Page 104 of What Should Have Been Ours

My mom’s eyes glisten, and my dad gives me a tight nod, his throat working as he swallows hard.

I turn to Wes next, shaking my head. “And you.”

Wes smirks. “Oh no, am I about to get a sentimental speech too?”

I laugh, shaking my head. “Shut up. I just want you to know that you’ve always been more than just my best friend. You’re my brother. And even though you’re the biggest pain sometimes, I wouldn’t have made it through this without you either.”

Wes coughs, shifting in his chair. “Alright, alright. Enough with all the feelings.” He pauses, and I can see him trying to collect himself before continuing, “I love you, man. I’m glad you’re still here. I actually don’t know what I would do without you around.”

I nod at him before finally turning to Gabrielle. And suddenly, everything else in the room fades away. She’s staring up at me, her eyes searching mine, like she knows something is coming, just not sure what.

I reach for her hand, lifting it gently.“Gabrielle, I’ve loved you since we were kids.” My voice is rougher now, making me feel stupid for how emotional I’m getting. “And even through all the years we spent apart, I never stopped. You were always it for me. No matter how much time passed, no matter how much life changed us—I think I’ve always known you were it for me, even if I didn’t know when I’d find my way back to you.”

Her lips part slightly, her fingers squeezing mine.

I swallow hard, trying to push through.

“God’s timing is a crazy thing. And maybe—maybe he knew exactly when I was going to need you back in my life. Maybe he knew you were always meant to be here, right beside me, through all of this.”

I pull the velvet box from my pocket, my heart pounding as I slowly lower myself down on one knee.

Gabrielle gasps quietly, making me have to hold back my smirk.

“I don’t want to waste the time we do have,” I tell her, feeling oddly steady. “I don’t want you to ever have to doubt how much you mean to me, or how much I want forever with you.”

Her eyes are already shining with tears.

“Gabrielle Naomi Voss, will you marry me?”

For a second, she just stares at me, like she can’t quite believe this is happening.

“Yes.” It’s barely a whisper at first. Then she nods, laughing through her tears. “Yes. Yes. Yes.”

The second the words leave her mouth, I slide the ring onto her finger, my hands trembling slightly. And then I stand, pulling her into me, pressing my lips to hers as the entire room bursts into cheers.

My mom and Kinsley are crying, Wes is whistling obnoxiously, and Gabrielle’s mom and my dad are clapping.

But none of it matters. It’s all faded into the background because all I can feel is her right now. All I can see is her. I think that’s all I’ve ever been able to see, really.

When we finally break apart, she looks down at the ring, shaking her head in disbelief. “Cam…when did you even—how did you—?”

I grin. “I’ve been planning it since I first got admitted to the hospital. Even before that day in the hospital when I told you I wanted to marry you.”

Her jaw drops. “But—you just got out yesterday—”

“Wes helped me,” I admit, glancing over at him. “A lot of FaceTime calls, a lot of sending him on wild goose chases to every jeweler in the city until we found the perfect one.”

She stares at me for a second before looking back down at the ring, twisting it gently on her finger.

Then she looks back up at me. “It’s perfect.”

I pull her in again, pressing my forehead to hers. “You’re perfect,” I murmur. “And I’m so lucky to have gotten you back.”

I try not to think about what the future holds and just focus on my feelings in the present. I feel like—at least for right now—everything in my world is exactly how it’s supposed to be.

41

Gabrielle