Music of the Heart(108)

Throughout the song, Abby and I kept our eyes locked. Although we were separated by our guitars and the microphone stand, we inched as close as we could. Like the lyrics, she was my shelter in the storm and all I would ever need.

When the last verse echoed throughout the park, Abby leaned over the microphone to kiss me passionately. The crowd loved it, and the applause and cheering became deafening. Abby started to rise off of her stool to make her departure from the stage, but I stopped her.

Her brows furrowed in confusion. “Jake—”

I tried stilling the rapid beating of my heart. I knew what I was about to do was huge, and I wanted to make sure it was absolutely perfect. Speaking into my microphone, my voice cracked as it echoed over the crowd. “Two of the songs we sang together mean everything to me, Angel. You’re all I’ve ever needed, or I could ever want. There’s nothing I want more than to spend the rest of my life making you happy.”

I rose off my stool and dug the small jewelry box out of my pocket. When I cracked it open, the enormous emerald cut diamond caught the stage lights, and it sparkled, causing Abby to shriek with shock. “Oh my God…Oh. My. God!” she exclaimed. Her hands came up to cover her mouth.

With a grin, I knelt down on one knee before her. The crowd started screaming and whistling so loud I could barely hear myself think. I’d gone over and over in my head a million times what I planned to say. I wanted it to be heartfelt and meaningful. I was a songwriter for fuck’s sake, but in that moment, it all flew out of my head.

So I gave up and took Abby’s hand in mine. “Angel, will you make my life complete and whole by marrying me?”

Tears shimmered in Abby’s eyes as she hopped off of her stool. I barely had time to prepare before she threw herself into my arms, almost toppling me over. “Yes! Yes, I’ll marry you!”

At her acceptance, the crowd once again went crazy while the guys played a rocker remix of the Bridal March. Wrapping Abby in my arms, I stood up and spun her around. As a self-respecting dude, I’d never believed in fairy tales, but in that moment, I did. I’d found my angel to live happily-ever-after with.