He softly kissed my lips. “You know, I’ve always heard about the one. People said I’d know her when I met her, and they were right. It was like being struck by lightning. You’re the one for me Abby. You’re my best friend, the one person I can’t imagine living without, the absolute love of my life.”
“And apparently, your Taser-wielding bodyguard,” I teased.
“Yeah, that too,” he said with a sheepish smile. “I can’t imagine growing old with anyone else, nor do I want to. Sweet girl, my life won’t be complete without you beside me. You’re the one I want to share the rest of my life with. I mean that from the bottom of my heart,” he said, looking at me in the most beautiful way anyone had ever looked at me before.
“Nick, you saying that... It’s...” I trailed off, too consumed by emotion to truly thank him for saying the words I’d wanted to hear for so long.
A surge of sudden determination lifted his chin, and he stared at me in the rain, with true love shining in his eyes. For a moment, neither of us spoke, but then, in a movement as subtle as it was profound, he took the bandana from his hair and said, “Abby, I want to marry you.”
Suddenly, it was as if my whole body turned to stone, cemented to the pavement beneath us, and I couldn’t move. I couldn’t breathe. I couldn’t think. I just stood there, wondering if I’d heard him right. No, he’s just drunk. He doesn’t realize what he’s saying, my mind corrected, but all that changed when he melted my heart by getting down on one knee.
A host of sirens echoed in the background, a glow of misty streetlamps haloed around his head. The entire world seemed to be falling to pieces around us, but Nick had never looked so sure, so cool, calm, and collected.
“Like I said before, I don’t want to do this anymore,” he said softly, keeping his eyes locked on mine. “I don’t want to live this way...and I don’t want to ever live without you.” With that, he reached in his pocket and pulled out a box. “You are my life now, Abby, all I want in this world. I promise no one will ever work harder to make you happy or cherish you more than I will, and that’s a promise I take very seriously.”
When he pulled the lid off the box, I couldn’t help but cup my mouth in surprise at the sight of the exquisite diamond shimmering under the streetlight.
“I’ve just been waiting for the right moment...”
“And you think this is it?” I laughed.
“Yes, because I need to show you how much I love you. You jumped out a window in the rain to escape a crazy bar brawl. If nothing else, that proves you’re the right girl for me. I love you, Abby. I always have, and I always will, and neither the police or the rain or any Mets fans are going to stop me.”
My eyes widened in surprise.
“Abigail Wilder...” His blue eyes twinkled as they stared into mine. “This whole fake fiancée thing and rumors of a false elopeme
nt just aren’t working for me anymore. I say we make it real.”
I swallowed hard as he stared lovingly into my eyes.
“I don’t want you to be my girlfriend, Abby, certainly not a fake girlfriend. I want you to be my wife. Will you marry me?” he said again, this time as an actual question.
Chapter 22
I couldn’t breathe; I was literally left standing there in breathless surprise. It was all a shocking blur, and my mind spun like I was on a supersonic carousel, like I’d drank as much as Nick had, and I hadn’t had a sip.
“Did you really just say that?” I asked.
He grinned as he slipped the ring on my finger. “Even if you didn’t think you heard me right, the ring should clue you in to my true intentions.”
“Oh my gosh, Nick!” I shouted, trembling. “This ring is gorgeous! Is this real? Are you serious?”
“Of course I’m serious. I just poured out my heart to you, didn’t I? I love you, Abby. Do you think I’d propose to just any girl in the pouring rain?”
I squealed, cried, and laughed, a hostage of the most surreal moment of my life. I wasn’t sure my heart was even still beating. I was literally out of my mind with enjoyment because I’d fantasized about that big moment since I was a little girl. I gawked up at him, my eyes filling with tears. “My gosh! You actually asked.”
“So is that a yes?” he asked.
“Yes!” I shouted.
He then shot me the most beautiful smile I’d ever seen. “You’ve just made me the happiest man on the planet.”
I cupped his face. “Nick, is this really happening?”
“Yes,” he said, softly kissing my lips.
I looked at my new ring, then at him. “Oh my gosh! We’re getting married!” I practically screamed, my words echoing through the dark streets.