Page 47 of Charm Me

“Momma. Daddy. What are you doing here?”

Before they could answer me every light in the room flickered off and the room went pitch black.

***

Wyatt

“Are you ready. Man?” Gavin called around the corner where I waited in hiding for Zoe to arrive.

“Is she here?” I asked.

“Yep, just ran into her as I was walking out.” Gavin smiled and patted me on the shoulder. “You’re nervous. Don’t be nervous.”

“What if she says no?” I dropped my head in my hands and rubbed them down my face and through my beard.

“Not a chance.” He chuckled. “But Jake and I might strangle you. There’s no way in hell either of us are ever going to be able top this. The girls are in there swooning over every detail you’ve planned.”

I gave him a weak smile. “I just want everything to be perfect.”

I’d been planning this day for over two months and now that it was here, I was sick to my stomach. When I decided this was the right move, I hadn’t doubted any of it. I knew what I wanted, and I was confident Zoe wanted the same thing. Now that the day had arrived, I couldn’t shake this feeling that she’d reject me.

Zoe was my forever love. Every day with her was a surprise, and these past few months had been the greatest of my life. I wanted nothing more than to spend the rest of my life slowly unwrapping her until I knew everything there was to know about her.

My life began with her.

I pulled the box out of my pocket and checked that the ring was still there. I’d checked this box so many times over the past few hours, like it would up and vanish on me if I didn’t keep an eye on it. I took a deep breath, closed the box, and smiled at Gavin.

“Let’s do this.”

I stepped inside the door and waited for Luke to give me the go ahead. I planned out every single detail and as long as Zoe did what we all expected her to do, this would be perfect. This took a lot of effort, but every person in the bar was in on the plan.

Luke waved me in, and as soon as I stepped into the crowded room, the chatter faded. Within seconds the bar was silenced, and the crowd parted, leaving a large aisle down the middle of the room that lead to Zoe.

Mike, Zoe’s father, caught my eye and smiled. He’d been overjoyed when I asked him for Zoe’s hand. It was an old-fashioned act, but it felt right. Necessary.

Showtime.

On my cue, the lights went out and I moved to the end of the newly formed aisle. Within seconds, a video started to play on the four large television screens. They created just enough light that I could see Zoe standing near the table with a stunned look on her face.

Zoe diverted her eyes to one of the screens. She hadn’t yet noticed I was standing at the other end of the aisle. The cartoon video started, and Adam Sandler’s voice filled the room. Choosing the right song was the hardest part of the plan. I wanted something that conveyed exactly what I was feeling and fit the personality of our relationship. Funny. Sweet. Forever.

It was a silly song, but perfect for us.

I slowly made my way down the aisle. I was about halfway down when the line in the song popped up that said, All I wanna do is grow old with you. That was when she shifted her tear-filled eyes toward me.

I stopped and waited. The look on her face told me everything I needed to know. I was staring at my future wife.

Luke was ready, as promised, and kicked on the strand of twinkle lights that spelled out, marry me. If I stopped where I intended, the words were just above my head. I could see the glow of the lights, but I couldn’t see if they were in the right position.

From the way Zoe pressed her hands to her mouth in surprise, I’d say it was perfect.

She took a step toward me. I dropped to my knee and held the opened box out in front of me. Every nerve in my body buzzed with anticipation, a little anxiety, and a lot of excitement.

“Zoe. You fell into my lap when I least expected it and you’ve never left my thoughts since that day. You are my air, my life, and my soul. My forever love. My puits d’amour. I am nothin’ without you. Marry me, love.”

Tears streamed down her face as her smile grew. She fell into my arms and kissed me hard. She hugged me tighter than ever before, and her body shook from tears and joy.

“I take it this’s a yes?” I laughed.

She pulled back and held her eyes on mine. “Yes. This is a forever yes.”

“Good.” I stood, taking her into my arms as I did. I held her tight and swung her around. “Now, kiss me again.”

And she did. Long and slow. The crowd around us erupted into a cheer, but their sounds quickly faded. There was only Zoe and me and the start of a new life together.

When she broke the kiss, she dropped her forehead to mine and ran her hand down my beard. “Really? The song from the Wedding Singer?”

“Yep.” I smiled. “It was the only song that said everything. Grow old with me and never leave my side, love.”

“Nothing would make me happier.”