Page 64 of Strong Side
Once Noelle and I became an actual couple—officially at least since, in my head, we’d been together long before she realized it—we haven’t spent a night apart. She’s either at my place or I’m at hers, and somewhere along the way, “your place” and “my place” blurred into “ours.”
Winter brought in a steady rhythm of classes, workouts, and stolen nights together. During the holidays, we stayed on campus, only going home for Thanksgiving and Christmas, but even then, we split our time between both families. To say her parents are ecstatic about our new relationship is an understatement.
Noelle’s birthday lands just before Christmas, and I wanted her all to myself, which is another reason we didn’t rush home. Chelsea went back for the break, so we had her apartment entirely to ourselves. New Year’s brought my roommates back, and we rang it in with them, champagne and all.
Meanwhile, Beck had been grinding through the winter with early mornings in the weight room, afternoons running drills, nights studying film. As the combine approached, he treated every workout like it was his ticket to the league.
I’d been training with him to keep myself in shape mostly. It was also nice to spend some time with him before he leaves once the draft is over. He’ll always be a part of my life, but he’s been in my life every day since he moved to Troy when we were kids. It’ll be weird when he’s gone. And my sister, too, since she’ll go with him eventually.
After one of our workouts, we took the long way home, and we talked about what our futures would look like.
“Case, I know this isn’t a surprise to you, but I’m gonna marry Charlie. I don’t really care when. Fuck, I would marry her today if she let me. You know she’s my endgame, and I can’t live a day without her.” He tapped his fingers on the steering wheel in his truck.
“Yeah, I know.”
“I guess I just want to make sure we’re good. You’re my best friend, and I’m pretty sure you would have kicked my ass by now if you didn’t want me with your sister, but I just need to know you’re okay with all of it.” He looked at me sincerely.
“Are you asking me for my blessing? Because I feel like that’s something you need to talk to my parents about, no?” I smirked.
He nodded slowly. “I will for sure, but like I said, you’re my best friend and her twin brother, man. It’s important to me—and I know to her—that you’re happy for us.”
I put my hand on his shoulder. This wasn’t the conversation I expected to have, but I’m deeply honored he thought about me. “Of course, Beck. I literally couldn’t have picked a better man for my sister. I’m really happy for you both.”
“Okay, cool, because I’m gonna ask her to marry me the day of the draft.” His smile spread slowly.
“Naturally, because emotions won’t be high enough that day.” I laughed, but reached out my hand for a handshake and pulled him in for a hug. “Congrats, brother.”
Beck isn’t a spur-of-the-moment kind of guy. He’d been planning the proposal down to a T.
Spring came fast. Then Beck went to the combine, impressed every scout in the building, and kept training right up until today—draft day. We’re all at his dad’s house, the TV tuned to the coverage. It’s strange, knowing I won’t be suiting up with my best friend again. But he’s not really leaving, especially since, in a few hours, he’s planning to propose to my sister.
He’s surprising her at the tree we used to race to at our elementary school. It has meaning to them, and I really couldn’t be happier. He’s like a brother to me as it is, in all the ways that count.
I’m standing in the kitchen, getting some snacks, when Noelle comes up to me and wraps her arm around my waist.
“I’m dying, Case. I wish we could be down there with them.” She has a big smile on her face, and she’s bouncing on her toes.
“Okay, guys, Charlie just ran out of the house! It’s go time!” my dad yells from the family room.
My mom sent her home to get something sheforgotfor Beck. I don’t know the details, but Beck left her a note, telling her to meet him at the tree.
I pull Noelle into me and lean down to kiss her. “You’re about to see it, it sounds like. Come on.”
I take her hand and follow my family and Beck’s outside the house. Bo and Silas are here, too, and they follow us out.
“I can’t believe they’re getting engaged, bro. What’s with our friends proposing on draft day?” Bo shakes his head. “I think I’ll be too tied up with nerves to be thinking about anything else.”
“Well, considering you don’t have a girlfriend, I think you’ll be fine.” Silas smacks him on the chest and laughs.
“Yet. I don’t have a girlfriend yet. And it’s not because I can’t. I just haven’t found the right girl.” He shoves Silas playfully.
“Yeah, yeah. So you say.”
We’ve gotten closer to Silas this year, and he’s easily become one of my best friends. He fits in well with Archie and Liam too.
They came back to Walker a few weeks ago for a visit. We hadn’t seen Liam since the summer before the school year. He had transferred to Michigan in hopes of starting as their QB since Bo had taken his spot at Walker. They didn’t win the championship, but they got further than we did. He declared for the draft, so we’ll be watching him today too.
We all stand in the middle of the street with a view of Charlie and Beck. We’re too far to hear anything, but when we see Beck get down on one knee, I hear a sniffle. Noelle is standing in front of me, my arms around her waist. I lean over to look at her. Her hands are covering her mouth, and a tear falls from her eye.
