Page 53 of Somewhere Only We Know (Healing in Cincy #4)
NATE
JUNE
“ E xcited for tomorrow?” Bryce asks as we’re warming up for the game.
We have a series in Philly this week and knowing that we were playing in Jax’s hometown, I knew I wanted to kick my plan into overdrive. Chance, Bryce, and I have the third game off and with a lot of convincing from the front office and our general manager, we’re able to surprise my wife.
“Definitely. I also have something for you.”
“Me?” He asks, confused.
Bryce and I have been hanging out more. I’ve gotten to know him on a deeper level than him being my goofy teammate that I’ve been playing with for the last six seasons. He’s still goofy, but get him talking about world issues and he will go on a tangent. And don’t get him started on romance books.
“Mm hmm. You won’t know what it is until tomorrow though.”
His face scrunches up under his hat. “Has anyone ever called you a tease?”
“Yeah. My wife when we were in college.” I say with a chuckle as I think back to the day she said that. It was when I was teaching her all the things about intimacy and how to touch me. Geez that feels like a lifetime ago.
Bryce laughs at that. But what he doesn’t know is that I’m surprising him with his family tomorrow.
It was easy to sneak their numbers. Bryce has a habit of leaving his phone unattended and with no passcode.
Which for a guy whose contract is as big as it is, you’d think he would be a little more careful.
“Well, it paid off for you.”
I nod with a smile and slap him on the back as we head back into the clubhouse to get ready for the game.
When we come back on the field, the crowd is a mix of cheers and boos.
Which is common for any away game, but certainly amplified because of how passionate Philly fans are.
I look to the right field line and see Jax with her whole extended family.
This. Seeing her joy with them in tow is why tomorrow night will be one to remember.
I pull the rental car into Jax’s parent’s driveway, a bit reminiscent of college.
Except this time I’m not parked on the street or driving a hand me down that sounds like nails on a chalkboard when I turn the key in the ignition and I don’t have a duffle with clothes and plans to head home after a week here.
I pocket the keys and stroll up the front walk with a bouquet of tulips in my hand and I ring the doorbell.
“Hi, handsome.” Jax says when she opens the door.
Dressed in a blue eyelet dress and white wedges with strings that tie up her calves with her curls as voluminous as they were all those years ago when I realized my crush on her was stronger than I realized.
Her time outside has brought out the light dusting of freckles on her face and the tan lines from her recent trip to Mexico with the girls are still prominent.
“Hi, Bee. These are for you.” I tell her when I hold my hand out.
She takes them and sticks her nose in the bouquet. “They’re beautiful. Come in.”
I cross the threshold and follow her inside.
When we came here to tell her parents we got married, it was like walking into a time capsule.
Not much in the house changed, but at the same time it felt like everything had changed.
Or maybe it was me who changed. The only thing missing is Jersey’s nails tapping on the hardwood floors as Jax moves from room to room.
The Rawlins never did get another pet after he passed away.
Can’t say I blame them. He was irreplaceable.
“Are you sad about missing the game?” I ask as I lean on the counter and watch her fill a vase for the flowers.
“It would break my attendance streak and Dad is a little bummed. But since you have the night off, I am not going to complain. Dad on the other hand might have grumbled a little bit.”
I smile as I watch her flit around the kitchen and smile even bigger when she comes to stand in front of me.
“Why are you all smiley?”
“No reason.” I lie. You would think I’d be nervous for what’s about to happen.
But Jax and I have been happily married for the better part of a year.
I know she said she loves the ring I drunkenly got her, but I want her to wear something that I consciously picked out.
It’s still the same style as the one she has, just with a few minor adjustments.
“Okay. Are you ready?” She asks .
“Yep.” I nod. “But first I need you to put this on.” I tell her and pull the blindfold out from my pocket.
Jax quirks an eyebrow at the fabric in my hands. “This isn’t some kinky, role play thing you wanna try, is it?”
