She nods. “More than anything.”
Opening up my hand, I reach for her and slide my ring onto her finger. “Will you marry me?”
Her eyes dart to the bag as more tears stream down her cheeks. “Yes.”
The word is barely spoken before I’m pressing my lips to hers, wrapping her in a hug so tight I’m sure she’s struggling to breathe. “I love you,” I say, releasing my iron grip. I cradle her face in my hands. “I love you, and I will no matter what, until the day I take my last breath.”
“Open it.” She hands me the bag and wipes at her cheeks.
Removing the tissue paper, my hand dives into the bag and pulls out something that feels like jersey material. Holding it up, it’s the smallest football jersey I’ve ever seen. It’s dark blue and looks exactly like a mini practice jersey.
“Turn it around.”
Turning it around, my name is embroidered on the back. Why is she—? I drop the jersey and lock eyes with her. “What does this mean, Samantha?”
“Keep digging, player.” She nods toward the bag.
Reaching into the bag, I feel a small hard object wrapped in tissue paper. Slowly, I unwrap it, not sure of what it is, and what I find has my chest heaving. “We’re pregnant?” I say, my voice gravelly.
“Yes, and if you want to take it back, I understand, but I want this baby, Jase.”
“Take it back?”
She nods sadly. “The proposal.”
“Are you fucking kidding me?” I growl. I toss the test and the jersey to the floor and lean over so that there are mere inches between us. “I want you, and I want this baby. There is nothing in this world I want more. You’ve made me a husband and a father all in one day.”
“Fiancé,” she corrects with a blinding smile.
“We’re really having a baby?” I ask in awe of the situation.
“Yes. I wasn’t sure how you would feel about it. I was so nervous to tell you.”
“I could tell something was off, but I never would have guessed that this was the reason. I want this.” I place my hand over her heart. “And I want this.” I place my hand over her belly. “I love you.”
“I love you too.”
I hold her in my arms and let the realization wash over me. She made me work for it, but play-by-play, I won her over, and now she’s given me two of the greatest gifts. Her heart, and a piece of both of us—a tiny human that we created together. Life doesn’t get any better than this.
“Jase?”
“Yeah, baby?”
“You’re telling Royce,” she says, and we both fall into a fit of laughter.