Page 93 of What Comes After

More happiness moved through me, and a smile lit up my face. I twisted my neck, tearing my gaze away from the gorgeous colors to stare at something even more captivating.

My guy.

My Teddy.

Another few weeks had passed, and there was no question how much he’d changed my life in such a short time.

I was happy. All the time.

Just a few short months ago, I’d been feeling like I had the weight of the world on my shoulders and nothing exciting to look forward to, nothing to bring me joy.

Now, I had him, and having him meant having it all.

Not material things. Not money. Just Theo.

Well, Theo and his sweet surprises.

“Did you bring me gummy bears?” I asked, noting his hands behind his back.

He grinned at me, pulled his arm out, and held up a bag. “I did.”

My eyes widened in surprise, because Theo didn’t just get me a regular package of gummy bears. Theo got me what looked like several pounds of pineapple gummy bears. “Are you serious?”

Theo moved closer and gave me the bag. “I thought they might make you happy.”

I took the bag, set it down on the chair right between my legs, and worked to open it up. I didn’t hesitate to reach in, grab a handful, and pop two of them in my mouth before holding a couple out to Theo.

He sat down on the seat next to mine, opened his mouth, and allowed me to place them on his tongue. As he chewed them with a smile on his face, he moaned. I leaned forward, touched my lips to his, and got a groan out of him.

“Thank you for this. This is perfect.”

“It can get better, you know,” he declared.

“How is that?” I asked.

A look I’d never seen before washed over his face. “This place can be the place that you and I not only cuddle and talk and eat gummy bears while we enjoy the scenery, but it can also be the place where you tell me you’ll be my wife.”

I jerked back, my lips parting. “What?”

Theo pulled his other arm out from behind his body, revealed a velvet-covered ring box, and slid off the chair down onto one knee. “I’ve loved you my whole life, Devyn, and I’ve spent far too much time away from you. I don’t want to do that any longer. I want you with me always. Please give me the greatest gift in the world, and tell me you’ll marry me.”

Tears had welled in my eyes.

Theo and I had only officially been dating for about two months. But that didn’t matter, because it was just like he said.

He’d loved me his whole life.

I’d felt the same about him.

Being apart was agony, and I never wanted to live another day without Theo lighting up my world.

“I’ll marry you, Theo. I’ll be your wife.”

He pulled the ring out of the box, slipped it onto my finger, and captured my face in his hands, so he could kiss me. Then he gathered me in his arms, lifted me off my seat, and brought me over into his lap.

“I can’t believe we’re engaged. I had no idea you were going to do this,” I said.

“I don’t know how I waited this long. I’ve had that ring for three days, waiting for the perfect time to give it to you,” he shared.

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