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Surprisingly, my Aunt Annabeth had been thrilled about the pregnancy. My aunt was a wonderful woman, and cared deeply about her family, which often made her come across like an angry bear, but I always knew her heart was in the right place.
Now that she saw how happy I was, and how committed Chloe and I both were, my aunt had turned over a new leaf.
Even though we weren’t married yet, Chloe was already officially a member of our family in the eyes of everyone. Although I’d told her I was willing to wait to get married, I hadn’t told her how long I wanted to wait, which was why, after just four months together, I was currently staging my marriage proposal.
Was it quick? Maybe.
Did I care? Absolutely not.
I’d measured every woman I’d dated against her and they’d all come up short, and now that I had the woman of my dreams on my arm, I wanted to make sure she stayed there. Permanently.
“I bought Laurel out of magnolias,” Dillon said as he pushed a cart of the fragrant flowers down the aisle of the movie theater.
“Thanks, man,” I said as I rushed to meet him.
We made a trail with the buds that led from the entrance of the theater to the large open walkway at the front. I’d first thought of leading it to the chairs we’d sat in when we’d watched Star Wars together that first night, but I’d decided it made more sense, and gave me more room, to do it in the front.
I scattered the flowers in a large circle, leaving room for me to kneel before her, then set candles out strategically throughout the circle.
“Old Mr. Thomas know you’re planning to light a fire in his theater?” Dillon asked, looking over his shoulder as if expecting to see the fire marshal come in at any moment.
“It’ll be fine,” I assured him. “I’ll light them when Zoey gives the signal, then blow them out as soon as I’m done. He’ll never know the difference.”
“Small-town lawyer, arrested for starting fire during proposal,” Dillon said in his best news anchor voice. “News at eleven.”
“Oh, shut up and help me clean this up.”
Once everything was in place, Dillon started to roll the cart and empty boxes out of the theater. He stopped when I called out, “Thanks, Dillon, I owe you one.”
“Anytime, brother,” he replied with a quick grin over his shoulder, then made himself scarce.
I looked around at the space, satisfied that it looked pretty damn good, when my phone went off. I almost dropped it as I tried to get it out of my pocket and to my ear, but luckily I held on long enough to answer.
“Hello?”
“Yes, this is Zoey, I just wanted to confirm that you’re showing Thor tonight at seven.”
I didn’t answer, that was my cue, so I just hung up and started moving frantically around, trying to light the candles with shaky hands. My stomach started clenching, and I worried I was going to vomit as the realization of what I was about to do hit me.
What if she said no?
“What is going on, Zo? Why are you pushing me? It’s pitch black in here.”
I got in place and stood tall, eyes on the entryway as I took a cleansing breath.
As soon as I saw Chloe, gorgeous in her purple sundress, hair done up in a sleek ponytail, eyes wide on me, all of my nerves fled.
“Reardon?” she said breathlessly as she looked around the theater.
I held out a hand, urging her to follow the flower path to me, then watched as she moved forward.
“Oh my god,” Chloe said, her voice full of tears as she entered the circle.
I took her fingertips in mine and dropped to one knee.
“Chloe Zahn, you amazingly beautiful soul,” I began, my voice strong and clear. “I have loved you since the first moment I saw you across the smoky bar, and have since dreamed of calling you mine. You’re even more wonderful now, fourteen years later. More beautiful, more smart, more kind, and savvy. You’re a terrific mother, loving sister, and loyal friend. You’re the woman of my dreams, and the star of my reality. I want to spend the rest of my days loving you, and being a father to our children. I know I’m your perfect match, your perfect partner, and I can’t wait any longer to let the world know that we’ll be spending our lives together.”
I reached in my suit pocket and pulled out the jewelry box, opening it to expose the cathedral diamond engagement ring within.
