Page 94 of A Lifetime of Afters
“I wore out the batteries on my vibrator.”
His eyebrows shot up. “You have a vibrator? Why don’t I know about this? Do you have it with you? Can we pick up batteries on the way home?”
I laughed and punched him, then peeked up at him. “So, I am going home with you tonight?”
“Every night if I have it my way,” he asserted, guiding me gently to our table.
Dinner was wonderful, as it always was at Ayana’s. If I looked closely, I could see me and mom sitting at the table by the window on my thirteenth birthday. The table at the back hosted Mom, me, Harley, and Lou. We shared a dessert platter designed for a party of twelve on Harley’s sixteenth birthday. And that romantic little alcove surrounded by greenery and tulle was where Hawk and I had our first date.
The toasts to the happy couple went around the table and ended with Hawkley.
He stood. “Mom, Dad, you are a living example of everything I want. Thank you for loving each other so well. You’ve taught me how to be a better man. You’ve all taught me so much. Harley has kept me in line. And Hunter taught me to grab life by the horns.
“I decided to take a page out of Hunter’s book. Literally.” He held up a piece of lined paper covered with writing. “As I went through and completed his list, at least those that didn’t involve nudity, I wrote my own one-year plan.
“My first item was to complete Hunter’s list in honor of him. All except the last one which will have to go unchecked. Even if we hadn’t lost him, this item would have gone unchecked.
“By him.
“Because she was always meant to be mine, as I was only ever meant to be hers.
“So,” he faced me and dropped to one knee, “next on my list is to engage one Noelle Brevard. The timeline is immediate.” Smiling at me, he mouthed, “Eyes on me.”
I bit the inside of my cheek to keep from crying and held his gaze. His beautiful, clear-eyed gaze.
“Noelle Brevard. God weaved you into my DNA the day you were born. There has not been a day that has passed that you were not on my mind. In my heart. Even when you weren’t in my life.”
I swallowed a sob. My fingers twirled together in my lap, itching to get to him.
The table behind me fell silent.
“Time is precious,” he whispered, his heart in his eyes. “I don’t want any more to pass without telling you what you mean to me. You are my life. My happiness. My purpose. My best friend. My soul’s mate. My love. And hopefully, my wife.”
I nodded frantically. “Yes.”
He laughed. “I haven’t asked yet.”
“Hurry up,” I circled my hand in front of me. “I need to kiss you.”
“Oh, well then,” he stood and drew me up into his arms, “why didn’t you say so?”
I pushed my fingers into the hair at the back of his neck ready to meet his lips when emotion overcame me. Bowing my head, I pressed my forehead to his chest and looped my arms around his neck.
Cupping the back of my head with one hand, he turned his back to the table to shield me. “Sweetheart,” he murmured. “Are you okay?”
“Mm-hm. Happy,” I garbled.
His chest vibrated with his laughter. “Give me your finger.”
“You better make it official and ask me. I want the words.”
Laughing, he gave them to me, “Marry me, Noelle.”
Three beautiful words.
Just three.
A mouthful of syllables.
