“Gorgeous?” I respond walking the few steps to meet her.
“Um…” She holds up a diamond that is nowhere near worthy to sit on her finger, but still far bigger than anything she would allow me to buy her.
“I love you. I think we’ve covered that part by now,” I smile as tears start to slide down her cheeks, but her smile never waivers. “I don’t think words can adequately explain all the reasons why I think you should marry me. For now I can only offer you one, and it’s selfish as hell. Jesse James Addison, I can’t live another day without calling you my wife. We have wasted too much time already. I should have married you that day at the football game fifteen months ago.” She starts laughing just as I hoped. As the magical sound washes over me, I drop to a knee.
“Marry me, Jesse.” I pull the ring from her hand and slide it on her finger.
She doesn’t say a word as she drops to her knees beside me. She throws her arms around my neck and buries her face into my chest. I hold her for a few minutes waiting for an answer that never comes.
“You didn’t answer,” I whisper as the large crowd looks on.
“Shhh…do you hear that Brett?”
“Hear what?” I ask, thoroughly confused.
“The silence,” she mocks my words, then bursts into laughter. I can’t help but join her as I fall over backwards dragging her with me.
Without shame, I kiss her indecently on the filthy bowling alley floor.
“Yes,” she finally whisper against my lips.
It’s more than a word. It’s a life, a future, and more than I will ever deserve. It’s forever.