Page 68 of Total Shutdown

Sitting on the opposite couch, Archer leans forward, resting his elbows on his knees, one brow raised at me in question. Next to him, Collins wears the same expression, as does Jenna.

Jack swallows thickly, his body language anxious. Reaching out, he takes Kendra’s left hand in his, interlacing their fingers, but not speaking.

“A-are you okay?” Kendra asks, cocking her head to the side and studying him carefully.

Jack swallows again.

Oh fuck. He’s gonna do it.

He smiles, trying to get ahold of his nerves. “I didn’t plan on doing this right now, but you know me—my mind runs away with an idea, and I can’t help myself.” He pauses and inhales a deep breath, his eyes meeting hers. “Especially when it comes to you.”

On the final word, he dips his right hand into his pants pocket, pulling out a small black box.

Kendra’s free hand covers her mouth, muffling her gasp.

“Fuck me, our boy Jack is getting motherfucking married!” Archer exclaims, and every head snaps his way.

He sinks back into the couch, cringing at himself. “At least … Ithinkthat’s what’s happening.”

“You really are a twat at times, aren’t you?” Jack shakes his head at our goalie, although I can tell he’s amused as he slowly drops to one knee, eyes returning to Kendra.

“Wait.” She stops him with a hand underneath his arm. “There’s only one time I want you on your knees for me, and this isn’t it. Look me in the eye while you ask me.” Her voice is barely a whisper, and the room is deadly silent as we all look on.

Jack takes their still-joined hands and hovers it over the box. “Pop the lid, Kitten.”

I steal a quick glance at Collins—a palm over her mouth and her eyes glassy—and I witness a little more of her hardened exterior melt away in the face of pure love.

And that’s what Jack and Kendra have—the kind of love written about in books.

When Jack releases her hand and Kendra opens the box, the gateway to her emotions bursts open, tears rolling down her cheeks.

“Is it a ruby?” she asks.

Jack plucks the yellow gold band from the box, a single large ruby set on top. “Matches Scarlett.”

While Jack grins and a laugh bursts from Kendra’s chest, I conclude Scarlett is some kind of inside joke I do not want to know about.

“I’ve had it for a few months now, Kitten. I was convinced the right time would be when we headed to your mum and dad’s for Thanksgiving, but then I got this urge to ask you tonight, in front of all our friends and in our home. Plus, your brother has been calling me nonstop since I got the ring, wanting to know if I popped the question. I think, deep down, I knew you were it for me the second I laid eyes on you in college. Even if you barely knew my name.” He pockets the box and wraps his hand around the nape of her neck, bringing her forehead to rest against his.

As she takes her hand back, they both hold the ring between them, and Kendra releases a gentle sob. “I always thought you were hot, especially your accent.”

Everyone laughs briefly, including Jack.

“I bided my time and waited for you to work out that you deserved an upgrade to someone who would treat you like the queen that you were. And I was lucky enough for that guy to be me.”

Jack removes his hand from the nape of Kendra’s neck, tipping her chin up to look at him. Just as she wanted, they’re eyeball to eyeball, and it’s the most intimate proposal I’ve ever seen, only something soulmates could pull off.

“Marry me, Kendra. Let’s forever eat chili late at night and quoteFriendswhile sitting on the couch. Let me ply you with Yorkshire Tea and take you to some of the best bakeries in England. Let’s make a home in the US and maybe, one day, fill it with our children. And even if, you grow to hate clotted cream and get tired of sitcoms, let me stand beside you as you take different paths in life. As Ross would say, we canpivottogether.”

The second that word leaves Jack’s mouth, my eyes are back on Collins, and this time, she has hers on me.

A tear falls from her left eye, shining in the soft light of the apartment, and she quickly swipes it away.

I’ve never seen Collins cry. I need to go to her, my arms itching to wrap around her frame and pull her into my body.

But this is Jack and Kendra’s moment, so I keep my ass firmly planted on the chair, my attention locked on the girl I shared my best night with.

“Yes,” Kendra replies.

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