Page 69 of The Sweet Part
“Mason, we broke up.”
“That’s why I have this grand gesture, which I hope is legendary.”
Oh my God. He talked to Dad about his legendary grand gesture. I’d laugh if I weren’t so floored. I thought it was over. I thought it was ruined because of me. But he’s trying really hard.
He hands me the black case. I hold it awkwardly. It’s heavy.
He flips the latches of the case and opens it to show me. “It’s a tire-changing kit and pump, so you and Sophie never have to worry about getting stranded somewhere. See, this is a hydraulic jack to lift the car easily, and the pump reinflates fast. You plug it into a twelve-volt outlet in your car.”
I fight back a smile. This is so Mason to give a car accessory as a grand gesture. “Do I have a twelve-volt outlet in my car?”
“Yeah, I’ll show you where it is.” He points to a tool. “This is a wrench to get the lug nuts off the tire. We can do a test run whenever you want.”
I close the case. “Thank you.”
His expression turns solemn. “I’m committed to your and Sophie’s safety. I want to protect you both.”
“That’s not—”
“Just listen.” He pulls a folded piece of paper from his pocket. He unfolds it and clears his throat. “May, I love complicated. I love you. I’m prepared to commit to you and Sophie. No one will get their heart broken except me if you don’t say yes.”
My heart’s in my throat.Is he proposing?
Sophie runs downstairs with a huge armful of stuffed animals. “I couldn’t pick my three favorites, so I brought a bunch. What was the present?”
“Mason gave me a tire-changing kit to keep us safe,” I say.
“This is from the heart,” he says solemnly. “A love poem.”
Sophie giggles.
Mason gives her a dark look and continues, “I didn’t know what I was missing until I found you, May. When I’m with you, I feel whole, and when I’m not, all I can think about is being with you again. Your beauty, intelligence, kindness…” He glances at Sophie and folds the paper in half. “There’s a few other private things I’ll tell you later. It would make me the happiest man on earth if you would marry me.”
My heart hammers against my chest, the world going out of focus. I think I’m in shock.
14
Sophie claps. “Aunt Alice was right! The spark worked!”
Reality returns. “Mason, I-I don’t know what to say. I’m sosurprised.”
He gets down on one knee and holds up a diamond ring. “We can have a long engagement if you want. I just need you to know I’m all in. I love you, May, now and forever. Let me be a part of your and Sophie’s life. The two best girls I’ve ever met.”
Sophie beams, and so do I because he’s ready to commit to both of us, and that means everything. All the back-and-forth between us was really just me protecting my daughter. Okay, and protecting my own heart too. But I can’t resist him anymore.
“Yes!” I exclaim.
“Yay!” Sophie yells.
He slides the ring on my finger, rises, and pulls me into his arms, hugging me tight.
I pull back to look at him. “I love you.”
“I love you too. May, you’ve made me so happy.”
Sophie grabs our legs in a tight hug. “I love you too!”
Mason scoops her up. “Are you happy too?”
