Finding Sofia, I wrapped my arm around her and pulled her against me. “I love you.”
“I love you too.” She snuggled into me as I reached for my cell phone and aimed it toward Nick and Jess, zooming the camera in closer.
“What are you doing?” she asked, looking confused.
“Just pay attention,” I whispered, and her mouth dropped open.
“Is he? Oh my gosh, Ryan, is he going to propose? How could you keep this from me?” Her voice rose, and as a few people turned to look at us, I gave her a look that begged her to be quiet.
“Nick will kill me if we ruin this,” I whispered to her. “Just watch.”
I focused my attention and my camera phone back on Nick as the final candle on the cake was lit. Our parents stood next to Jess’s, fully aware of what was about to happen.
Nick had asked Jess’s dad for permission to marry his daughter over a year ago, but recently asked him again to make sure he hadn’t changed his mind. Jess’s dad had pretended like he wasn’t sure, and Nick told me later how he’d freaked out and wondered what the hell he’d do if her dad didn’t give his blessing again. Thankfully, he said yes, but warned Nick to hurry up already, because none of us were getting any younger.
After an off-key rendition of “Happy Birthday” was sung by everyone in the bar, Nick held up a hand for everyone to be quiet. Turning to Jess, he said, “Close your eyes and make a wish. It won’t come true if you don’t close your eyes first.”
Jess smiled up at him and did what he asked.
The moment her eyes closed, my little brother pulled the ring box from his pocket and dropped to one knee. Sofia gasped softly next to me, but I refused to look at her, terrified I’d mess up the filming. Nick would never forgive me if my video turned into shots of Sofia’s feet instead of his proposal.
Jess’s eyes opened as she leaned over to blow out the candles, but she must have caught sight of Nick. Instead of blowing them out, she gasped with surprise.
“You made me ruin my wish,” she choked out, her voice tight with emotion.
Laughter erupted as Nick said, “By all means, babe, blow them out first. I’ll just wait here.”
More laughter as Nick stayed on bended knee, and Jess blew out the candles quicker than I’d ever seen anyone do it.
As the room quieted, she focused her attention back on him. “What are you doing?”
“I let you go once,” Nick said, “and it was the biggest mistake of my life. I knew it then, and I know it now. I’ll never forget what not having you in my life felt like. I never want to know that feeling again. And if you’ll do me the honor of marrying me and becoming my wife, I’ll never have to. I love you more than anything, Jess. Say yes. Say you’ll be mine for the rest of time.”
She nodded, tears streaming down her face, and he stood. She threw herself into Nick’s arms and buried her head in his shoulder, then answered his question between peppering kisses all over his face.
“Yes. Of course yes. Always yes.”
“Yes?” he asked, as if he wasn’t sure he’d heard her correctly.
“Yes!” she shouted.
Nick released her and slid the ring on her finger, then she attacked him with kisses again.
Everyone in the room dabbed at their eyes, wiping away happy tears. Frank and Claudia were wrapped in each other’s arms, and I pulled Sofia to my side so tightly, I thought she might complain, but she didn’t.
I stopped recording and faced her. “How do you think Matson is going to take this news?”
She pondered the question, spotting her son as he made his way toward us. “I guess we’re about to find out.”
“Hey, buddy,” I said as he walked over and stood between us. “Are you okay?”
“I’m happy they’re getting married, but . . .” Matson stopped and took in a deep breath, then let it out in an exaggerated sigh.
“But what?” Sofia asked.
I reached for Hope so she could give her attention to our boy. Tucking Hope into my arms, I started rocking the same way Sofia always seemed to do without thinking.
“Does that mean I can’t ever marry Jess?”