I’d never seen Kilyn laugh and smile as much as she did tonight. We played games, rode rides until I felt like I was going to throw up, and ate carnival food until Kilyn thought she was going to throw up.
It was the perfect night.
Well, almost perfect.
Standing in line at the Ferris wheel, I couldn’t help but feel nervous. With Kilyn standing at my door only just a few hours ago, ready to leave, I hoped like hell I wasn’t about to really scare her off.
“We’re up next!” she said with excitement in her voice.
As we approached the ride, my knees felt weak and my stomach was already twisting up in knots. Rubbing my hand across my pocket, I breathed a sigh of relief. It was still there.
Kilyn hopped into the bucket with a wide smile on her face. “My whole body feels like it is tingling!”
Chuckling, I took her hand in mine as we slowly made our way higher as the rest of the buckets were filled with people. When we got near the top, her jaw fell open and she gasped.
“Thano. It’s beautiful. Look at all the lights.”
I looked out over Dallas and nodded in agreement. “Was it worth the plane ride?”
She turned and looked at me. “This night has been beyond amazing. I don’t think you could do anything else to make it any better.”
Swallowing hard, I looked into her eyes. “I’m hoping I can.”
Her green eyes filled with desire. She opened her mouth to talk when the ride started, causing her to let out a small yelp.
We both laughed as she looked out at everything. “This is amazing. I never really knew they were so tall.”
“You’ve never seen the one up at Pikes Peak?”
She shook her head. “Nope!”
“Well, when it opens, I’ll take you. Talk about views.”
Kilyn smiled as she settled into my side. We went around two more times when I finally built up the courage to do it. Reaching into my pocket, I pulled out the blue box.
I cleared my throat and took a deep breath. “Ladybug?”
“Mmm?”
“I need to ask you something.”
She moved away some and looked me directly in the eyes. “Anything,” she said with a slight smile.
I’d never felt this way before. Not even with Savannah. There was something so profoundly different about this moment with Kilyn. Licking my lips to help with my dry mouth, I smiled and spoke with a wavering voice. “I love you so much.”
Her face softened and warmth radiated throughout my body from the smile she gave me.
“I love you too, so very much. I’m sorry I freaked out earlier.”
“None of that matters. All that matters is you’re here with me right now.” Looking into her eyes, I let out a breath and whispered, “You’re so beautiful, Kilyn.”
With a flush on her cheeks, she peered down at her hands.
Opening the box, I took a deep breath and slowly blew it out as I got ready to speak from my heart.
“You’re truly the only woman I’ve ever felt my heart stop for. The thought of not having you in my life is one I never want to ever have again. You are my life. My future.”
I held up the velvet box that held the princess-cut diamond. Kilyn covered her mouth with her hands and tried to hold back a sob.
“Kilyn O’Kelly, would you do me the honor of marrying me?”
Her eyes filled with tears and her hands dropped to her lap. Her chin trembled as she looked at the diamond and then back up into my eyes. “Is this really happening? Is this for real?”
Smiling, I nodded.
With a smile as big as the Texas sky, she exclaimed, “Yes! Yes, I will marry you!”
My hand laced through her hair while I grabbed her neck and pulled her lips to mine. There was nothing about this moment I would ever forget.
Not even when the ride stopped moving and we sat stuck at the very top for over an hour before they finally got the damn thing running again.
It was the best night of my life.
I WAS FLYING high as Thano and I walked into the lobby of the Warwick Melrose Hotel. My eyes bounced all over as I took in the beauty of it all.
Reaching for my hand, he laced his fingers with mine as we walked to the front desk.
When we stopped, the young girl’s eyes lit up at the sight of Thano. I was used to it now. The gawks and looks from women. Some even had the nerve to flirt with him right in front of me. At first it pissed me off, but in the end I was the one going home with him, so what did it matter.
“Good evening, welcome to the Warwick Melrose.”
We both smiled as Thano replied, “Hey there. Reservations for Thano Drivas.”
The girl quickly began typing. Her face lit up as she looked between the two of us.