Page 131 of Exposed

Brooklyn

I knew you were only supposed to experience this feeling once in your life. But this was my third time.

I’d felt like this the first time Matt proposed.

I’d felt this when Miller got down on one knee.

And I felt it now.

The ring I’d once worn was shining back at me from the box.

Tears streamed down my cheeks. I was scared of loving Matt. It almost felt like I loved him too much. That I’d never be whole again if I lost him. And I was so scared of losing him. Because I did lose people I loved. It happened too many times.

I wanted to say yes. But at the same time I wanted to cry for what I’d lost with Miller. I wanted this whole room not to be hushed and staring as I slowly fell apart. As my heart ripped with grief but felt so happy at the same time.

I closed my eyes for just a second and remembered staring up at Miller under the lights he’d strung in the trees. But I wasn’t picturing him down on one knee. I pictured him touching the side of my face. I pictured his smile. I pictured him telling me the words he’d written out loud:“Keep living, kid. Promise me?”

I opened my eyes and stared down at Matt.

Matt’s smile faltered.

And the crowd was no longer hushed. They were whispering. Waiting for me to say anything at all. But I was frozen.

I was surprised Matt didn’t stand up. But he stayed there on one knee and stared up at me.

“Brooklyn, I’m not getting up until you say yes. I’ve waited my whole life to be with you. And I will wait down here on one knee for another lifetime if that’s what it takes. But I’m really hoping you won’t make me do that.”

I laughed through my tears.

“This ring belongs with you. It always has. I’ve loved every part of you, baby. I loved you when you were a Sanders. I loved you when you were a Pruitt. And I love you as a Miller. But it’s about damn time you become a Caldwell, don’t you think? Marry me.” It wasn’t a question now. It was a demand.

I looked down at the ring. He was right. That belonged to me. It belonged on my finger.“Keep living, kid.”I was going to do just that. I kept my promises to the people that kept theirs. And I once promised Matt I’d be a Caldwell one day. It was about time I made good on that promise.

I wiped away my tears. “I always thought Brooklyn Caldwell had a nice ring to it. I certainly doodled it in my notebooks enough at Empire High.”

Matt smiled up at me. “Is that a yes?”

I threw my arms around him, almost knocking him backward on the floor. “Yes,” I whispered in his ear as he held me tight. “Of course I’ll marry you, Matt.”

He stood up and twirled me around as everyone started cheering and clapping. I stared down at him. It felt like I was flying.

“She said yes!” he yelled, even though everyone already seemed to know.

The cheering grew louder.

“One more thing,” he said and set me down on my feet. “I believe I have something that belongs to you.” He grabbed my hand and slid my ring back onto my finger. I looked down at it. I’d forgotten how beautiful it was. I’d forgotten how perfectly it fit. How perfect Matt and I fit.

I smiled up at him. How had I ever doubted the boy I fell in love with 16 years ago? He’d never stopped loving me. I was never going to doubt him again. And I’d never stop loving him either.

I went to hug Matt, but someone lifted me off my feet. I laughed as Matt was lifted up too. And our friends carried us through the crowd and unceremoniously tossed us into the ball pit.

I laughed as I came up to the surface.

They all jumped in around us, cheering. It was a blur of hugs and tears and primary colored balls.

I finally found myself in Matt’s embrace again. We stood in the middle of the ball pit amongst the pandemonium, just staring at each other.

I breathed in his exhales. “Thank you for being patient with me. Thank you for loving me after everything. Thank you for loving my son.”

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