Page 91 of A Play For The Heart
“It would make it easier to move.”
“Move? Why the hell would I move?”
I let the question settle for a moment before her head jolts towards mine, eyes searching my face.
“Move in with me,” It sounds like a demand, but really, it’s a plea. I hate having to be apart from her. We’ve been best friends for years. I know all her quirks, and she knows mine. There’s nothing she could do that would deter me from wanting to be with her.
Her eyes lock with mine and she looks down at the suitcase.
“I don’t know. Doesn’t it seem fast?”
“I’ve been in love with you for years. Living together seems like the next logical step.” She seems conflicted by my response. I can see the cogs turning in her head. She’s debating it. Which means I need to do whatever’s necessary to convince her. All is fair in love in war. Or so they say. “I hate to do this….” I start, “But you’ve twisted my arm.”
“Hate to do what?” She asks, looking at me skeptically.
“I hate using my trump card but…I do have a KitchenAid.”
Her eyes go wide, and I can see her trying to refute my argument. I watch as her face morphs into acceptance.
“Okay, I’ll move in with you.”
I run to her, triumphant, as I pluck her from the ground, pull her into my chest, and swing her back and forth. She giggles as I set her down, and I gaze at her as she grins from ear to ear.
A year ago, I never would have imagined this is where I would be. Enjoying playing football again. Living with the love of my life. And all it took was a play for the heart.
EPILOGUE
“I want you for worse and for better”
How You Get The Girl—Taylor Swift (Taylor's Version)
seven months later
Henry
Onethingyouhearfrom couples who have spent years together is that you learn a lot about your partner after you start living with them. It’s true. The last seven months living with Sawyer have been eye-opening. For one, I didn’t think I could fall any further in love with her.
I was wrong.
Every day, I fall more deeply in love with Sawyer. I thought I knew all her quirks before she moved in, but she proved me wrong. Things I’ve learned include Sawyer washes her socks inside out, she only likes crunchy peanut butter and her toothbrush has to be on the right side of the sink. Three things I’ve learned to love, even if they both are a little…odd. Living with Sawyer has been the best time of my life, even if I did get yelled at by the nutritionist for eating too many cookies. As if anyone could have ‘too many cookies’. If Sawyer is going to make them, then I’m going to eat them. Between cookies and everything else she’s baked, I’ve managed a great return on my investment in the KitchenAid mixer.
From the moment she moved into my apartment, I’ve wanted to propose. I’ve been upfront in wanting to propose, I’m not going to lie and say I haven’t talked to her about it. I like to imagine our lives together. Which turns into me daydreaming about our life and telling Sawyer every single one of my thoughts. I mentioned kids once by accident because I was thinking about how fun Micah is, which freaked us both out. I want kids, but one step at a time. Step one is a proposal. And an acceptance.
Fingers crossed.
I would have proposed sooner, but bending down onto one knee isn’t the easiest thing to do in a cast boot. Getting down isn’t the issue, it’s getting back up. Not to mention the thing is an eyesore. No way am I allowing that in proposal photos. The moment the athletic trainers told me I no longer needed the boot, I started to plan. Which was not easy. I thought Sawyer was going to catch me multiple times.
Her curious nature allows her to sniff out when I’m withholding something from her. What makes it worse is I tell her everything. Things I probably shouldn’t. What I had for lunch. When my stomach hurts. The vulgar things my teammates have said in the locker room. My oversharing nature has come to bite me in the ass. I had to enlist Maren’s help to get what I needed, so I wouldn’t spoil the surprise. Her love for plans and ability to sneak around to get what she needs is truly shocking. Slightly terrifying, but impressive, nonetheless.
Once I had the ring, all I needed to do was convince Sawyer to go on another whale-watching tour, which wasn’t difficult. To me, the tour is what sparked the beginning of everything, so there is no better place to propose. Everything was going according to plan. Until that damn sweater.
The sweater that currently sits at the number one spot on my shit list.
I saw her this morning with that horrendous whale sweater on. I swear I’ve hidden it on three separate occasions since she bought it for the tour. More than once, I’ve contemplated starting a small house fire where the only damage is to that damn sweater. I’ve tried. I really have. I can only do so much besides just telling her I’m proposing, which would ruin the surprise. So, Sawyer is going to get engaged in a whale sweater. A very, very ugly whale sweater. The universe knows I did all I could to prevent it, but my girl is stubborn, and she’s decided to die on the whale sweater hill.
“Are you really going to wear that?” I try one last time for good measure.
“Yes, now will you stop?” Sawyer places a kiss on my lips, attempting to shut me up. The move is effective, I’ll give her that. She grabs her binoculars and purse from the kitchen counter and heads towards the door.
