Page 119 of The Ex-mas Breakup

And I can’t pull away, because the partridge is clucking. So I tighten my arms around his neck and kiss his stupid right mouth until he stops laughing.

I love the way his whole body gets into kissing me. He curves over me, surrounding me with love so warm it feels like a cozy blanket, and he gathers me close.

He tastes like beer and pizza, and he feels like home.

When he turns me and picks me up, putting me on the little kitchen island, I think it’s because he’s going to wedge his big body between my legs and do some more kissing.

Instead, he breaks away, his chest heaving, and gestures to the box. “Now put on that shirt.”

I blink at it. We both love this shirt, and we take turns claiming ownership over it.

“Okay.” I’m laughing softly at him as I tug it out of the box, but my giggle dies as a velvet box tumbles out, too.

Garrett catches it with ease.

My hands go numb.

“The shirt, Roar,” he nudges.

I nod, but I don’t move.

He helps me, sliding my arms into the soft, familiar cotton. He adjusts the collar around my neck, then tugs the front, making sure it’s all around me before he sinks to one knee.

I already can’t breathe.

I’m perched on the kitchen island like a princess on a pedestal, and he’s bowing before me like a knight in my court.

“Aurora Minelli, I have wanted to ask you this question since the first time you kissed me. But I was a skinny little teenager then, and you were the smartest girl in school. I didn’t know that you’d let me tag along as you set off to pursue your dreams.

“But being a part of your life ever since has been the second greatest gift you’ve ever given me. Getting a chance to win you back is the only thing that nudges it out of topspot. I will follow you to the ends of the earth, but tonight, it feels like we’ve come full circle.

“So tonight feels like the right time to finally speak these words out loud, the words I’ve held in my heart since I was a boy.” He takes a deep breath, and holds my blurry gaze.

I swipe at my cheeks and try to smile, but it’s so hard because my lips are wobbling.

“Will you marry me? Will you be my wife? Will you let me be your husband in every way, on every day, for the rest of my life?”

“Yes,” I whisper. And then louder, “Yes, yes, please.”

He opens the ring box, and the prettiest diamond I’ve ever seen sparkles up at me.

Behind me, the partridge clucks in approval.

“Oh, Garrett.”

He stands up, andnowhe wedges himself between my legs. He takes my hand and kisses my fingertips, my knuckles, before sliding the ring onto my finger.

“It’s so beautiful,” I whisper.

“You’re beautiful,” he murmurs back.

“This is a dream.” I kiss him.

“My dream,” he says in between that kiss and the next. And the next after that is so deep, so long, that we’re still kissing when the timer goes off.

Breathless, we both turn and look at it.

He takes a firm grip of his flannel shirt, wrapped around me, and says, “Stay right here, my wife-to-be.”

“Staying,” I manage to breathe.

He looks huge as he grabs the timer. All of his muscles are flexed, his whole body tense. He’s gorgeous. And mine, all mine, again. For always this time. Forever.

Instead of just stopping the timer, he cranks it around, all the way. “That was a pretty good start,” he says, setting itback on the shelf. “Let’s see what we can do with another ninety minutes.”