Page 37 of Just Watch Me

“I found another in.” His grin captivated me.

I’d learned a lot of Sky’s grins and smiles over the months we’d been together. Teasing ones when he knew he was right, teasing ones when he knewIwas right, flirty and sexy smiles when he was in the mood, sweet and loving smiles on lazy mornings, proud and enormous smiles when I tried something new, like a roller coaster at Universal Studios. But my favorite of all were the ones like his smile at that moment, the one full of promise that I would love whatever was about to happen.

“Did you now? Did you tell her that her lasagna was better than anything you’ve eaten in Italy?”

“Sort of.”

I laughed, and he kissed my smile.

“Sort of?” I asked against his lips.

“I told her that something she created was better than anything in the universe.”

“Something?”

“Someone.”

I tugged my bottom lip between my teeth.

Sky’s eyes lit up with hope and anticipation as he reached into his pocket and pulled something out with one hand. He grabbed my hand with his other. Then he dropped to one knee.

I gasped and covered my mouth with my free hand. My arm shook where our hands joined, but I wasn’t sure if it was his shaking or mine.

“I explained to your mom how much I love you. How I spent my life never feeling connected to a place or to people before the universe brought us together. That the way she and your dad raised you helped create a strong, independent, loving, generous, and kind person. I told her that you have given me a home and security for the first time in my life. I told her I want to spend the rest of my life giving you the same sense of belonging you give me, and I vowed to her I would do everything I could to keep you safe.”

Tears streamed down my cheeks. I couldn’t believe the words coming out of his mouth.

“I explained to her that you’re your own person, and if you want to have adventures and take risks, I’d never stop you. But I’ll be by your side every step of the way so we can have those adventures as safely as possible.”

“And if I want to go bungee jumping?”

“I’ll research the hell out of safety ratings of various companies and check the harness before you leap with me by your side.”

I dropped to my knees. I had to be level with him for it. “Now her one-eighty from wary to teary makes sense.” I had thought it was weird how she’d asked my dad to help with the rolls, but Sky’s adoring smile had distracted me at the moment.

“I told her I wanted to marry you. I didn’t ask permission because you’re a grown-ass adult, and we don’t need it, but I wanted her to know my intentions. I wanted her to be happy for you, for us, and I wanted to give her an opportunity to grill me before I asked you.”

“Asked me?” My heart pounded.

“Before I asked you to marry me. Jesse, will you marry me and make a home with me no matter our zip code?”

“Yes! Of course I’ll marry you.”

We crashed our lips together as our tears mingled. Happy tears really were a thing.

Sky was right. He didn’t need my parents’ permission, but their blessing meant a whole hell of a lot to me. The fact that Sky understood that meant the world. He really was the perfect person for me, and I couldn’t wait to spend the rest of my life showing him all the ways I was perfect for him.

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