Page 94 of Under My Skin

“Congrats, ladies! Finishing med school is ahugeaccomplishment. I’msoproud of both of you and I’m so excited to be here celebrating with you today,” she continued. “So, these first few songs are by request of Braden. Please sing with me if you know them!”

As the band started to play the whimsical opening notes of “Snow on the Beach,” Braden put his hands on my shoulders, gently turning me to look at him.

“Fuck, I had this whole speech all planned out, but now that we’re standing here, I can’t remember a single word of it,” he chuckled nervously. “Because the only thought that keeps running through my head is how much I love you and Isaac and the life we’ve built together. How proud I am of everythingyou’ve accomplished since I’ve known you. Not just graduating from med school in the top five percent of your class, but overcoming everything life’s thrown at you. Bulldozing down every single obstacle in your path. Pouring your heart and soul into being an incredible partner to me and an amazing mother to our son. Every single day when I wake up next to you, I still wonder how the hell I got lucky enough that out of everyone in the whole world, you chosemeto love and share your life with. Because you wanting me? It feels ridiculous. Impossible. And like the most beautiful dream ever.”

Reaching into his pocket, Braden pulled out a small velvet box and dropped to one knee. As he popped the lid to reveal a beautiful platinum ring with a round-cut diamond in the center and two small pink and white diamond butterflies on either side, all the air seemed to vacate my lungs as tears of pure joy stung my eyes and started to trickle down my cheeks.

“Dr. Daniela Sofía Ramos, all I want is to spend the rest of my life showing you every single day exactly how much I love you. So…how do you feel about becoming Dr. Hicks instead? ¿Te casarías conmigo, hermosa?”Will you marry me, beautiful?

Giggling and beaming down at him, I nodded like a bobblehead. “Sí. Sí. ¡Claro que sí!”Yes. Yes. Of course!

Taking my left hand, Braden brushed his lips over my knuckles before sliding the ring onto my finger. And I couldn’t even wait for him to stand back up. I bent down and crashed my lips to his, pouring every single bit of awe, wonder, amazement, love, and pure, unbridled joy in my heart into this connection. Vowing to spend every single day of the rest of mylife showing him how grateful I was that despite all the heartache that had led us to this point, he’d chosen to love me through it. Choosing to lovehimthrough whatever obstacles might lay ahead.

Because together, we could get through anything. Together, we were a force of nature. Unstoppable. Unbeatable. And unbreakable.

THE END

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