Page 63 of Soulmates and Slapshots
As I head toward him, his eyes meet mine.
“Hey,” he calls out, with a wide grin showcasing his dimples. “This is a nice surprise.”
I return the smile. “I was thinking the same thing. Did you get my text?”
He shakes his head. “I was running late this morning and forgot my phone at home.”
“Oh.” My excitement continues to build, I can barely contain it.
He studies me for a second. “What’s up?”
I take a deep breath. “Well…I have some news.”
His brows lift. “Okay…do you want to sit?” He gestures toward a bench beneath a nearby maple tree.
I nod, following him to the bench. As we sit, the breeze sends leaves around us.
“Oh wow,” he murmurs, shaking his head.
“What?” I ask.
He points to the sidewalk. “We met right over there. Remember?”
I grin again. “You’re right. I remember it perfectly.”
He reaches over and takes my hand, his thumb brushing over my knuckles. “Okay, what’s the big news?”
My heart is pounding so loudly I’m sure he can hear it. “Well, I got an updated offer from the new publishing company. And…it’s even better than I imagined.”
His eyes light up, and he squeezes my hand. “That’s amazing. Congratulations.”
I clear my throat trying to swallow the lump that’s formed. “While I was talking to my new boss this morning, I decided to take a chance and make a few requests. I didn’t expect them to agree to any of it, but they did. And I’ll be working remotely, with a trip to the city each month.”
He blinks, his expression unreadable. “Remotely?”
I nod again, unable to speak for a few seconds. “It means…I’m staying. I’m staying in Maple Falls.”
For a moment, he just stares at me. And then without a word he pulls me into his arms, holding me tightly. His embrace is solid, and any doubts I’d been carrying have vanished. This is where I’m meant to be.
“I can’t believe this,” he says, his voice full of urgency.
“Neither can I,” I whisper. “I wouldn’t let myself believe it until I got the confirmation email.”
He leans back just enough to look at me. “I’ve been trying to be strong about all of this…but the thought of you leaving felt like losing my best friend. It’s only been a short time, but for some reason, it feels like we’ve known each other forever.”
My eyes fill with tears. “I feel the same way. It’s not crazy, right?”
He shakes his head. “I don’t think it’s crazy.”
“That’s good to know.”
“So I have a question…does this mean you’ll be my girlfriend?”
Tears spill over as I nod. “I was hoping you’d ask.”
He chuckles. “Well, youdidspend a small fortune at a bachelor auction just to go on a date with me.”
I giggle through the happy tears. “Yes, I did. And it was totally worth it.”
