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I reached into my pocket, my hands only slightly shaking.
“And watching him, reallyseeinghim, I realized I never wanted it to end. I knew then, with every ounce of strength in my body, that I wanted to spend the rest of my life watching him do amazing things.”
The room sucked in a collective breath.
Mike stilled completely.
And then, before I could stop myself—
I dropped to one knee.
Mike choked on air.
Matty shrieked.
Mrs. H wailed so loudly the neighbors probably thought someone had died.
And me?
I held up the small, simple platinum band I had been carrying around all night—waiting for the right moment.
And I knew.
This was it.
I exhaled, voice thick. “Mike Albert, I love you more than I ever believed possible. Completely. Ridiculously. Irrevocably. I want to spend the rest of my life waking up next to you, watching you burn food, and making sure you never get another dog, because God help me, one is enough.”
A strangled laugh-sob escaped him.
I let out a small, shaking breath. “Will you marry me?”
For a single unbearable second, Mike was just staring at me—like his brain had completely short-circuited.
Then—
Then he let out a sound that was half laugh, half wrecked, and tackled me.
Literally leaped out of his chair and tackled me.
We hit the floor, me grunting as his arms locked so tightly around my neck I thought he might actually choke me out.
His breath was hot against my ear, his voice breaking—
“Yes,” he whispered.
I froze.
He pulled back, cupped my face in shaking hands, his eyes red, raw, overflowing—
“Yes,” he repeated. “Yes, yes, yes.”
I let out a shuddering breath—then pulled him down and kissed him like my life depended on it.
Mrs. H screamed.
Mateo banged on the table like we had just won the Super Bowl.
Rodriguez wiped at his face, muttering, “I can’t take this much emotion.”
“Me the fuck either,” Sisi whimpered, as she dabbed her eyes.
Matty blubbered, “MY BOYS ARE GETTING MARRIED.”
And me?
I just held on to the love of my life.
The man who had changed everything.
The man who always would.