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Isprint to Eli as fast as I can, hitching up the flowy dress wardrobe insisted I wear, and before I know what I’m doing, I leap onto him, throwing my arms around his neck.

“Eli,” I whisper in his ear as all around us thunderous applause explodes. “What are you doing here? You hate being on TV.”

Ever since his interview last year with Gratitude Cindy went viral, Eli has refused to be on TV at all, preferring to stand in the wings and cheer me on.

“I do hate TV,” he murmurs into my hair. “But I love you.”

My heart feels like it’s exploding. I even clasp my chest as I pull away.

Eli looks like he’s sweating. “So, uh…”

“Honey, are you nervous?”

“A little.”

“I still can’t believe you told that news outlet you can’t wait to make babies with me.”

“Why? It’s the truth.” Eli gives me a kiss, and even though it’s brief, the crowd goes wild. They jump up and down, the sound so loud I have to laugh. “Anyway, that’s not why I’m nervous,” he says.

“Okay, why then?”

“Do you see them?” Eli asks, pointing to a row at the front of the balcony.

I gasp when I see who it is: Michelle, Will, and all four of their girls. My parents—my mom is sobbing. I clap my hands over my mouth, waving. The girls cheer, waving signs they must have kept hidden until now that say WE LOVE YOU, REESE!!!

“And there.” Eli points to another row of people down below, waving up at them and then us. Cass and Blake. Seamus and Chelsea.

Jude and Cap, both whooping, which is better than I’ve seen the both of them looking lately with Nora missing from their side.

“You did this,” I whisper to him as our families cheer. His hand is on the small of my back, then it’s gone, leaving an absence. I’m moved beyond words, but I don’t know why he’s gathered everyone here. My first TV interview since I got back home? Or…

The cheers explode.

Confused, I turn back to Eli, a question on my lips.

But he’s not standing beside me anymore.

He’s down on one knee, holding up a ring. It’s simple, but beautiful. Gold, with a row of tiny studded diamonds sparkling under the TV lights.

It’s intimate. Close. Solid.

Just like my music.

Just like us.

“Reese, will you marry me?” Eli asks over the din. His pulse beats at his throat, and I know he’d rather have done this alone, with just the two of us. In fact, I’m surprised he didn’t.

“Eli,” I whisper. “You didn’t have to do this to propose.”

“But I did,” he says.

I have to bend down to hear him.

“If there’s one thing I want the world to know, it’s that we’re for real, and we’re for forever. If you’ll have me.”

I laugh, tears blurring my vision, understanding now.

We only told a few people we weren’t really a couple at first. Nora. Michelle. Seamus.