Page 138 of Full Tilt
She chuckles, and I wrap my arms around her waist.
“Can we take another? I feel like we should take one under Brooklyn Bridge each year,” she suggests.
Pulling out my phone, I seal my mouth over hers and snap the picture.
“When you talk about taking a photo every year, it almost sounds like you might want to be around me for a while longer.” My trembling fingers tuck a piece of stray hair behind her ear. “Do you think you could stand me for years to come?”
She scrunches up her nose. “Yeah, that’s a fair point actually. Holt told me I should remain cautious of you.”
I pull back, shocked. “Are you serious?”
Throwing her head back onto my shoulder, she laughs toward the clear blue sky. Despite recovering from multiple broken bones and a head injury, I think this has been the best summer of my life. Sure, I didn’t get to be on the ice when we won the Cup; instead, I went one better than that—I was a real part of a team. And I had my mom and girlfriend by my side throughout my rehabilitation. I know there’s still some way to go before I’ll be game fit again, but that doesn’t matter. That’s just time and dedication, and nothing about that scares me.
“No!” She continues giggling to herself. “Holt is probably more in love with you than I am.”
My mouth is back over hers as she turns in my arms and straddles me.
“This is a family picnic spot, Miss Miller. And you’re threatening to make me hard in public.”
She throws her arms over my shoulders, running her fingertips through my hair. Just like the first time Jenna touched me, all my senses are alive with anticipation. I know a lot of people talk about how true love fills their heart with happiness. Jenna Miller started mine beating.
She turns back around so she’s sitting between my thighs again, and we both look out over the water, enjoying the relative silence since the park is pretty peaceful for a sunny day.
“I once told this tattoo artist that I wasn’t like other people.” I dip one hand into my jeans pocket, sensing this is the moment I’ve been waiting for.
“You aren’t like other people, Tommy. I’ve never met anyone like you before.”
With one hand, I reach around her waist and interlace our fingers.
“The thing is, Hellion, when I said that back then, it was because I didn’t want to be like other people. I wanted to be different for the sake of being unique. I wanted to be a lone wolf because that was the safest option for me to take. I thought that was me being brave and infallible when, actually”—I turn the diamond ring around in my palm—“it wasn’t what I wanted at all.”
Jenna twists her neck to study me carefully. “And now you’re happier?”
I bob my head from side-to-side, pretending like my life isn’t fully perfect with her in it. I never heard from Alex—or his loan sharks—after I closed my apartment door on him. I guess thatnot all bridges are meant to be repaired, and I’m good with the peace that thought brings me, along with his permanent absence from my life. “Getting there, I think.”
If she can’t feel the fast thump of my heart as it beats against my ribs, then I’ll be surprised. Jenna has no clue I’m about to propose to her. The only people who do know are our friends, her brother, and my mom. And I only told the boys last night, for fear that Jack would never shut up, asking when I would pop the question.
Now all I’ll have to deal with is a coach trying to organize the shit out of our day if she says yes.
Jesus, please say yes.
“What’s missing?” she asks. “A vacation to Italy so we can gorge on amazing food and drink wine in Lake Garda?”
I bob my head again, a wry smile pulling at my lips. “You’re half correct with your guess.”
She releases a long sigh. “I think we should head there in your bye week in February. Just say fuck it and board a flight. The soccer season will be over, and it’ll be the only chance we get.”
“That sounds like the best idea you’ve ever had.”
Still holding the ring, I release her left hand and slowly slide the ring onto the tip of her engagement finger.
A small gasp leaves her lips when she feels what I’m doing.
“But how about instead of just going on vacation to Lake Garda”—I push the ring down to her knuckle and stop, pleased when I realize it’s going to fit perfectly—“I make you my wife while we’re there? Just you and me and any friends and family you want to invite.”
“Tommy …” She looks down at our hands.
I know she can’t see the ring I picked out yet because my fingers are blocking the view.
