Chapter 25
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
JACKSON
Blackstone, New Hampshire
From my hiding spot in a darkened hallway at the back of the lodge, I’m torn between keeping my eyes on Sierra and watching Nate’s reaction to this video.
He hasn’t stormed out of the room, which I was afraid might actually be a possibility.
Instead, he’s stood in the same spot since my face first appeared on the screen as if he’s grown roots and can’t move. I pray that’s a good sign.
I swing my eyes back to Sierra and she gives me the signal I’ve been waiting for.
I slip out into the room at the back of the crowd, cringing a little as I watch myself on the screen in front.
“I want to still be loving you when I’m eighty.
I want to watch our kids and our grandkids learn to ski at this mountain we both love.
” I start walking forward, weaving my way through the crowd until there are whispers all around me and the crowd parts.
I arrive at the front of the room right as, on video, I tell Nate, “I want to spend the rest of my life with you, Nate Davenport. If you’ll still have me. ”
He turns back to the front of the room, freezing when he sees me standing there only a few feet from him.
There’s a moment when our eyes lock but neither of us move, where I’m afraid that it’s not enough.
That I’ve waited too long to finally say yes to him.
That despite the distance we’ve come and how intertwined our journeys have been, that we still won’t have what it takes to cross the finish line together.
Then Nate steps forward, holding his hand out toward me. I want to jump into his arms, but I step forward until we’re toe-to-toe, ignoring all the whispers behind me.
Nate drops his forehead to mine. “I’ll only say yes on one condition.”
“Anything,” I say, and I mean it. There’s nothing I wouldn’t do for this man.
Nate clasps my hands in his and pulls his head back to look me in the eyes.
His voice is strong when he says, “I’ve known I wanted to marry you for a decade.
And I’ve almost proposed so many times I’ve lost count.
So here’s my condition—I will propose to you, and when I do, I need you to finally say yes. ”
My eyes are locked on his so I’m not sure if he notices my smile. “Pretty sure I just proposed to you.”
“I heard no question there. I’ve been waiting for years, you’re not taking this opportunity away from me.”
I can’t hold back any longer. I launch myself at him, throwing my arms around his neck and he lifts me off the ground.
All around us, people are clapping and cheering, but as he slides me down his body until my feet hit the ground, I hardly even notice them.
They’re just background noise preventing him from hearing my response.
“Yes,” I say, looking up at his face. I bring my hands around to his face, cup his jaw in both hands, and bring his mouth down to mine. My lips brush his softly before I whisper, “When you propose, my answer will be—a thousand times—yes.”