Page 105 of Christmas Sweater Weather

Everyone laughed. But I waited.

She looked up at the press box and rolled her eyes. “Fine.”

“You hear that, folks? I poured out my soul, and she saidfine. Better than a no, I guess.” I paused for the crowd to react. “For this next activity, could you please go look on the center of the diamond, Coach Calhoun?”

She sighed, like she was annoyed with my antics, but I was ready. I was more than ready. The same umpire madeit look like he was clearing the pitching mound, but he had set the ring on the center of it. A little risky, but worth it.

She stilled once she realized what it was.

“Will you marry me?” I asked into the mic.

She picked it up and stared at it before glancing up at the press box. She shouted something but I couldn’t quite make it out.Please be a yes, please be a yes.

“Was that a yes?”

The crowd hollered now. I opened the window. “Ask me to my face!” she yelled, cupping her hands around her mouth.

Oh. Of course.

I jogged down the stairs, through the door, and over to the third base dugout fence as everyone cheered. The cool October air hit my skin as I approached Charlotte. She looked fierce, confident, and beautiful. A sparkle danced in her eyes, like this amused her.

My gut settled. I had chosen this proposal because I knew she’d enjoy it. And just like that, seeing her smile at me as I neared her, my nerves disappeared. The last ten months had been the best of my life. Laughter came easy, and talking about feelings wasn’t painful.

I even maybe kinda sorta was proud of myself.

“Charlotte,” I said, fighting a smile. The field smelled like dirt and popcorn, and the wind whipped her hair around from her ponytail. I gently pushed some wild hair behind her ear, my heart racing. “I want you to be my wife. Will you please marry me?”

She glanced at the ground, arching a brow.

“Ah, of course.” I laughed now. My stubborn-as-hellwoman wanted the whole on-the-knee thing. I crouched and took the ring she held in her hands. From this angle, the nerves returned, but they were the healthy kind. We’d talk about this moment forever, telling our friends and family and future kids. I’d do whatever she wanted, as long as she said yes.

“I like when you look up at me,” she whispered, her eyes glistening. “If you know what I mean.”

“I know what you mean.” I shook my head, snorting. I spent a lot of time on my knees around her. “Now, I’m going to ask this one more time, and you’re going to say yes and put me out of my misery. Charlotte Calhoun, will you please marry me?”

“Yes. I think I will.”

I took her left hand, slid the ring on her finger, and pulled her in for a kiss. The crowd cheered, and the girls all swarmed us, clapping and squealing. Charlotte giggled against my mouth, her hands trembling as she gripped the collar of my jacket.

“Does this match your dream proposal?”

“This is better.” She nuzzled me. “So much better. Marrying you is the dream come true, Hayden. I can’t wait to love you forever.”

Charlotte might’ve won the game, but I was the real winner here. She had taught me to believe those words. She would love me and push me and help me grow. Not that it was a competition, but I was coming out on top with the real prize. I got to be with this woman, and I’d never let her forget how much she meant to me. That was a promise.