Page 83 of The Last Person

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 thatIwould 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