Page 117 of Wrapped in Red

He shook his head. “Too bad, princess, because I’m not done with this conversation. You know how much I want to spend the rest of my life with you.”

“CC, stop.” I rolled my eyes.

“Stop what? I’m serious. I love you. Okay, sure, I might have mentioned to Killian I thought about proposing. Obviously, he said something to Matthias. You four are pretty tight now. I want to marry you so bad I can see it. I can see you walking down the aisle holding flowers, dressed in a white gown, because you will be wearing one, right?”

I nodded. “Yes.” I felt tears sting my eyes.

“Carrying flowers, your hair done perfectly, makeup on point? All that shit. Maverick will probably be your best man, or maid of honor, or whatever. Maybe Seth?” CC asked.

I smiled at him. “Uh, Seth and Maverick. What, don’t look at me like that. I love them both equally as my other besties.”

“You love them, huh?” CC smirked. “More than you love me?”

I rolled my eyes. “No, don’t be ridiculous. You’re my boyfriend, my CC. You mean everything to me, baby.” I needed to go lie down. I couldn’t think with all this talk of marriage and flowers and— “What are you doing?” CC had just dropped to one knee in my kitchen.

“Asking you to marry me, Ezra. What does it look like I’m doing?” He smiled up at me with happiness dancing in his dark brown orbs. “Say yes.”

I stared down at him. “Are you doing this because I was upset that you didn’t? Because that’s not how it’s supposed to work. You’re supposed to propose because you want to.”

“Iwantto marry you. I love you. Best friends love one another for life, boo. You’ve been the light in my life since we were six years old, and maybe I didn’t see that until a year ago, but I’ve been in love with for a very long time.” CC reached for my hand.

I felt my body begin to shake. “Carson, don’t—”

“I love you, Ezra Quinn Bardot. Let me make you Ezra Carey. Unless you don’t want to change your name. Whatever you want is fine with me. I’ll change my name if that makes you happy, princess. I love you so much. I love your smile, your laugh, the way you say my name, and when you talk dirty to me. I love it when you take charge of a situation. I really love how bossy you are. I love that my friends love you. I want you to be in my life forever. I want a family with you. Or if you don’t want that, that’s fine too. My life means nothing without you in it, Ezra.”

“Carey,” I blurted out.

“What?” CC’s face split into a smile.

I got down onto the floor with him. “I want to be Ezra Carey.”

“Yeah?” he whispered.

I nodded. “Yes.” I pressed kisses against his jawline before I got to his mouth. “I’ll marry you.”

CC growled as I nipped and sucked at his lips. “I was afraid I was going to have to grovel a little more. Also, remind me to never tell Killian—”

I covered his mouth with mine before he could say anything else and dragged my hands up into his soft hair. “No more talking, baby.”

“Don’t you want your ring? It can wait if you want, but—”

I pulled back. “There’s an actual ring?”

“Did you think I was proposing without one? I was planning on doing this tomorrow morning. I had this whole big romantic thing set up.” CC pressed a kiss to my nose.

I cupped his head in my hands. “Ring, please.” I was thankful I had done my nails because the pictures were going to look amazing.

“You’ll have to let me up, Ezra. It’s in the other room.” He winked.

“It’s been here the entire time?” I gasped as I climbed to my feet.

CC grinned. “Yep.”

I watched as he disappeared from the room, and I walked into the living room to turn on the Christmas tree lights. When he reappeared, he held a small box in one hand.

“Give me your hand, princess.”

I was surprised to find it shaking when I did as he asked. Tears filled my eyes as CC slipped the pear moissanite ring onto my ring finger, and I could only stare at the rose gold masterpiece as he brought my hand up to his lips to press a kiss against it.