Page 159 of The Forever Vault

“I’ve wanted to do this for a long time, but with working on the cottage for years and training for the Olympics, there never seemed like the perfect time. But life’s too short to wait, and things can change so quickly that I don’t want to live another moment as your boyfriend. I want to be something more. I want to be connected. I want- I want to be your husband. Camden Kane, you are the most selfless, kind, understanding, caring and beautiful man I’ve ever known. Will you marry me?”

He let go of my hand to wipe the tears from his face and tried to speak, but I could barely hear anything, so he started nodding, then cleared his throat. “Yes! Yes, I'll marry you.”

I tossed the microphone on the table and launched myself into his arms for a hug, which then morphed into a very serious kiss. The room filled with applause, and if it wasn’t for that reminder, I think we would’ve taken things further. I could feel his excitement between us.

“Does that answer the question?” Cam asked.

I resituated myself at my microphone and for whatever reason said, “I don’t have any rings though.”

Cam turned to me and smiled. “After all this, for one second, I forgot.”

I watched him reach down, unzip his left jacket pocket, and pull out…a small box. He moved his hand on top of the table, so everyone could see, then opened it. Inside were two gold rings, each had a colored band running through the middle.

“I was going to ask you sometime soon, and I had these made for us.”

I ignored the chorus of admiration coming from the room and focused on the rings. “Emerald for me, and sapphire for you?” I asked.

Cam nodded. “Mine is engraved on the inside with ‘I love you’ and yours is engraved with ‘I love you more.’ Do you like them?”

“I love them,” I said, holding my hand out for him to put the ring on. “It’s a perfect fit. How did you know?”

“I got it while you were sleeping,” he leaned in to whisper.

“Did you get us matching cockrings?” I asked in turn.

“There’s an idea,” Cam replied.

“Here, let me,” I said, taking the box from him to give him his own ring. “They’re beautiful. I feel so fancy.”

“Let’s see those rings, gentlemen!”

“Can we get another kiss?”

“When’s the wedding?”

“Congratulations, gentlemen,” Woodward said, meeting us in the hallway off of the press room. “Unplanned perfection as always. At least everyone that wasn't there will be able to see it, which reminds me, I better call-”

His phone started ringing. “Looks like they’re calling me. Have a good night, but don’t celebrate too hard. You have one more event, Cam.”

“Night, Coach,” we both said, before turning to jog down the hall.

I could feel my phone vibrating and hear Cam’s before we made it outside.

“We have to try to find her before she hears it from somebody else,” Cam said.

“Well, if she stayed with anyone from the group, that’s unlikely. Doesn’t she get notifications whenever you’re in the news anyway?”

“I forgot about that.” Cam frowned, but I squeezed his hand to reassure him.

“We’ll find her.”

“She texted she’s in the middle of the big silver balls.”

“That’s the southeast corner,” I said.

“You certainly know your stuff about balls.”

“Lots of practice, but I’ve never seen them silver. Maybe we can buy some body paint and have some fun for Halloween this year?” I suggested.