Page 126 of Hometown Touchdown
She gasps. Not a dramatic movie gasp, but the quiet kind that slips out when your heart leaps before your brain can catch up. Her eyes lift to mine, wide and wet and shining.
I drop to one knee.
Not because it’s a grand gesture. Not because I rehearsed it a thousand times (which I did). But because the second she looked at me like that—wide-eyed, stunned, like she already knew—I knew I couldn’t wait one more second to ask.
Brynn stands frozen across from me. Hair messy. Fuzzy socks. And still the most breathtaking thing I’ve ever seen.
“I had a speech,” I say, my voice rough. “I swear I had one. Rehearsed it, even. But then you walked into the room, and I forgot every damn word.”
Her eyes shine, blinking fast.
“So here’s what I know.” I shift slightly on my knee, reaching into my pocket. “You are it for me. Not because it’s easy. Not because it’s perfect. But because even when it’s hard, I still want you. I always want you.”
She exhales shakily but doesn’t move. Doesn’t speak.
“You make my life better in every way. You steal my dog, you eat the last cookie and lie about it, and you turn groceryshopping into a contact sport—and it all just makes me love you more.”
That gets a watery laugh. She bites her lip, her hands trembling.
“You’re strong. You’re honest. You love so big it makes the world feel safer just having you in it. And I’d be the biggest fool alive if I didn’t fight for this every single day.”
I hold out the ring, simple and classic. Like her. Like us.
“I want every Monday morning and every Friday night. I want burnt toast and snow days and your cold feet under the covers. I want to be yours, Brynn. Forever.”
I pause, letting the words settle between us, feeling the air pull tight around my chest.
“Marry me?”
She drops to her knees and crashes into me, laughing through her tears as she kisses me full on the mouth.
“Yes,” she whispers. “Yes, yes, yes.”
Priscilla lets out a happy bark from her cozy corner, causing a teary-eyed giggle to fall from Brynn’s mouth. And right there on the living room floor, wrapped in twinkling lights and joy and matching plaid, we begin our forever story.
Epilogue
Knox
It’s June. The sky is that perfect, endless blue you get maybe five times a year in Cedar Falls. Warm air, no humidity, not a cloud in sight. The kind of day thatshows uplike it was meant for something bigger.
Like a wedding. Likeourwedding.
I’m standing at the altar, hands clasped in front of me, trying like hell to look calm. Cam is next to me in a crisp navy suit,grinning like a fool because he knows exactly how much effort it's taking for me not to pace. Ty and Levi are behind him, each doing their best to stand still. Levi keeps wiping at his eyes when he thinks no one’s looking. Ty hasn’t stopped bouncing his leg since we lined up.
And me? I’m just trying not to pass out before she gets here.
My mom, the woman who’s done more for me than I’ll ever deserve—is already dabbing at her eyes with the tissue I gave her five minutes ago. She’s sitting next to Brynn’s parents in the front row, both beaming like the proudest people on earth. Behind them, a sea of familiar faces. Our town. Our people. Even my whole damn football team is here, lined up in mismatched ties.
It hits me then. How far we’ve come. From quiet nights next door to whispered promises under the covers. From broken hearts and second chances to this.
Toher.
Music starts. Heads turn. And suddenly, there she is. Not Brynn.
Priscilla and Evie.
Evie is dressed like a tiny princess, tiara and all, while holding a white leash, leading Priscilla down the aisle. My sweet, tolerant dog is wearing a white tutu that poofs around her belly like she’s auditioning for Swan Lake. Evie holds a basket of flowers, Priscilla has a pouch hanging from her rhinestone collar containing our rings.
