Page 130 of The Sniper
That motherfucker.
I stare at my best friend for a long time, wishing I was armed.I might even shoot the guy if I were.Of all the dumb things for him to say, why did he say that?
“Dude.”His eyes widen.“I was joking.”
I turn to Tiffany, and she looks pale.
Fuck.
“Liam!Did you know?If you knew and messed this up for him, I am going to kill you.”Jessie starts slapping her fiancé.
“Ouch, no, I didn’t know.He might not...oh, maybe he is.”Liam goes quiet.
Small miracles.
I walk over to Tiffany and take her hands.She still looks pale as she swallows.
“I had a plan.”
Her mouth parts.
“I was going to wait until after dinner.I even got fireworks.”I smile as her eyes begin to fill.Then I turn to Liam.“I purposely didn’t tell big mouth here.”
A small cry escapes Tiffany’s mouth, and the protective bear in me pulls her to my chest.
“Oh my god,” Jessie squeals.
“I did it better,” Liam mumbles.
I laugh, and cup Tiffany’s face gazing down at her with all the love in my heart.“I can wait.Do it another time.”
I’ve never seen a woman shake her head so fast in my life.I thought it might fly off.
“No, no.”
Wait, is that a no-no?
Or a no...no?
Should I do it?
I’m a little confused.
“On your knees, man.Go.”Liam gives me the kick I need.
I drop to the floor and pull out the ring box, which has been burning a hole in my pants pocket for hours.
For weeks inside a sock in my drawer.
It’s not nearly as big as she deserves, but Tiffany has chosen me, and the moment I saw it, I knew.It’s as sunshiny as her in every way.
“Tiffany Stallone, there are a lot of reasons why this shouldn’t work, but we do.Every day I wake up and fall more and more in love with you.”
A tear slides down her cheek.
“I promise to be the man you need and deserve until your last breath.Or mine.I promise to honor you, support you, and pack the dishwasher the way you like it.Even though it's wrong.”
Her smile lights up the room.
