Page 72 of Paper Flowers (Stonebrook #1)

CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN

LUKE

T he last two days have felt like the longest fucking stretch of my life.

Keeping a secret this big from Dayna? Absolute torture.

Watching Sadie try not to let it slip? Somehow even worse.

She’s never been good at hiding excitement–and this was big.

The moment I showed her the ring, she gasped, wrapping her arms tight around my waist, and whispered, “It’s perfect, Daddy.

” I’ll never forget the look on her face–pure awe and joy.

Like she already knew what it meant, not just for me and Dayna, but for us .

After I talked to Dayna’s family, they congratulated me like they already knew what her answer would be.

Not only did I have their blessing–they agreed to one more surprise.

Cara worked her magic, like she always does when it comes to events at this school.

With Principal McKenna’s help, she emailed the entire staff about the proposal happening at halftime.

Cara received an overwhelming number of responses from the staff at Stonebrook Elementary, asking what they can do to make this perfect.

With the staff on board, I asked Mrs. Emily to sneak in a fake meeting into Dayna’s calendar–just long enough to get her out of the gym at halftime. That’s when we’ll set everything up. In just a few short hours, I’m going to ask her to spend forever with me.

“Do you think she suspects anything?” Liam asks, sitting in my chair behind my desk like he owns the place. I can’t sit. Haven’t been able to all morning. I’m pacing next to my desk, too keyed up to do anything else.

My students were obsessed with Liam the moment he walked in. They grilled him with questions about New York, asked if he rides cabs every day. He said he has a driver and one of the girls asked who he thought he was… Batman ? Liam loved that.

Some of the boys asked if he had a girlfriend or a wife. He fumbled the answer, and I noted it. He eventually said no, he works too much to date someone from New York. The way he said it stuck with me. Now the kids are putting away their science textbooks and lining up for the game.

“No. I don’t think she suspects anything,” I say. “But it hurt so goddamn much that she thought for a second Sadie was upset with her.”

Liam nods, his expression soft. “Yeah, that was hard to watch. She loves Girlie so much, I wanted to spill the news for her so she didn’t have to look like she was on the verge of crying every time Sadie walked out of a room.” He stands beside me, two inches taller.

“Quite frankly, I wouldn’t have minded that,” I admit. “I’m so fucking nervous right now.” I say in a hush tone.

“You got this, Luke,” he slings an arm around my shoulders. “You know in your heart this is the right move. It’s going to be the best damn proposal I’ve ever witnessed.” He steps in front of me and heads towards the back of the classroom. “Come on, let’s go see if our special guests have arrived.”

“You know where you’re sitting, right? Sadie showed you the spot she’s going to be at?”

“Yes, Lukey , we went over it this morning.”

“LUKEY!” My student, Hudson, shouts from the front of the line, eyes lit up. The rest of the class erupts in laughter. I pin my big brother a look that could level a building. His hands in a mocking surrender, he mouths, “Sorry.”

“Okay, okay…laugh it out.” I deadpan. “Mr. Beckett- your name is Lukey? ” Brynn asks, wide-eyed.

“No, Brynn, my first name is Luke. Liam is the only one who calls me that. It’s an older sibling thing–he gets to pick the most humiliating nickname possible.

” I nod toward the door. “Let’s head to the gym before the fourth graders take the best spot. ”

As my students file out ahead of me, I shove Liam. “Hey, I said I was sorry,” he says, catching his balance. “They’re never going to forget that name now.”

“Well it’s a good thing you’re getting down on one knee soon,” he adds with a wink. “They’ll remember that moment forever too.”

That makes me stumble a bit. I hadn’t even thought of that for them. That makes my stomach feel more anxious than before. I hope I don’t fuck this up.

The gymnasium is packed. The music’s loud, and the energy in the air is electric.

Students are screaming with excitement, waving their handmade signs, pompoms flying.

Every couple of minutes, a new group of kids rotates in, eager to play.

Staff members are tagging in and out, keeping the smiles on their faces–even the ones who can’t dribble to save their lives.

Somehow, the staff is still holding the lead, but not by much.

I catch a glimpse of Dayna across the court just as I sprint past half–court.

She winks at me–bold, teasing, like she knows she’s gonna throw me off my game.

