Page 201 of With a Cherry On Top

“Aaron—Aaron!”

“Charlotte, will you?—”

“Stop it! No, don’t stop. I just...” She sobs, hands cupping my face. “Do you mean it?”

“Will you marry?—”

“Holy shit!”

Sadie chuckles behind us.

“Will you . . . let me speak?”

Charlotte laughs too, nodding, and I gently pull her hair back, hoping to soothe her tremor. “You make the ordinary feel like magic, Charlotte. Every morning next to you, every night falling asleep to the sound of your breath—that’s all I’ve ever needed. All I’ll ever want.” My thumb brushes over her tears. “So...will you do me the honor of being your husband?”

“Y-yes,” she stutters. “Yes, of course I will. God, I love you.” She surges forward, kissing me in frantic little bursts—my cheeks, my forehead, my nose, my lips, my jaw. Her mouth is everywhere, wet with tears and laughter. “You idiot,” she whispers against my skin. “You beautiful, ridiculous, perfect idiot. I can’t believe you—you just— I love you so much.”

I catch her face in my hands, but she’s already moving, wild and weightless like joy has made her float. “Let me see it! Ihaveto see the ring!”

She joins Sadie, and as they side-hug, they both study the ring with unfiltered joy.

The sound of muffled footsteps has me turning in time to see Logan and Primrose round the corner with the twins. Mal, last born, follows after his mom, but I’m pretty sure I hear even more people walking up. “Hey! What are you guys up to?”

“It’s Sadie’s sixteenth birthday,” Logan calls back. “What do you think we’re doing?”

Amelie and Heaven turn the corner next, followed by Shane, Ian, and Marty, deep in conversation. Last, Nevaeh scrambles toward us with a six-pack.

“We’re here for Sadie’s first beer!”

“Too late,” she calls as I hold up the bottle.

There’s a chorus of disappointedawws, but I’m pretty sure they’ll be glad they came anyway.

Charlotte glances at me as if checking for confirmation, and when I nod, she announces, “You guys...this happened,” then holds the ring box up.

“What?” “Oh my god!” “Finally!”

I glare at Ian for that last comment, then stand and accept my brother’s hug, watching as Charlotte is squeezed by her sister from over his gigantic shoulder. “Wow. Congratulations, man. Mom would be so happy.”

My heart stutters, the echo of her loss still digging craters in my soul like it was yesterday. “Thank you.” I cling to him tighter, and he to me for a moment. Then, he pats my back twice and steps back, one hand still on my shoulder. “Great,greatfuckup.”

“Best fuckup of my life.”

He clicks his tongue. “Well, give yourself some credit. You’ll undoubtedly fuck up again.”

Ian is the next one to hug me, then Amelie shrieks so loud into my ear I feel lightheaded, asking how I dared not ask her for Charlotte’s hand. But through it all, I watch my beautiful girlfriend—myfiancée—glowing with happiness. She said yes, and now she’s telling everyone, showing off her ring like it’s the most precious thing she owns.

“Charlotte, can I try it on?” Harper asks before Maeve starts jumping on the spot.

“Me too, me too!”

“Girls,” Primrose gently scolds. “How about we let Charlotte try it on first?”

All eyes are on me as Charlotte twirls, facing my direction. I didn’t know we’d have an audience for this, but I guess it makes sense. The last ten years has been a group assignment, and the only reason we’re here is that we did it together.

I’m happy they’re here for this too.

I gesture at her to step closer, then ask for the ring back. I swear I see her frowning as she returns it, as if she doesn’t know it’s just for a second.