“Evan,” she said, whispering. “Oh my gosh.”
“Our relationship has been the single best thing that has ever happened to me. You taught me how to trust again. How to love again. How to open myself up to the idea of life again. Your strength and fortitude is inspiring to me, and ever since you really let me in, I know this can work. I know we can work. And with this ring, this is what I promise—I promise to work the rest of my life to make sure you are happy and safe. I promise to work for the rest of my days making sure you have everything you could possibly want. I promise to love you, even when I don’t like you, and I promise to always stand in your corner, no matter what.”
Tears were streaming down her cheeks and I had to swallow hard to keep mine at bay.
“Melanie Peterson, light of my life—will you marry me?”
Everyone’s eyes were on us as Melanie nodded her head. She threw herself at me and wrapped her arms around my neck, the dessert forgotten as I stood and held her close to me. I could feel her nodding into my chest before she picked up her head, and her eyes sparkled with delight as she parted her lips.
“Yes, Evan. I will marry you.”
I slipped the ring onto her finger before I pulled her in for a kiss. The entire restaurant erupted into cheers and applause, surrounding our bodies with a thunderous noise. Our tongues collided in a heated battle, her arms locking around my neck as I pulled her close at the waist.
Her tears were dripping onto my skin as our lips swelled against one another’s.
“Oh, Evan. This ring. It’s—it’s beautiful.” she gushed.
I watched her gaze down at the simple diamond I’d purchased for her as my eyes danced around her beautiful form.
“There is nothing that looks more beautiful than you tonight, my love,” I said.
Her eyes lifted to connect with mine and I could see all the love she had to give swimming around behind them.
“Except for when you were freezing in the snow. You looked radiant when you were freezing in the snow,” I said.
She threw her head back and laughed before she playfully shoved my arm. Her tears were glistening in her eyes as I wrapped my arm around her waist again. I pulled her up toward me, her breath pulsing upon my lips as I gazed into her deep blue eyes.
“To our future,” I said before I kissed her again.
And the restaurant went wild.
The End