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She laughs softly.

“And you didn’t just remember who I used to be. You saw who I am now. The good parts. The ugly parts. All the shit I spent ten years trying to hide.”

My throat tightens.

“You never stopped loving me, Pumpkin.”

A tear slips down her cheek.

I brush it away with my thumb.

“And now I want to spend the rest of my life proving you were right.”

I reach into my jacket.

Her eyes widen.

“Gray?”

I pull out the black velvet box.

And drop to one knee.

The crowd gasps.

Autumn clamps a hand over her mouth.

“Oh, my God.”

I open the box.

Inside sits a platinum ring with a brilliant oval diamond and two smaller stones on either side.

Barbara assured me it was perfect.

I hope to hell she was right.

“Autumn Hayes,” I say, looking up at the only woman I’ve ever loved, “will you marry me?”

She stares.

Blinks.

Looks at the ring.

Then at me.

For one horrifying second, she doesn’t say anything.

Fuck.

Maybe Alaska isn’t such a bad idea.

“Pumpkin?”

She laughs through her tears.

“Yes!”