27. Ed
27
ED
Six months later…
T he smell of buttery popcorn fills the room as Avery works her way over to the sofa carrying a large bowl of fluffy popcorn.
Her foot catches on the colorful rug she chose for the patch of bare floor between the kitchen and the living area. She stumbles and popcorn flies into the air and crashes to the ground around her.
“Oh no!”
I jump up from the couch, the sleek deep green three-seater that Avery matched with the forest green feature wall.
She’s on her hands and knees when I reach her, laughing as she picks popcorn off the rug. Some of it has fallen into the peace lily on the table by the sofa, and she crawls over to retrieve a piece from an open flower.
Sunlight streams through the window from the entryway. We knocked the hallway wall down to open the place up and put in wall to ceiling windows to capture the light.
You’d hardly recognize the original house we moved into.
We renovated the bedrooms, extending the spare room to turn it into the primary bedroom and making Jake’s old room the spare. Although I’m hoping someday we’ll put a bunk bed in there for our future kids.
Avery grabs a handful of popcorn from the rug and pops a piece into her mouth. She laughs as she does it and the sunlight catches her hair, making her appear like an angel.
I pause from where I’m scooping up dropped popcorn to admire her. She looks fucking beautiful and carefree, and I don’t believe I’ll ever love her more than I do in this moment.
My SEAL training taught me to seize the moment, and I do now. My heart thumps against my rib cage as I shift my position so I’m on one knee.
I was going to do this later after we watched the movie, and I was going to light candles and bring out her favorite chocolate mousse dessert. But fuck it, I can’t wait another moment to tie this woman to me for good.
Avery’s still laughing as I reach into my pocket and bring out the small red velvet box.
Confusion sweeps across her face when she sees the box. She notices I’m down on one knee, and she gasps and sits back on her heels.
“Ed, are you…?”
I hold a hand up to silence her, because I’ve been practicing how to say this and I damn well want to get the words out.
“Avery…” My tongue feels thick and the nerves don’t help, but I take my time and will my mouth to make the right sounds.
“…you make… me happy…”
Avery’s eyes brim with tears, and she keeps her hands over her mouth.
It’s not the big speech I would have liked, but I prepared for that too. I reach into my back pocket and pull out the note I’ve been carrying around for the last two weeks. My speech is improving, but I’m far from being able to convey all I want to say to Avery.
I hand her the note, and she unfolds it and reads aloud.
“I’ve been in love with you ever since I saw you in that blue dress. It just took me a long time to realize it.”
She looks up at me, and her eyes shine.
“You’re beautiful and kind and funny and determined and strong. You brought me back to life. You never gave up on me, and I’ll never give up on you. I love you.”
She gets to the end of the note and frowns. She glances back up at me, and I’m ready with the velvet box open and the diamond ring sparkling in the late afternoon light.
“Avery Monroe…will you…marry me?”
I forget to breathe as I wait for her response.
Avery stares at me for a long moment, then launches herself at me. I catch her around the waist, and we tumble onto the rug.
“Yes, yes, yes! Ed, of course I’ll marry you.”
I plant kisses on her nose, her lips, and her cheeks. Popcorn crunches under us as I roll her onto her back. I retrieve the ring from the box, and she holds out her finger.
I slip it on, and it fits perfectly.
“Now…you mine.”
Her eyes widen and she giggles. “You sound like a caveman. I like it.”
I grin at her as my chest lightens. I’ll be her fucking caveman if that what she wants. Just as long as I’m with Avery.
I finally found my place to belong, and it’s right here with her.