Page 164 of Here With Me

“I might’ve gotten some help...” I grin up at Mrs. Hollis and Gramma Grace, who helped with the finishing touches.

When she gets to the last two pages, I dig into my pocket and clutch the velvet box.

“Oh no, I think the photo fell out of this frame.” She traces it with her finger before realizing the date written on top is today’s date. “Wait, what’s this mean?”

As soon as I slide out of my chair, I get down on one knee and pull out the box.

She finally looks over and realizes, then covers her mouth with a loud gasp. “Oh my God. Are you just proposin’ so I can get the recipe?”

I laugh, and everyone follows because that is the perfect Noah response.

“No, baby. Although, that’s a happy coincidence.”

I open the ring box and take her hand. “Noah, I have loved you for no less than three hundred and sixty-five days, and if you’d do me the honor of being my wife, I promise to love you for the rest of my life and all the days after. Goldie, will you marry me?”

She nods frantically before finally speaking. “Yes! Yes, I will!”

When she falls into my arms, I hug her to my chest and bury my face in her hair.

“You’ve made me the happiest man in the world, baby,” I whisper in her ear.

“I can’t believe you planned this, and then did it in front of my entire family and Jase!”

I chuckle as we pull apart.

“You’re tellin’ me,” Jase mutters in a lighthearted tone. “I’m not callin’ you Mom.”

“Don’t sass me or no allowance,” Noah taunts in her unserious tone.

Jase shakes his head and blows out a breath. “And so it begins.”

Everyone bursts out laughing, including me.

Taking Noah’s left hand, I slide the diamond onto her ring finger and beam at how beautiful it looks on her. “I hope you like the one I picked out.”

“It’sstunning!” She blinks at it a few times as if she can’t believe it’s really hers. “But I’d wear a paper ring as long as it meant I was yours forever.”

“Taylor Swift!” Mallory squeals at the song reference. I’ve gotten used to those over the past twelve months.

Noah and I lean in for a kiss.

“Okay, picture time!” Mrs. Hollis stands with her phone in her hand. She was tasked with recording the whole thing because I knew Magnolia would want to see it.

We sit side by side, smiling wide at the camera. Noah holds up her hand to show off her new ring. When Mrs. Hollis counts down and gets to one, I turn and beam at my future wife.

The perfect last photo for the final page of our first year together and the start of our forever.

Epilogue

Noah

FIVE MONTHS LATER

Inever imagined I’d be married by the age of twenty-three.

I also never imagined I’d be married to a man twice my age.

I definitely never imagined I’d fall in love with my ex’s dad.