Page 32 of Banking on Love

“Me too, Kenz. Me too.”

We small-talked as the Ferris wheel went around and around. When we got off, Kallia and Kimberly dragged us throughout the festival. No stone was left unturned. We stopped at every booth, sampled every food, tried every craft, posed in the photo booth, and even headed to the Sweetheart’s Dance; where each of us girls took turns dancing with our dad and Nick.

The night was finally coming to an end. Nick and I were slow dancing, enjoying the cool night’s breeze and the slow melody as it was played by the live band. Everything was perfect.

“What has you smiling, Beautiful?” Nick asked softly.

“I’m just happy,” I replied, smiling up at him. “This has been one of the best days of my life and I owe it all to you, Nick.”

“Hey, you’re giving me too much credit,” he chuckled.

“No. I’m giving you the credit you deserve.” My words began to crack as the tears began to fill my eyes. Nick looked at me concerningly. “They’re happy tears. I promise,” I giggled, holding back that waterworks.

“Are you sure?”

“Absolutely,” I smiled brightly. “You are so incredible. And each day I find more and more things about you that put me in aw.”

“You’re going to make me blush, Beautiful,” he whispered.

“Thought you didn’t blush, Sir?” I teased and we both laughed. “Thank you for today, Nick.”

“You don’t need to thank me, Kensi,” he shook his head. “I’m just glad it is all working out.”

“You’ve been piecing together my life since day one.” When he started laughing, I stopped dancing and frowned up at him.

“Sorry. It’s not what you think,” he said apologetically. We started dancing again. “I was laughing because I had just told your father how you’ve been gluing all my broken pieces back together.”

“What? You did?” He nodded in response. “What are the odds that we’d both think that about the other?”

“One-in-a-million, Beautiful. That’s why I had to get the moment perfect.”

“The moment? What mome–” I asked, but my words fell silent when Nick dropped to one knee. In his hand was a red ring box. My entire world stopped as I watched the scene unfold in front of me. Those around us stopped dancing and looked at Nick and me. Behind Nick, I could see Kallia, Kimberly, and my father grinning ear-to-ear.

Of course, they were in on it,I mused to myself.

“I know we haven’t known each other very long. And, I know that this is probably the last thing you expected me to do, considering we aren’t dating; however,” Nick took a deep breath, opened the ring box, displaying a beautiful diamond ring then continued, “I don’t want to miss out on a single second with you, Kensi Wallace. I had this cheesy line ofWill you bank on lovesince you work at a bank and all, but–”

“Banking on love?” I giggled. He chuckled nervously and nodded.

“Cheesy I know.”

“Cute. Definitely cute.”

“Get on with it!” Kimberly shouted. Kallia and my dad both scolded her and she shrugged, making me laugh.

“Kensi Wallace, will you make me the luckiest man on the planet and give me the honors of calling you, my wife?” Nick asked with his voice trembling.

“Yes,” I replied softly. So faintly, I wondered if he had even heard me. But when he took out the ring, slipped it on my finger, then jumped up onto his feet and kissed me like there was no tomorrow, I knew he had heard me loud and clear.

The crowd exploded with cheering. Two arms bear-hugged Nick and me. I didn’t need to break our kiss to know that it was my two meddling sisters.

“Alright. Come up for air,” my dad chuckled, causing Nick and me to end our kiss. The kiss was too short but I had no doubt that there’d be plenty of kisses in our future.

“And, here I thought I might have missed the big moment,” Mrs. Carter said, standing next to me.

“Mrs. Carter!” I smiled. She opened her arms and I immediately hugged her.

“I just knew you two would be perfect for each other,” she whispered in my ear.

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