Chapter 34 #3
“I don’t know if I even believe in soulmates, but if I do, you are mine, I know that.
And I know that this is fast and we’ve only been together for a month, but this has been the happiest month of my life, and I feel like I wasted ten years because if I had just spoken to you at that ESPYs…
” He shook his head. “I can’t change the past, but I know that I love you, and I want to spend the rest of my life with you because you are my home, my happiness, Tiana Marie Matthews, will you marry me? ”
“Yes, yes, yes!”
He slid the ring on her finger, it was a single solitaire diamond ring that Pops helped him pick out. It fit perfectly, and she bent down and kissed him.
“Wait, is this the—”
“Tiffany ring, yes.”
“How did you…?”
“I cheated,” he teased from when she said asking Frankie would be cheating. “When I asked for Pops’ blessing, I also asked if he had any ideas on the ring. He said this was the ring you’d been eyeing since you were thirteen.”
“It is.” She leaned down and kissed him again. “Wait, you asked Pops for his blessing?”
“Of course.” Niko figured that was a no-brainer.
She placed both hands on his cheeks. “I love you.”
“Good, cause you’re stuck with me.”
She smiled. “Why aren’t you getting up?”
“Because, for the first part of your life, you were alone.” His jaw ticked, and she brushed her knuckles softly against his cheeks. “I can’t do anything about that, but that’s not the case anymore. It’s not just me that’s asking you something.”
He stood and turned her around. On the riverside, Liam, Frankie, Poppy, AJ, his mom, Dr. Sterling, Yaya, Mr. Santino, and Zion were each holding up letters that together read WILL YOU MARRY US and Pops held the question mark.
“Oh my gosh!” She covered her mouth and was crying again as she nodded her head yes.
“She said yes!” Niko called out, and they all cheered.
As they walked down the bridge to join their family, Niko saw Bartlett walking with his parents, but when he saw Mr. Santino, he walked the other way, and it reminded him of something.
“Oh, I asked AJ and found out what Mr. Santino’s deal is.” Niko told Tiana.
“You did?” Tiana spun her head and looked up at him.
“Did you ever watch Homeland?”
“With Claire Danes?”
“Yep.”
“Yes, loved it.”
“Do you remember Quinn?”
Her mouth dropped open. “No.”
They were getting closer, so Niko pulled her into him and whispered in her ear, “He was a legit, Black Ops, CIA, assassin.”
Arthur Santino’s background had been a mystery in Hope Falls for over thirty years. Luckily, AJ could find anything out about anyone.
Tiana stopped at the bottom of the bridge, her eyes twinkled as she looked up at Niko, threw her arms around his neck, and kissed him again. Hard. When their kiss broke, she whispered against his lips, “I can’t believe I actually know the biggest secret in Hope Falls. This is the best day ever.”
Niko chuckled as he tightened his arms around her and picked her up. “I hope that has more to do with the ring on your finger than the information I just told you.”
“Sure.” She nodded. “Yes. Sure, of course it does.”
He started tickling her as his, no, their, family descended on them with cheers and congratulations, and he set her down, where she was immediately tackled by Frankie and Poppy. Niko was being pulled for photos and hugs when something caught his eye.
G was standing on Main Street alone, looking down at him. Their eyes met, and she placed the tips of her fingers on the base of her chin, then brought her hand out and down as she signed and mouthed, “Thank you.”
He gave her a nod, and then he saw Wes appear next to her, he placed a sweatshirt around her shoulders, and they walked down towards Sue Ann’s Café.
“Photo, photo, photo!” Yaya yelled.
Zion, the professional photographer, organized everyone around Niko and Tiana, who were placed first at the center.
As they waited for everyone to get into position, Niko spotted Deacon down the river coming up the dock where the paddleboats were stored, he wondered what he’d be doing down there at night.
He nudged Tiana. “Look there’s—”
She glanced in the direction he’d nudged her, but before he got out Deacon’s name, he saw him turn around and help someone up from the dock. It was Jenna.
Tiana looked back up at Niko, her eyes widened.
“Okay, we’re ready.” Zion shouted to be heard over everyone talking like theirs was the only conversation, which Niko loved. He loved his loud, obnoxious family. Zion set the timer and ran back and stood beside Frankie. “Love on three!”
Everyone chanted, “Three, two, one…”
“LOVE!”
THE END