Page 191 of Return Policy

A high-pitched laugh escapes her, and she slaps my chest. “Oh, come on, be serious. You’re a big winner!”

“The only way I’ll win tonight is if I get to call you my wife before we go to sleep.” I stop on the sidewalk, pulling her over to the side.

“Don’t you think it’d be a little rude to get married on someone else’s wedding trip?”

“This is just between you and me.”

“Elijah.”

“Sophia.” I drop to my knee.

“Elijah!” She throws a hand over her mouth and tugs on my hand, but I remain in place. “What are you doing?”

“I have been in love with you since the first time you brought me to my knees in Crystal Coffee.”

“We’ve only been dating a year,” Sophia whispers.

“And I’ll love you for a hundred more, Sunflower.”

“Elijah…”

“You are the absolute love of my fucking life. I literally wouldn’t be the person I am without you by my side. You were a lighthouse when I was adrift, calling me back to shore. I promise to continue cherishing you and protecting you for the rest of our lives. You’re it for me, and baby… I hope I’m it for you too. So please make me the luckiest son of a bitch alive and be my wife? And not just on a stupid fake ID.” My heart pounds against my chest as I struggle to find the right words. “I wantourlast name across your back at every game. I want your stupid little koalas cock blocking us on the bed. I wanna make love to you every time the rain pours, reminding me of the day you finally became mine.” Tears stream down her face, and I blink back my own tears. “Please marry me, Sunflower?”

“Tonight?” she asks timidly as her hand shakes in mine.

“Yes.”

“In Vegas?”

I huff out a laugh. “Yes.” My knee is sore from digging into the sidewalk, but I simply don’t give a shit.

“My dad’s gonna kill you for not asking him first.”

“Sophia… Of course I asked him.”

“What?” She balks. “When?”

“Over the summer. I told him things tend to fly out of my mouth around you, and I just wanted to make sure I had his blessing before I inevitably asked you to marry me.” I smile, remembering the conversation.It was the second time I thought he was gonna kill me with a shotgun… but so worth it.

“Oh…” Sophia says, her smile widening. “And what did he say?”

“That you’d be the luckiest woman alive to marry me.”

She throws her head back, laughing, and hits my shoulder. “That’s true…”

“He also said as long as you’re happy… he’s happy. Baby…” I release a shaky breath, squeezing her hand lightly. “You gotta answer me cause I’m freaking out here.”

Her expression softens. “I’ll absolutely marry you.”

My lips part open. “Really?”

“Yes.”

“Seriously?”

“Yes!”

Tears well in my eyes as I jump off the ground, scooping her into my arms. “She said yes!”

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