Aspyn reached over and squeezed my hand, her eyes wide. I gave her hand a gentle squeeze back. There was nothing we could do. This was something between Carl and Perri.
“Why?” Carl said, still calm, standing. He reached over to grab his beer glass and down the rest of the contents. Yeah, he definitely could use a little more liquid courage.
I was surprised. I’d expected him to yell, cry, or something, but he was taking a woman turning his marriage proposal down in public like a damn champion. I knew I wouldn’t have been able to be so calm in the same situation.
“What do you mean, why?” Perri said.
“Why won’t you marry me?” Carl said. He shrugged. “I think I deserve to know.”
Perri’s cheeks grew bright red. “Do you really want to talk about this here?”
Carl shrugged. “Why the hell not? I asked you here. So let’s talk here.”
I wanted to say something, cheer him on, but I didn’
t think it’d help, but damned if I didn’t admire the man in that moment. He knew exactly what he wanted and was going after it. He wouldn’t even take no for an answer.
A choked laughed escaped Perri. “We can’t go a month without breaking up.”
“It’s not like we’re really seeing other people, though.”
“I’m just saying, a marriage is forever, you know. We can’t get divorced and remarried once we have a little fight.”
Carl scoffed. “Then I sleep on the couch on those days. Big damn deal. All I know is I think you’re a beautiful and special woman, and I love you. I don’t think I’m ever gonna find a better woman than you. So I’m having to ask myself why we should wait? What are we waiting for? What are you waiting for?”
“I’m not waiting for anything.”
“I have one simple question for you.”
Perri groaned. “Other than the one you asked?”
“Yeah.”
“What is it?”
I shook my head, stunned at the exchange going on in front of me. If Aspyn and I had been half as honest as Carl was being, a lot of our problems wouldn’t be so bad.
“Do you love me, Perri?” Carl said, dropping again to one knee and holding up the open ring box. “If you can tell me right now, looking me in the eye, that you don’t love me, then I get up, walk out, and try to figure out if I can sell this ring back.” Several people in the bar laughed. “But if you can’t tell me you don’t love me, then you need to think about what it is you think should happen before we get married. We’re not kids. We both have jobs. We both know what our future plans are, and we both know what we want out of life.” A grin appeared on his face. “So, again, simple question, Perri. Do you love me?”
“I do love you,” Perri said quietly. “But it’s not simple.”
“Simple enough, I think. We both love each other. So one more simple question. Will you marry me?”
Again, silence choked the bar. We all watched, waiting with our breaths held. Carl had given it his all, but maybe Perri wasn’t interested.
“Yes,” she said. “Yes, I’ll marry you.”
The entire bar erupted into cheers.
“Hot damn!” I shouted, leaning over to hug Aspyn.
Perri took the ring from the box and slipped in on her finger, tears rolling down her cheeks.
Carl was a true man. He saw what he wanted, and he went for it. I could learn a lot from him.
I let go of Aspyn to hurry over and shake Carl’s hand. Joe beat me to it, but then we both gave him a bear hug together, lifting him up and making him grunt.
Everyone in the bar let out another cheer.