Nick kissed her softly. “I did.” Lifting his mouth, he gazed into Maisie’s eyes.
She put a hand to his chest, kissed him again. “Good. Then it’s rock, paper, scissors time unless you just want to go with my pick ofHow to Lose a Guy in 10 Days.”
Nick scoffed. “That doesnotsound good.”
She arched her brows. “Kate Hudson?”
He pursed his lips. “Maybe.”
Maisie laughed and started to reach across him for the remote. Nick held her still. “Actually, I already chose.”
Maisie looked at the screen to see that, sure enough, the TV was on, the little screen saver bouncing across it.
“That’s not fair. Cheater.”
Nick laughed, kissed her cheek. “Promise you’ll like it.”
She shrugged since she was sort of tired and didn’t care what they watched. Nick grabbed the remote and pressed play.
Music filled the room but the screen stayed dark. Maisie recognized the instrumental version of a song she loved but couldn’t quite place it. Then the screen lit up and pictures started moving across the TV. Pictures of Maisie and Nick.
Sitting straighter, she turned her head. “What is this?”
Nick kissed the tip of her nose. “Just watch.”
Turning back to the screen, she saw so many of the photographs she’d taken. Them at Christmas, him at the wedding, even photos from today. Their families—Asher’s smiling face, Lexi and Will, Ethan. It was like a photographic timeline of their relationship playing to an Ed Sheeran melody.
Maisie’s breath caught in her throat when she saw a photograph she didn’t take, one she hadn’t even seen. It was Nick holding her, his forehead pressed against hers, the two of them in profile. Maisie remembered the moment; Natalie had been in labor and they were waiting at the hospital. The hours upon hours dragged and Maisie felt completely helpless. Nick had pulled her close and told her that being there was all she could do and sometimes that’s all a person needed; to know you were there.
The photos shifted and moved, sliding over one another in time to the music. One of Maisie laughing, her head tipped back, mouth slightly open, while Nick looked at her with so much love stayed steady on the screen. Then words started to scroll across the photograph.
Maisie,
Will
You
Marry
Me
?
Sucking in a quick breath, Maisie turned to look at Nick and saw he was holding a diamond solitaire in between his thumb and forefinger, a smile on his face.
“I love you,” he told her.
Maisie pressed her teeth into her bottom lip to quell her immediate urge to cry. It did no good. A couple of tears broke free as Nick moved, adjusted them so he could take her left hand.
“I want a lifetime of photographs and memories with you, Maisie. Will you marry me?”
Simple. Sweet. Perfect. Their version of a hat trick. She nodded before the word, “Yes,” escaped in a watery laugh. “Yes. Yes. Yes.”
The diamond he slipped onto her ring finger was square cut, perched high on a thin gold band. Once it reached the base of her finger, he brought her hand to his lips and kissed her there. Maisie laughed, more tears falling.
Nick pulled her close, bringing both of his hands to her face. “Told you you’d like it,” he whispered.
Maisie wrapped her hands around his wrists, laughing. “I loved it. I love you.”
