Page 124 of Crazy In Love
Melody was giggling, and they made their way into the room.
“Merry Christmas,” my mother said, and they set down the bags of gifts they had in their hands.
“Merry Christmas,” Henley said with a smile as she, Eloise, and Emilia shared a knowing look.
“Oh my, that is a big present. What in the world is in there?” Lulu laughed.
“Come see what it says, Lulu,” Melody squealed as she took her hand and walked her closer, pointing up at the tag.
“Oh, it’s for me?” She started to inspect the tag, and Melody hurried away, hopping up in my lap just like we’d planned.
The rest was a blur.
Rafe burst out of the top of the box with a black velvet ring box in his hand.
Hell, we’d all known he was going to do it, and it still startled the fuck out of everyone.
Lulu shrieked, and, acting on reflex, her arm flew forward as she clocked my brother in the face, and he lost his balance.
I was on my feet, shifting Melody onto Emilia’s lap, as my brothers and I all moved quickly to stop his momentum.
But it was too late.
Rafe fell out of the box and slammed into the enormous Christmas tree as it tipped into the wall behind it. Ornaments tumbled off the tree, and the sound of round balls bouncing and shattering against the wood floors filled the space around us.
“Oh my gosh, Rafael!” Lulu gasped before moving to help him up, then tripping and falling on top of him.
The tree was flipped on its side, and they were both lying in a pile of conifer branches, and everyone was staring with wide eyes.
“Is he okay?” my mother asked.
“I’m good, Mom.” Rafe’s arm shot up, though we couldn’t even see his face, as he had Lulu on top of him, and they were surrounded by greenery.
Loud laughter boomed from both of them as I leaned down and grabbed Lulu by the waist, lifting her easily and setting her down on her feet. More ornaments fell to the ground with every movement, and Easton and Clark reached in and tugged Rafe out of the mess. He was still clutching that ring box for dear life.
Blood trickled out of his nose, and his eye was red and slightly swollen.
Lulu clearly had a mean right hook.
Rafe swiped at his nose with the back of his hand, shaking his head as conifer needles fell from his hair.
“Rafael, are you okay?” Lulu gasped, moving closer to inspect his face. “Why did you jump out of a box?”
He dropped to his knee, ornaments still rolling all around on the floor, and he reached for her hand. “I wanted to surprise you.”
“You definitely surprised me,” she said as a tear rolled down her cheek.
“Lulubelle Sonnet, you are my sun and my moon. My North Star. The woman who challenges me and makes me laugh, and occasionally causes me physical pain,” Rafe said as the room erupted in laughter.
“Sorry about that,” she said, swiping at her cheeks.
“I wouldn’t change a thing, baby. Will you make me the happiest man in the world and be my wife?”
“Yes! Of course I will,” she said. She dropped down to see the ring and lost her footing for a second time as she toppled on top of him. Rafe fell to his back with her sprawled over him, and we all just shook our heads in disbelief. The tree topper finally gave out and hit the ground with a bang, making everyone laugh even harder.
Rafe managed to pull the ring from the box and slide it on her finger while they were lying on the floor in a bed of Christmas tree branches.
Lulu held her arm up in the air. “I’m getting married, y’all!”
