Page 159 of Dating Goals
I stare at the mailbox for a beat, then at Anika, and everything clicks into place. My original plan might be drowning in melted chocolate, but inspiration strikes like a perfectly aimed slap shot.
"Stay right here," I command, pointing to the spot where she stands. "Don't move."
I sprint down the sidewalk toward a street vendor selling souvenir keychains. The woman barely has time to say hello before I grab a tiny metal CN Tower from her display and slap down a twenty.
"Keep the change!" I shout, already racing back to where Anika waits, arms crossed, eyebrows raised.
Pedestrians dodge out of my path as I skid to a stop and drop to one knee directly in front of the mailbox. I position myselfbetween Anika and the red metal box, extending the miniature CN Tower in my outstretched palm.
"Anika Gisler," I announce, loud enough for curious onlookers to hear. "I present to you this mailbox and this extremely overpriced souvenir as symbols of my eternal devotion."
Her mouth twitches with suppressed laughter. "The mailbox?"
"Yes." I gesture grandly toward the postal container. "Like this sturdy Canadian structure, my love for you remains fixed and immovable. It accepts whatever you give it, even if sometimes it's chocolate ice cream when it shouldn't be."
A small crowd gathers. Someone whistles.
"Griffin, what are you doing?" Anika hisses, cheeks flushing pink.
"Improvising," I whisper back before continuing my speech. "This mailbox holds our future inside it. Literally. But also metaphorically."
She rolls her eyes but smiles. "You're ridiculous."
"I might not know how to keep track of important jewelry, but I promise to learn how to be the husband you deserve. No more hiding rings in desserts. No more international spy adventures. Instead of me teaching you how to date, I'm hoping you'll teachmehow to be the partner you need."
My knee digs into the concrete sidewalk. A toddler points at me. His mother shushes him.
"So, will you marry me and give me new lessons on how to be your husband? The real ring is currently covered in chocolate and stuck to someone's electric bill, but I promise to retrieve it or replace it or whatever you want."
Anika extends her hand, wiggling her fingers impatiently. "Give me your silly tower."
I slide the keychain ring onto her finger where it dangles loosely.
"Yes," she says simply. "I will marry you."
I leap to my feet and sweep her into my arms, spinning us both in a circle. Setting her down, I kiss her chocolate-flavored lips.
"But we're still getting my real ring out, right?"
"Yes, I'll get your ring out even if I have to camp here until an official shows up."
“Or we could call the post office,” she reasons.
"SHE SAID YES!" I bellow suddenly, causing Anika to jump. My voice echoes across the waterfront as I pump my fist into the air. "SHE SAID YES TO MARRYING ME!"
A smattering of applause breaks out from the curious onlookers who witnessed my makeshift proposal. An elderly couple gives us thumbs up. Two women filming on their phones cheer loudly.
"Griffin," Anika hisses, her cheeks blooming pink. "People are staring."
"Let them stare!" I sweep her into another hug, lifting her feet off the ground. "I want the world to know that the most beautiful woman in the world agreed to marry me!"
A bearded man wearing cargo shorts nudges his companion. "Isn't that the goalie from the Titans? McGregor?"
"The guy who bought the team during the lockout?" his friend whispers back, not quietly enough. "I think it is."
Anika covers her face with her hands, peeking through her fingers. "This is so embarrassing."
"Embarrassing? This is the greatest moment of my life! Apart from when you broke into my cabin to pee, of course."
