I’m standing in front of the fireplace in my charcoal dress pants that I know she loves so much and beige knitted turtleneck sweater. The blue Tiffany’s box in my pocket weighs me down.
I know she’ll be here any minute. I had Meghan text me when she would be on her way home.
I mean, besides Matthew I also kind of had to get Meghan’s permission. She actually cried when I told her. But if we are honest, it’s the pregnancy making her soft. Yup, it seems that she will be welcoming a new member to the team. Even though it’s too early to tell, Tom is set on it being a boy.
I hear her car door slam shut. “Here goes nothing,” I tell myself.
I’ve played many hockey games against some of the biggest bad asses out there. Played a game with two broken fingers. That felt like child’s play to me compared to this.
I hear the door open, and I know exactly when she sees it all when I hear a gasp.
“Cooper,” she calls softly. I hear her heels click on the floor. Meghan made an excuse that she wanted to go girl shopping with her just to make sure she dressed nice. I couldn’t care less if she came in with battered up pants and a stained shirt.
She rounds the corner, her hand in front of her mouth. She looks at me with tears in her eyes.
“Hey.” I smile at her. She’s beautiful. She stands there in her tight dark blue jeans, her white V-neck sweater fitting her perfectly. Her black jacket, big bulky black scarf, and heeled booties complete the look.
“I got a tree,” I tell her, watching her take in the room.
“I see that. Santa also came and threw up everywhere.” She giggles. “What’s going on?” She turns around, making sure she sees everything.
“Come here for a minute.” I take my hand out of my pocket. I hold it out to her, and she slides her fingers through mine. “I want to ask you something.” I look at her and then finally get down on one knee.
She covers her mouth. I’m not sure what the sound was. It was a mix between a scream and a sob. “Cooper,” she whispers.
“I’ve never been in love. I never thought I would be. I thought that this feeling everyone spoke about was a myth, something that was made up. Till I met you.” I kiss her hand, my throat starting to grow thick. “The first time I saw you, I knew you’d be trouble. I just didn’t know how much trouble you would actually be.” I laugh, thinking of the first time I saw her getting out of her car. “When you got on that ice, that is when I knew you would possibly kick my ass. I watched you from afar at first, till I couldn’t take it anymore. The minute I sat with you my world tilted. It was like it was finally right. The more time I spent with you, the harder it was to stay away from you. Then I met the kids, and I have to say if you weren’t the whole package before, you were definitely the whole package in that moment.” A tear falls down her cheek. “I want to be there every single step of the way. Holding your hand. Wiping your tears, hearing your laughter, cringing when you yell to put the garbage out.”
She laughs, her smile lighting up her eyes.
“I want every single tomorrow that you have. I want every single memory to be made with you. I want to make a family with you. I want to see my kids grow in you. I want you to be the mother of my children, but most of all I want you to be my wife.” I pull the ring out, opening the top, and revealing the three-carat princess cut diamond ring. The whole band is covered in diamonds also. I know it’s too much, but to me it isn’t enough.
“I love you, more than anything in the world. Please be my wife. Please be with me. Please want me.”
Her tears are running down freely now. My eyes fill with tears, too, my throat full. I don’t know how long it takes her to answer, but it feels like a lifetime.
“I love you. You gave me hope again. You gave me so many tomorrows that I look forward to. You complete me fully. You love Allison and Matthew like they were your own, and nothing could make me love you more.” She gets down on her knees in front of me. “Marry me, Cooper. Be my husband.”
She doesn’t wait for an answer. She just grabs my face in her hands, leaning in and kissing me softly at first then with force. Our tongues slip into each other’s mouth. Her arms wrap around my neck, pulling me closer.
“Wait.” I pull away from her. “You didn’t answer me.”
“Neither did you,” she counters me.
“I asked you first.” Damn, this woman is impossible.
“Yes,” she whispers.
I take the ring out of the box, reaching for her hand and sliding it on her finger.
“Holy fuck, this thing is huge. Are you out of your mind?” She glares at me.