“No,” I say with a laugh. “But it’s good to know where your mind is at. Now turn around.”
She does as I say and I tie the blindfold around her head, careful not to smoosh her curls.
“Will you grab my purse?” Jax asks as we take steps out of the kitchen.
I tuck it under my arm as we walk towards the foyer. “Got it. Let me open the door for you.”
Jax stands patiently as I open the door and I lead her to the car. Once she’s safely in the vehicle with her seatbelt secure, I run around to the drivers side and startup. I found one of our old playlists and cue that up before heading to her surprise.
“Nate, what are you up to?”
I reach over and take her hand, linking our fingers together and placing them in her lap. “Don’t you worry your cute button nose off.”
Jax snorts and rubs her thumb over my hand.
When the opening seconds of Phil Collins begins, Jax gasps. “I haven’t listened to this song in ages. I would air drum but I feel that would look suspicious to other drivers.”
“Damn, I definitely didn’t think about that,” I say smugly.
When I turn into the parking lot with the only vehicles belonging to our nearest and dearest, it’s taking everything in me not to crash through the gates.
I knew I wanted to propose to Jax again since the morning we woke up with rings on our fingers.
But we needed time. She needed time to accept that I wasn’t going anywhere .
And now here we are. Seven months later and I’m proposing to her where one of the biggest decisions of my life was made. And I had Jax by my side.
I park and unbuckle my seatbelt. “Hold on.” I tell her.
“Not going anywhere,” she jokes.
I chuckle and hop out of the car, jogging around to her side and opening the door. I take her hand and help her out. Together, and carefully, we walk towards the entrance.
“I know this smell,” Jax says with a smile in her voice that triggers my own.
“You do. Step up.” I tell her and then take off the blindfold when we’re on the sidewalk entrance.
“Nate,” she sighs out when she sees we’re at the Botanical Gardens.
I bought the place out for the late afternoon and into the night. It was tricky, planning something behind Jax’s back. But when I went to Sarah and Kamryn with my plan, they were all aboard.
I take her hands in mine and walk backwards. The skirt of her dress ruffles around her legs and at this moment, with a look of awe on her face, Jax is the most beautiful woman I’ve ever laid my eyes on.
We walk through the gate and her eyes bounce everywhere. Twinkling lights and solar ground lights, begin to create a path for us to where the real surprise is.
“I figured I would bring us somewhere only we know to do this.”
“What do you mean?” Jax asks as we get closer to where we need to be.
I fiddle with the ring she’s still wearing and when we get to the right spot, where her family can see and where the photographers can get the right shop, I slip it off her finger and put it in my pocket .
“Nate,” she scolds and it soon turns into a gasp when I drop to one knee and pull out her new ring.
“Almost ten years ago, you bulldozed into my life. You didn’t give me a choice to not be your friend.
And for that, I’m so grateful. I feel like I’ve loved you before I knew what love was.
And I feel like I’ve known you for my whole life.
There was never a time after we met where I could imagine my life and you weren’t next to me.
I know I’m to blame for those years apart, but you have been with me whether you knew it or not.
I am so grossly in love with you Jaclyn Marie Rawlins. ”
I look up at those honey brown eyes that are filled with tears as I pour my heart out to her.
“I know you said you didn’t want a new ring. That the one I don’t remember picking out was perfect. Well, I’m ignoring that.”
Her laugh is watery and she tries to wipe the tears as they fall, but fails.
“I want to do this the right way. So here I am, on one knee, about to ask you a very important question the way I should have all those years ago. Jaclyn Marie Rawlins, my best friend and the absolute love of my life, will you marry me?”
“Yes,” she says in a watery response.
I slide on her new ring and instead of looking at the ring, Jax is looking at me. Standing up, I dip her into a kiss and hear the sounds of our loved ones cheering.
“I wanted them to be part of the magic.” I tell Jax when we break the kiss and look around to see our friends and families cheering and whistling.
“Holy hell, I love you so much.”