Chapter 46
Garrett
“I think I’ve met the one.” I lean on the wall in my parents’ kitchen, whispering conspiratorially with Charlie.
The evening has been wonderful. All my people in the same spot at the same time only solidified what I already knew.
I love my Angel with all that I am. “Scratch that. I know I’ve met the one. ”
I pull my phone out of my pocket and bring up Angela’s contact info. The name under her smiling face? The Future Mrs. Cooper.
Charlie drops her jaw, then beams. “I hate to say I saw it coming, but I totally saw this coming.”
“You just say that because you love being right.” I slip my phone back into my pocket.
“I’m saying that because anyone who knows you can see how good you guys are together.” She waggles her head, her curls bouncing around her shoulders. “Plus, I like being right.”
“See!” I give her arm a playful shove. “You just love poking the bear.”
“Why does it sound so creepy when you say it, yet delightful when I do?” Charlie shrugs as if to say the mystery will never be solved. “Does she know yet?”
I shake my head. “Not yet. But I think I’m going to propose later tonight, when it’s just the two of us.”
My sister stares for a long moment, her eyes locked on mine. She’s reading me, testing me, checking to make sure I’m not pulling her leg. “Oh, so you’re serious serious,” she finally says.
“The ring’s been in my pocket all night. I almost asked her in the car, right before we came in but talked myself out of it.”
“All ni—” Charlie’s eyes go wide, and her brows hit her hairline. “What are you waiting for? An invitation? Because I don’t think that’s how it works…”
“I’m an asshole, not a monster.” I roll my eyes. “Today’s your birthday. I’m not stealing the attention by proposing here. I value my life too much to stand in Charlotte Cooper’s spotlight.”
“Are you kidding me? I can’t think of a better birthday present than seeing you get all mushy and embarrassed in front of the family.” My sister puts her hands on my back and gives me a shove. “Go on. It’s my birthday. You have to give me what I want.”
I twist to stare over my shoulder. “I can’t tell if you’re genuinely happy for me or you just like to watch me squirm.”
“Both.” She drops me a wink. “It’s definitely both.”
With that, she strolls away, smiling in that way that speaks of siblings and secrets.
I take a deep breath and let it out slowly, watching my Angel talk to my parents, her smile warm, her laugh genuine. I can’t imagine my life without her in it. I thought moving in together would be enough, but it only made me want her more. I don’t want a roommate. I want forever.
I lift my glass, tapping lightly with a spoon.
“Can I have your attention? I want to thank you guys for being here to celebrate Charlie. There’s nothing quite like spending another year with family, and we all know how much she loves it when we feed her delicious food, get her tipsy, then tell her how special she is while she demolishes cake. ”
Charlie puts a hand to her heart while everyone laughs. “Big Brother Bear knows me so well.”
“I do. Which is why I’m going to give you that other present you asked for, even though I had a whole thing planned.” I glare, then swallow hard and give her a chuckle that says, I hope you like watching me squirm.
“This is not how I intended to do this, so you better be happy,” I say to my sister before crossing the room with my heart in my throat.
I take Angela’s hands. She blinks at me, her eyes wide and trusting, shining with love and happiness.
“I didn’t believe I was made for love until I met you.
I believed it was for other people. For better people.
I thought the only thing I was good at was making money, but then…
you. You’ve changed everything, my Angel.
You’ve shown me how good it feels to be whole.
You’ve shown me that in order to make the world a better place, I can’t just complain about what the world needs.
I have to be what it needs. You’ve made every minute of every day feel like it has purpose and meaning beyond numbers growing in a bank account.
We’re making an impact on the world with your hotels, just like you’re making an impact on me. ”
Tears well in her eyes, blue shimmering through blue. Her chest heaves. “Garrett…”
“I’ve been watching you with my family all night long and you belong here.” I place a hand over my heart. “In the organ my sister was never sure I actually had.” I cast a glance Charlie’s way. “And when I told her I planned on proposing later, she insisted I do it tonight.”
Mom gasps, her hands flying to her mouth while my father gives me a proud—if watery—smile. Conner whispers a quiet, “I can’t believe this is actually happening,” and Charlie beams happily.
“You swore you wouldn’t leave until I asked you to.” I pull the ring out of my pocket and lower myself to one knee. “So, I’m asking you to be my Angel forever.”
I tell myself her answer is written on her face. That it’s clear she’ll say yes, but the silent second following my words send my heartrate into overdrive.
What if I only thought the answer was obvious?
What if I just put her on the spot in front of my entire family?
But then Angela’s face lights up. Tears fall from her eyes. She drops to her knees with me. “Do you mean it? You want me to marry you?”
“I need you to marry me.”
She cups my face, her thumbs grazing my cheekbones as she gives me a watery smile, then says the most beautiful word in all the world…
“Yes.”