Page 43 of Springtime Love

Everyone at the table is staring at us smiling, including Troy. Dirtbag Troy. He even seems genuinely happy for Ysenia and me.

“Why are you smiling?” I ask Troy.

“I always knew you had it bad for her,” he replies smugly. “Any man willing to take on the whole football team to defend a girl’s honor is madly in love.”

All the guys at the table nod in agreement. The women look at each other and smile.

“Happiness looks great on you both,” Janette smiles. She grabs her glass and holds it up. “To Miguel and Ysenia’s happiness.”

Surprisingly, everyone at the table grabs their glass and holds them in the air.

“To Miguel and Ysenia’s happiness,” they all say in unison. They drink from their glasses and smile at us.

I never thought this group of people would celebrate anything about my life. I always kept to the shadows in high school. Careful to not step on any toes and avoid attention at all costs. Ysenia was a social butterfly. She fit in with everyone. The guys drooled over her while the girls envied her; however, she remained humble and a sweetheart to all.

“What are you thinking about?” Ysenia whispers, staring up at me. I smile down at her.

“I was just thinking how I’m one lucky man to have you in my life,” I reply.

Her cheeks redden and she bites her bottom lip. A tell-tale sign that she’s trying to keep a smile from me.

“Why are you hiding what’s mine?” I grin. She rolls her eyes and laughs.

“Who saidthatbelonged to you?”

“I remember us having an exclusive agreement to belong to each other,” I tease.

“Exclusive, eh? Hmm. That sounds pretty fancy,” she retorts playfully. She holds out her left hand and stares at it. “Exclusive? Hmm… Are you sure?”

I know she’s teasing; however, I don’t want her hand empty. I want her to be able to look down at her hand and see a ring as beautiful as her. I want that ring to symbolize my love for her and my promise to always be there for her.

“Yeah, you’re right,” I growl, standing up. All eyes are on me, including Jenna’s table. I put my hands in my pocket and look at Ysenia.

“What?” Her face pales. “I was just kidding, Miguel. I didn’t mean to upset you. I’m so sorry.”

Ysenia looks absolutely heartbroken.

“Relax, Beautiful,” I smile, pulling my hands from my pockets and dropping to one knee. Ysenia’s eyes widen and she claps her hand over her mouth. Everyone else seems just as surprised. I pull her chair so that she is facing me.

The reception spotlight suddenly shines down on me. I squint my eyes until they adjust then look at Ysenia once more. The light is hitting her perfectly and she looks like an angel– my beautiful angel.

I open the ring box in my hand and tears fill her eyes.

“Ysenia, you’re the best blessing to ever happen to me. I thank God every day that our paths crossed and that I was given a second chance to prove to you that I can be the man of your dreams. Ysenia Copeland, will you give me the honor of calling you my wife and allow me the opportunity to cherish, protect, and love you until my last breath?”

“Yes. A million times yes!” she replies. I take the ring out of the box and slip it onto her finger. It fits like a glove.

She looks at the ring. A single tear trickles down her face as she looks at me. She smiles brightly then falls forward, wrapping her arms around my neck. We fall back to the ground with my arm protectively around her.

She kisses me with enough passion to make the sun seem dull. My eyes are closed but I can hear everyone cheering around us. All of Jenna’s wedding guests are cheering for Ysenia and me.

It wasn’t my intention to propose to her at Jenna’s big day. I’ve been carrying the ring around for days; however, I saw an opportunity and took it.

This was a trip I was dreading. I hated everything about coming to Texas. Not once had I thought I’d run into Ysenia. I always held her in my heart but I thought she was a thing of the past. But luck was finally on my side and now I’m the happiest man on the planet.

THE END

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