Page 119 of My Infatuation with Isabella

Scott is almost doubled over, laughing so hard, but I notice he keeps his phone up. The asshole is filming this entire epic fail, and he’s probably never going to let me live it down.

“Are your balls still there?” Bella asks with faux concern.

Peter rubs his crotch just to make sure. “Yeah. They seem intact.”

“Are you really groping yourself in front of her?” I groan my irritation. “You guys are ruining my proposal.”

Pete’s head snaps back to look at me. “Proposal?”

“Proposal?” Scott echoes, and he sounds excited.

“Shit!” Peter looks down at the paper again. “The next line was his majesty asks for her hand in marriage.”

“I just thought this was one of those dramatically corny things you do,” Bella says, eyes wide. “You were going to ask me to marry you?”

“Well...yeah. I was just about to get off this horse and go down on one knee when?”

“No!”

“No? It’s too soon?”

She shakes her head. “No, I was planning on asking you, so technically, you just ruinedmyproposal.”

“I think it’s too soon,” Peter chimes in.

Scott is grinning from ear to ear now. “Shut up, Pete. No one asked you. Let them talk.”

I’m quite chuffed by her admission. “So, you were gonna ask me?”

“Yes! You said you’d get me to meet you halfway, so I wanted to show you that...you did. I had a riddle adventure and everything, but it wasn’t as cheesy as this. This is so much feta.”

I laugh. “Your cheese puns are always on point.”

“It’s taking over my entire personality. Dammit. Let me just do it, anyway.” She walks over to the horse. “Peter, help me up.”

Peter clasps his hands together to give her a boost. Facing me, she straddles the horse and places her legs over mine.

“From the moment you put your T-shirt on me in the middle of the football field, I knew there was something different about you.” She loops her arms around my neck. “Karaoke in the car. And a serenade with roses outside the school...with a whole marching band. And Brock from Long Island. You just bring a different kind of joy to my life. Every moment with you is unexpected and special...and perfect. You are kind and funny and protective and sweet and moody?”

“I’m not moody,” I argue.

“You are,” Scott says.

“You’re patient and understanding,” Bella continues as if the interruption didn’t occur. “Andyou’re an amazing cook. That’s grade-A husband material. You’re just...everything. I love you for the boy you were. I love you for the man you are. This journey for us has been so rough, and I’m sure there are so many more hurdles we’ll have to face, but you are the only person I want by my side through it all.” She takes a deep breath, and it’s really cute that she’s nervous. It’s not something that happens often. “Dylan De Lorenzo, because you don’t believe inlabels, I’m just gonna ask you to be mine for life. My friend. My lover. My adventure. My...everything. Just be mine.”

I smile, dropping my forehead against hers. “I’m already yours.”

“Awww!” Still filming us, Scott moves to the side of the horse. “Make it official and give her a kiss, Dyl.”

I do just that and get a small round of applause from Peter. “To the worst proposal in the history of the world.”

“You’re the one who ruined it,” I remind him. “If you guys don’t mind, can you give us a few minutes alone?”

“Sure.”

They walk back to the truck and I focus on Bella again. “This was a worse fail than date two.”

“It was amazing. I can’t believe you stole a horse to propose to me.”

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