The One I Want

Reaching the first deck, he turns back to find me. “It’s okay, Juni.” His hand is out, and no one around seems to care, so I walk up the steps, meeting him there.

After clearing his throat, he announces, “I’ll be reciting from Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet this evening.” His eyes find support in mine, and every word is spoken directly from his mouth to my heart.

“My bounty is as boundless as the sea, My love as deep; the more I give to thee, The more I have, for both are infinite.”

My heart swells in my love for this man. He’s reciting Shakespeare for me. Gah! So romantic.

He once told me he’s fact and figures, but he would learn the other stuff for me. He’s an excellent student.

He brought up the topic of checking off the fourth to-do on his life list a few weeks ago. He brought it up. Drew is changing, not for me, but for him. I knew it would be quite the sight to watch him unravel. I’ve not been disappointed one bit. “Mission accomplished,” I say, giving him a hug. Still holding hands, I turn to leave and do a little dance on the way down. My excitement for him can’t be contained.

“Wait,” he pleads. Bringing me back to the platform, he says, “I have one more for you.” His grip a little tighter, his eyes full of love. “Did my heart love till now? Forswear it, sight! For I ne'er saw true beauty till this night.”

“Trying to kill with the heart swoons?” I tease. “Me thinks Sir Christiansen likes being the center of attention.”

“If that’s where you are, it’s where I want to be.” Digging something from his pocket, he dips to one knee. “Mr. Clark also told me if I want to marry you that I need to ask you.”

“What?” The teasing is all gone. I look around suddenly, and some things don’t make sense. Like Gil, Nancy, and Izzy, Cookie and Corbin, Tatum, Jackson, Mrs. Hendricks, and Rascal being there. The only ones missing are—

Natalie runs up the steps with her husband, and we’re showered in rose petals. I’m more of a daisy girl myself, but petals work. Their velvet softness is due to their cellular structure rather than the other photosynthesizing parts of the plant that— Well, let’s just say I get the appeal.

“Juni?”

“Yes?” I say to the man on his knee in front of me. I click my heels and enjoy this moment. It’s one I never dared to dream until I met him.

“The first time we met was pretty shitty.” Ah, we’re peppering in some funnies. Look at my grumpy man. “But after that, I don’t know what hit me.”

“Nice rhyme.”

“Thanks.” His smile turns gentler, and as he holds both my hands in his with a ring box balanced on his knee, he says, “I knew there was something different about you—”

“Geez, thanks. Should have left it to Shakespeare.” This time, I flash my winking skills at him.

“Special. You turned my world upside down before the moment we met. And then once we did, I couldn’t stop thinking about you. I’ll be honest, they weren’t all good thoughts.”

“Touché.” I roll my eyes, though I relate to the honesty. Not all thoughts were good in the beginning. He was super annoying, in fact. But I’ll leave that to tease him another day.

“But they made me feel. You made me feel for what felt like the first time ever. I don’t know what kind of magic destiny wields, but it was used that day and every day since. I wake up excited not just about the next adventure we’ll take, but because every minute I’m awake is another minute I get you. Today was about accomplishing goals, ticking things off a list of life experiences. Today was the day that I checked off two.”

I run through the list that I’ve read a million times and committed to memory. See? I’m committing all over the place these days.

1. Lie in the grass in the nearest park at 9:17 AM on a sunny weekday.

Check.

2. Eradicate negative vibes from the apartment on the sixth Thursday after arrival.

Check. Check.

3. Perform in front of an audience.

Check. Check. Check.

4. Read Shakespeare on the steps of the New York Public Library just after midnight.

Check. Check. Check. Check.

I gasp, my hands covering my mouth. Tears ping my eyes when I realize I’m number five. “I’m number five, Drew.”

5. Fall in love like you won’t get a second chance.

Damn that Christiansen smile. “You are. May I?”

I nod like a crazy person with makeup running down her face because her manfriend never gave her the warning to wear waterproof mascara. Some friend he is.

Slipping my hand back in his, he says, “I didn’t set out to fall in love, but sometimes the universe has a different plan. I may not have realized it then, but the day I met you, I fell in love like I wouldn’t get a second chance. You’re the one I want to spend the rest of my life—”