“Good.” I swallowed and left the room. I grabbed both boxes from the pantry. I stuck the small one in my pocket and carried the bigger of the two back into the living room.
My heart was beating like a jackhammer, pounding like I’d never felt it pound before. I was usually so calm and collected, confident in my abilities. But this beautiful spitfire reduced me to a nervous mess. She was the only thing I wasn’t sure I could bend to my will.
But she was the only thing I wanted to.
She was the only thing I had to.
“I have something for you,” I said, handing her the box.
She turned the red foil-wrapped package over in her hands. A little larger than a deck of cards, she looked puzzled. “Why are you giving me a gift?”
“Can’t I just give you a gift?”
“Sure, but I wish I would’ve known. I would’ve gotten you something.” She smiled up at me, a pure, genuine smile. I ran my fingers across her lips.
“This smile is enough.”
She sat the box in her lap and shook her head before she opened it carefully. My nerves were picking up pace with every tear of the foil. Every piece of tape that was removed only made me inch that much closer to losing my shit.
She tore away the final bit of paper and wadded it up and sat it on the table. She looked quizzically at me before opening the lid and lifting out the old-fashioned cassette tape inside.
“Mix Tape 2015,” she read off the label. “You made me a mix tape?” she laughed in amazement.
I tucked my chin down, a little embarrassed with myself. “I did. I put a bunch of songs I want you to listen to as you drive to work or go hiking so you’ll think of me.”
“How did you do this? I didn’t know they even made these anymore!”
“Lucy got overtime for that,” I laughed. “There’s actually a little memory stick inside the cassette. It just looks like that.”
She touched her lips to mine. “I love this. It’s seriously the nicest thing anyone’s ever done for me. I can’t wait to listen to it.”
A ball lodged in my throat, tightening fast. I anticipated it happening, but not so quickly. Unable to speak for a second, I nodded my head to the sound system. I cleared my throat, willing the knot to go away. “Put it in there. Press play.”
Calm the fuck down, Quinn!
She furrowed her eyebrows but slowly got up. She made her way to the system and put the tape in and pressed “play.” Train’s Marry Me came out of the speakers softly, the notes floating through the room. Her eyes widened as she seemed to put two and two together and sat back down next to me on the couch.
I pulled her into my side, feeling her heart racing, matching mine beat for beat. The words of the song wrapped themselves around us, creating just the atmosphere I had hoped for.
As the band hit the last chorus, I nuzzled my nose into her hair and began singing softly. I could tell she didn’t know whether to take it for face value or to read into it, but I kept going, my voice getting stronger as her reaction stayed favorable.
I breathed in the smell of coconuts, a scent that I traced back to Kari every time I smelled it. I felt her melt into me as the song ended instead of jumping up like I halfway expected.
With more nerves that I’d ever felt, I eased away from her. I swiped the other box out of my back pocket, my entire world hanging in the balance.
I got down on one knee and sat the box in her lap.
Her eyes were wide, but she didn’t pull away. Her green depths danced with a myriad of emotions, but I was relieved that she didn’t seem fearful, just nervous.
I cleared my throat, willing my voice to work, and put my hands on her knees. “Kari, I’ve asked you a million times to marry me and a million times you’ve said no. I’m hoping this time the little karaoke thing works for me again.”
A nervous laugh escaped her lips and her hands shook as I took them in mine. “There’s nothing in this world I wouldn’t do for you, no scenario that I could imagine not being with you. I knew the first time I saw you that you were someone special.”
She kissed me softly on the lips before pulling back, not saying a word.
“But now I have a problem.”
Her eyes darted across my face, her eyebrows furrowing.
“I have this girl that I am so in love with and she won’t agree to marry me.” I grinned so she would know I was kidding and she reached up and touched my dimple, making me grin harder. “I racked my brain for a good reason for you to say no and I couldn’t find one. So I went to your daddy to see what he had to say and he gave me his blessing.”
“You did?” she asked in disbelief.
“I did. And he said I could marry you if you said yes and I promised him you would. Because I mean it this time, sweetheart. Not that I didn’t mean it before . . .” I felt the lump form again. “This time I won’t take no for an answer. I know you’re scared and you worry that—” I began, starting my spiel to sell myself to her when she cut me off.
“Yes,” she breathed out.