
His body melts against mine. I feel the tension in his face ease as our lips lock. I guess I couldn’t wait another second or hear another word. I want him to skip to the question so I can proudly say yes, make him mine, and start our life together right now.
I sense the quieting of our family and friends all around us as they pay witness to our kiss, like we’re alone on a grand stage with all the spotlights aimed our way.
An all-new pageant.
With but two bachelors on the stage.
Who are about to be bachelors no longer.
From somewhere off to the side, quietly, I hear someone ask, “D-Did he say yes? Did he already say yes? Did I miss it?” Then the distinct smack of someone’s arm to shut them up.
Cole’s eyes pop open as he pulls away to look at me. “Noah?”
It’s me suddenly who can’t contain it anymore. “Yes, Cole. My answer is yes. I do want to. I want to with all of my soul. I want to be with you and begin our lives together at long last.”
I hear several gasps.
Someone squeaks excitedly—maybe Tamika, maybe my mom, maybe even Jimmy Strong for all I know.
The wind tosses Cole’s hair as he stares at me, bewildered.
And then he asks: “You mean you know about the house?”
My smile drops off of my face at once.
“H-House?” I blurt out. “What … What house?”
Cole slowly adopts an amused, lopsided grin, which takes over the entirety of his handsome face. “Well … that’s what I wanted to tell you, silly. I got us a house. The one we wanted. I got us a place we can finally call our own.”
I can’t seem to close my mouth.
A house? Our house?
That’s what all of this—?
“My Nan’s helping us with the down payment,” he puts in. “I know, you’re probably working over numbers in your head, and maybe some part of you is freaking out a little, but … everything is taken care of. We can make our dream a reality. I want us to move in together … if you’d be so willing to take the step with me.”
