Page 81 of The Risks of Reuniting

She playfully straightens to her full height and grows serious. "Holt Alvarez, I have a proposal for you."

My lips twitch. "I like where this is going."

She fights a smile, but stays serious, which is funny because she looks adorable in a retro Rainbow Brite T-shirt and jean shorts. "I propose that you help me start packing my things. I would like to join you in North Carolina for a timespan of three years, after which we will reopen negotiations about where we go next."

My heart thuds in my chest as I look to make sure she means it. Her eyes are solemn but glowing with happiness and sincerity. I lick dry lips and nod.

"I would like to read the fine print on this before I sign."

She loses the battle on her grin. "That shows real business sense, and I like it. What are your concerns?"

"What made you decide you want to go to North Carolina rather than have me come here?" I ask.

She sets down the tape and marker and motions for me to join her, sitting on the side of her bed. She takes the flowers from my hand once we're seated and sniffs at them with a soft, private smile of pleasure thatmakes me so glad I brought them. She deserves pretty things even if she doesn't normally seek them out.

Her dark, dreamy eyes meet mine. "I had the chance to make my dream a reality," she says reflectively. "I went to school, became a hygienist, and found that fulfillment. I want that for you, Holt. I don't ever want to be the person, or reason, that holds you back. Love requires sacrifice, yes, but years down the road I don't want either of us to wish we'd had more courage, or made bigger choices. I want this for you."

"What about what you want?"

"I want this for me too," she says, placing a cool, small hand over the sleeve of my dress shirt. "I want to live a fuller life. I want to see where we can go as a couple, and as individuals. I don't want a small life. I want a brave life."

My throat is thick as I watch her beautiful face. I can't believe I'm hearing this. "I don't deserve this," I whisper past the emotion.

"You do, love. You deserve everything. And so do I."

It feels like heaven when I lean forward and take her mouth with mine. I lift her onto my lap as we kiss, pressing her slim body tight against mine, tipping my head back to keep kissing her. I pour all my gratitude, and surprise, and adoration into the kiss. I love this woman, and I will never take it for granted that she chose to do this. Ever, ever, ever.

After more time than I should admit to, we pull apart, our faces flushed and our eyes bright. I caress her back as she tucks her head against my shoulder. We sit in silence for a few moments, me basking in the joy shooting through me. Eventually, though, a few real things need to be discussed.

"Where will you live?" I ask her, hating to break the spell around us. "And did you figure out your hygienist certification?"

"I did finally speak to a real person this morning – amazing timing, right? – and I'll need to take a written test, pass a hand skills test, and pay a licensing fee, but I should be able to practice fairly quickly. I'm still figuring out the details, but it's coming along."

"And housing?" I ask.

Right now I'm in the dorms with Brock, who was randomly assigned to live with me, and who I'm okay with. I don't want to make any assumptions about what she'd be comfortable with. I just know it can't be on campus, as she's not a student.

She takes a deep breath, as though prepping herself, and I hold perfectly still.

"I'd like to take you up on that offer you made in Peru, the one about marrying me and making promises before God. It sounds good to me, and I'm in."

It takes a minute for the words to penetrate, and when they do I'm still not sure I heard her right. "I'd like to confirm that you just proposed marriage to me."

She huffs, the warm air flowing over my neck. "I didn't propose, I accepted your strange proposal made a couple of weeks ago in a foreign country."

And with that, I crack, laughing and hugging her so tight it's probably painful. "That was a pretty sad proposal. I can do better."

Her head shifts against my shoulder. "No. I want to remember you saying those words and know you meant them. It was so honest, you know? Better than anything you could have rehearsed or planned out."

We're silent for a few heartbeats, soaking each other in, letting the feelings flow between us. I think about the heated words in Peru and how I'd meant them from the bottom of my soul, but they weren't technically a proposal.

I'm not about to ruin this by saying that, so instead I say, "Will you really marry me?" It's a sneak-attack, but I need to ask the question all the same.

"Yes, love, I want to marry you. Even more than that, I'm not going to let us mess this up," she says. "No matter how hard we try."

"Me either."

"You said you're glue, and I'm the gluiest of glues, so we're stuck with each other. I'm not watching you walk away, I'm not watching you try to move back to Salt Lake. Allie is going to find a roommate, and I'm going to figure out dental hygiene in another state, and you're going to graduate with your PharmD and then we're going to live happily ever after." She sucks in a breath after her tirade and I nod. "I might be terrified, but I'll get over it and find things to love on the east coast."

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