Page 32 of The Last Person (Baker Girls #5)

“No problem. I actually kind of bullied Jade into bringing me once I found out what was going on. This is one of my favorite things to do. Creating something special to celebrate love.”

“At least one of us is going to end up crying today,” Justin jokes.

Wilson laughs and shakes his head. “Come on. We better get to it if we want to get this done.”

Like the excitable puppy I always am for anything involving Brian, I lead them into the house and tell them the plan.

I wave to Justin, Jade, Amanda, and Wilson as they leave. The sun has just dropped behind the hill, and darkness is settling in. Finally, I can get a good look at everything.

We checked through it all as the pink sunset lit the sky, but it didn’t give the full effect.

Phone in hand, I video chat Christy, who is in some little town outside Vancouver right now.

“Hey,” she says, then she looks around to see if I’m alone.

“He’s not here yet. I’m doing a walkthrough, and I thought you might want to see.”

She squeals. “Yes, please.”

I walk onto the patio, then make my way to the garden where I turn on the small switch on a post by the iron gate.

The entire garden lights up, and I switch the view on my camera so Christy can see.

“Oh my gosh,” she whispers. “Ryan, it’s perfect. He’s going to be… overcome. Seriously. This was the perfect idea for him.”

“You haven’t even seen the best part.” I take a slow walk up the center aisle of the garden toward the other iron gate, the strand lights illuminating everything as I go.

When I get there, I pause for a second so she can see the gate and fencing surrounding it all lit, then I continue through and take the walk up the little incline to the flat spot that overlooks the valley.

At the top is a wooden arbor that Wilson put together for me, also adorned with lights.

“It’s beautiful. I want all the details tomorrow.”

“I promise.”

A text comes through from Hallie, and I pull it up.

Hallie: Brian just left. Have fun tonight! Can’t wait for pictures.

“He’s on his way back, so I’ve got to go. I’ll text you. Love you.”

“Love you too.”

I end the call, then spin around and take a picture of the gardens all lit up. Finding the group chat I made with the Baker Girls gang—not including Brian—when I told them all about this and asked for their help a few weeks ago, I send the picture.

Me: Think he’ll like it?

Hallie: He’ll LOVE it.

Kennedy: You did so good. It’s going to be amazing!

Justin: It looks even better in the dark.

Jade: Seriously!! Oh my gosh. I’m totally writing a scene like this into one of my books someday. So romantic.

Devon: It’s perfect. The best way to propose is with something personal to you two, and this is. Enjoy it!

Markie Mark: Love this for you guys. Can’t wait for (PG) details.

Frannie: Seriously! Mark’s been listening to me squeak about this for the last two minutes. It’s gorgeous. So happy for you!

Wilson: I just got home, but it looks amazing.

Me: Thank you all for your help and support. I’ll send updates later. Or tomorrow.

Tucking my phone away, I head back through the garden, turn off the lights, then go plate up the takeout that’s staying warm in the oven, so I can spend a romantic night with my man.

“Is the surprise which part of our bodies will freeze off first?” Brian teases as I lead him outside.

“It could be colder,” I say. It’s only in the upper thirties tonight. Much better than the string of single-digit nights we had a few weeks ago. “Plus, this will be worth it.”

He might guess what’s going on, but I don’t care. At this point, it’s not about the surprise, it’s about the moment.

Twining my gloved hand with his, I lead him across the patio and to the gate to the garden.

“Ready?”

“For what?”

I flick the switch, and the garden lights up. Brian’s eyes go wide.

“Wha—when did you…?” His eyes narrow.

I shrug. “Maybe I didn’t bask in your scent all day.”

Some kind of realization hits him, but I’m not ready yet, so I squeeze his hand tighter and lead him through the garden. “I wanted to celebrate being home,” I tell him. “And I know this is your happy place.”

“It is. This is stunning. Thank you.”

“It gets better. Come on.”

My heart’s pounding into my ribs as we get closer to the lit-up back gate that leads to the little hill.

“I can’t believe you did all this,” he breathes, looking around in awe.

“It was fun.” Grueling, exhausting, and at times infuriating, but totally worth it for how happy he is now.

I push open the back gate and lead him up the little hill.

“What’s this?” he asks when he sees the arbor.

“The best part,” I whisper.

And this is it. This is the moment.

I gently touch the chain hidden inside my shirt, then run my hand over my pocket to the box tucked away inside it.

As we get to the arbor, Brian looks off at the hills and fields in the distance, but I squeeze his hand. “Turn around.”

He does, and his eyes go wide as he takes in the garden all lit up.

Letting our hands drift apart, I take his moment of distraction to pull the box out and drop to one knee.

“How did you do all this in an afternoon? That’s… a lot of work.”

I suck in a deep breath. This is it.

When I don’t answer, he turns back toward me. “Ryan… oh.”

“I had some help. I needed this to be perfect for you because, well, you’re perfect.

My perfect match. The complement to my soul.

You’re everything I didn’t know I needed and more than I ever could’ve dreamed of.

Your heart is my home, and all I want is to give you the same for the rest of your life.

To be your comfort and your safe place. To love you the same unrelenting way you love me.

If you’ll let me. Will you marry me?” My voice breaks as I say the words, and he drops to his knees in front of me, sniffling.

Taking my face in his hands, he gives me a slow, gentle kiss full of longing. “Yes. There’s nothing I want more than to spend the rest of my days building a life with you.”

I blow out a rough breath. “Thank god. I don’t think my ego could’ve taken it if you’d said no. Or my heart. I kind of love you. Which is why… I didn’t get you a ring. I figure we’ll exchange those whenever we get married. But I got you this, and I have one to match.”

I flip open the lid of the jewelry box, revealing a classic gold chain with a small infinity symbol in the center.

“There’s no end to our love,” I whisper.

“It’s beautiful. Will you help me put it on?”

“Of course.” My voice cracks again, but I don’t care. It’s all because of our love—something that still overwhelms me more than a year later.

I clasp the chain around his neck, then untuck my own, and we sit down together on the cold ground in front of the arbor.

“Kiss me,” I say as I raise my phone.

He doesn’t waste a second pressing his lips to mine. I snap a few photos, and when we break our kiss, I pick one where the flash perfectly highlights the infinity symbols on our necklaces, then I send it to Christy and to the Baker Girls group chat with the caption, he said yes.

Brian twines his fingers with mine again as we stare at the lit-up garden.

“Remember before we got together when you teased me and said I’d be lucky to marry you?”

I chuckle, then meet his eyes. “I do. I also remember a minute later saying that I would be the lucky one. And I am.”

“We both are. This kind of love is rare, and I’m acutely aware of that. I never thought I’d get it, but having it with you is better than I ever imagined it could be. I love you, fiancé.”

That word undoes me, and I crush my mouth against his.

Lucky doesn’t begin to describe what we are. What we have is bigger than luck. It’s destiny. Written in the stars. Fate.

I’m grateful I was paying attention when fate threw me the perfect pass, and I caught it and ran with it.

The last person I ever expected to fall in love with was a teammate, but I couldn’t have chosen better than falling for my best friend. For the rest of my life, I’ll be grateful I listened to my heart, chased after love, and built a beautiful love story with the man of my dreams.

Best decision ever.

The End