As for JP, well, he has become ultra annoying, clinging to me every chance he can get to stay away from what he refers to as the “she-devil,” aka Kelsey. The pregnancy hormones have apparently scared JP right out of his own house. Not sure what he’s talking about because she’s been absolutely pleasant to me.
“Anything else we need to do?” Banner asks from the side where he oversees the music. His girlfriend Kenzie is right next to him, holding a confetti popper. She’s really freaking funny. I’ve gotten to know Kenzie over the last month or so, and she’s a perfect addition to the group. Quirky and odd but a whole lot of fun.
“I think we’re good,” I say. I glance around. “Is everyone in place?”
Kelsey and Lottie offer me a thumbs up as they hold their phones, ready to record everything from different angles.
JP and Huxley are off to the side, holding the curtains to the backyard shut so Lia doesn’t see what’s going on as she walks back to the brunch.
Ryot and Penn hang out by the table with a confetti popper in hand. Which by the way, I heard Penn finally took Birdy out on a date, but he has yet to tell me how it went. I’m hoping it went well, although I know Penn has been fighting some demons, so I’m not entirely sure if there will be a second date or not.
“She’s coming,” Lottie whisper-shouts, pulling me to attention.
“You got this,” JP says while giving me an exaggerated thumbs up.
I steal my breath, pray that I don’t pass out, and as JP and Huxley pull the curtains open, revealing Lia in the doorframe, looking confused and surprised, it’s impossible to catch my next breath.
Banner plays the music, soft instrumental, while everyone else fades into the background.
Lia’s eyes find mine, and they immediately begin to fill with tears.
“Oh my God,” she says softly as she brings her shaky hand to her mouth. I take a step forward and hold out my hand for her to take.
She does, and as I bring her out onto the patio and in front of the lit-up Marry Me sign, I can’t help but notice just how jittery I am as well.
“Ophelia,” I say softly. “When I first met you, I thought you were everything I needed in my life. You liked all the things I liked. You made me laugh. You put me in my place. And you were so fucking beautiful that I told myself I was going to ask you out. Unfortunately for me, you were looking for a friend, not a boyfriend, and I’m glad you were because I can’t imagine enduring the last decade of our lives without each other.” I get down on one knee as tears fall down her cheeks. “You make me so fucking happy that I don’t need anything in life but you.” I take a deep breath and say, “Ophelia Fairweather-Fern, will you please be my wife?”
She nods, not even taking a second to think about it. Confetti poppers shoot into the air, our friends and family cheer, and as I stand to put the ring on her finger, an overwhelming sense of relief hits me all at once.
She’s going to be mine forever.
“Oh my God, Breaker,” she says right before she grips the back of my neck and brings me down for a kiss.
It’s a brief kiss because she’s crying and everyone is crowding around us looking for hugs, but when I look into her eyes, past her perfectly purple glasses, I know for a fact that she’ll forever hold my heart, and I will forever hold hers. A long time coming? Perhaps. But every day together, every challenge we faced, every joy we shared, every game she trounced me on, made us closer than I could ever imagine two people being. I love this girl, and I’ll do everything to make her life as wonderful as she is. She will carry knitted flowers down the aisle, and she will have daisies everywhere she wishes. I’ll make every dream come true. And most of all? I can’t wait to say those two additional words that join us until the end of time.