Looking at her for a beat too long, I almost missed Caleb’s bounce–pass to me as a student tried to defend him.

I catch it with one hand, take two quick steps, and hit a short left-handed layup.

The ball goes through the rim and we score.

Staff is up by 8. The crowd erupts, Sadie is in the stands jumping up and down like she’s watching the NBA finals instead of being in her small town school gymnasium .

When the buzzard hits the second quarter, I sub out and take a seat.

Seeing that Dayna has her badge and keycard in her hand, ready to leave, my knee starts to bounce as I sit on the plastic green bleacher bench.

She exits the double doors and leaves for her “meeting.” Mrs. Emily is going to call Cara as soon as Dayna is in her office.

Sadie has left a pink cuddly surprise for her at her desk chair–so Dayna will know something’s up the moment she sees it.

Principal McKenna gives Cara the signal.

Dayna is officially out of earshot. Time to get started.

We only have a few short minutes. Staff members start rolling out balloon arches from underneath the bleachers.

The students, still buzzing from the game, have no clue what’s happening.

Teachers gather their classes close, whispering instructions.

I catch a few girls gasp in awe and some of the boys start cheering.

Every student here at Stonebrook Elementary has a confetti popper hidden under their seat. How my brother was able to get his hands on a couple hundred poppers? I don’t ask. He said just to trust the process and he’ll clean it up.

Liam heads to the south end of the gym to meet Dayna’s family.

When I asked for their blessings, I also asked them if they could be a part of it.

I knew deep in my soul, Dayna would want them here for this moment.

They didn’t even let me explain before they said they’d be on the next flight out.

They flew in last night and they stayed with Cara.

Her parents, her sister, her baby niece, and her grandma–everyone came except her brother-in-law, Shawn, who couldn’t get out of work but is on FaceTime with Sienna.

The Evans family walks up the center aisle of the bleachers and heads straight for Sadie.

She lights up, throwing her arms around them one by one, collecting hugs and kisses.

Tessa– who I hope I can call my niece in a few minutes– lunges for Sadie.

Sadie lets out a giggle and hugs her back, then settles beside Gwennie.

Their hands clasped tightly together. Their faces–all of them–say they are ready.

My heart pounds so damn hard, I can feel it down to my bones. I reach behind the bench where the staff team sits and unzip the small pocket of my backpack. My fingers brush velvet .

The little black box.

It feels light.

It feels right .

I close my hand around the box and draw in a slow, steady breath.

Glancing back up into the stands, I catch Sadie’s eyes.

Her hands are clasped over her mouth, eyes wide and shimmering.

Her curly hair bouncing wildly behind her as she hops in place.

Liam stands beside her, steady and sure, one hand on her shoulder, Gwennie on the other side.

I step onto the court. Each step toward the center feels weightless and grounded all at once–like I’m walking straight into the rest of my life.

With the ring in my hand, I move to the center of the gym, right inside the school’s mascot logo.

I glance towards Cara–she gives me a thumbs up.

The crowd grows quiet as the lights dim.

Nate Smith’s “Under My Skin” begins to play.

The first notes echo through the gym. A hush deepens.

I turn towards the doors and I wait for her.

Principal McKenna opens the north side gym doors, and sunlight pours in like a spotlight.

Silhouetted in the glow, Dayna slowly steps inside, confusion etched across her beautiful face.

In her hands, I see it–she got Sadie’s message.

Trixie tucked under one arm, the paper flower gripped tight in the other.

As her eyes adjust to the dim light, her whiskey-brown gaze finds mine.

Her hand flies to her mouth, and I watch the tears start to well.

She takes a single step forward, sure and steady.

Then another–faster this time. I meet her halfway, my pulse racing like I’m stepping into something sacred.

When we’re toe to toe, I catch the scent of strawberries in her hair, and feel the electric current between us. .

“Hi Baby.” I break the silence in the gym. Reaching out, catching the tear that has slipped free over her blushed filled cheek.

“Luke?” she breathes. “What— What’s going on?”

“I see that you found Trixie.”

“She was in my office… holding on to this,” Dayna lifts the paper flower between us. “It’s the one I made Sadie, from that first day.” Her vo ice cracks. “The note said to come back to the gym.” Her brows furrow, still trying to piece it together. “But my meeting?”