Page 153 of For the Boys
“At the cabin?” Brent asked. “Well yeah, I own it.”
Berkley swatted at his stomach. “Okay, smartass. I mean in general. Together. After everything the last year has put us through.”
“Well…” When Brent didn’t finish his thought, Berkley looked up at him. He was watching the sky, his right hand shoved deep in his pocket. “I think any couple goes through their fair share of hardships to get to the good stuff.”
Berkley snorted. “How diplomatic of you.”
He turned his head and smiled down at her. “I’m just saying. Maybe it didn’t happen the way we wanted. It certainly wasn’t easy. But it all happened exactly as it was supposed to. It led us to each other, to right here, to this moment. This single, perfect moment. The beginning of a lifetime of them.”
Berkley grinned back at him. She could truly melt into a puddle at his feet when he said things like that. How did she get so lucky? “This is a pretty perfect moment.”
Brent pulled away. “I’m gonna go check my phone really quick. Make sure we’re getting the best shot.”
“Hurry!”
His footsteps thudded across the dock, moving away from her.
“Babe, you’re going to miss it! Forget the damn phone!”
Moments later the footsteps returned, and Brent grabbed her hand. “Berk.”
“Yeah, babe?” she said, not taking her eyes from the sky.
“Berkley, look at me.”
She turned and found him down on one knee next to her.
Berkley’s hands flew to her mouth. “Brent! What are you doing?”
The corners of his lips tipped up, and he shook his head. “You can’t even let me do this without arguing with me!”
“What exactly is this?” she asked, frantically gesturing at him.
“Just be quiet and let me get this out.” He reached up and gripped her hand with shaking fingers, and that alone was enough to shut her up.
Brent Jean did not get nervous.
“Ever since the first time I saw you at the bar, singing karaoke, I knew there was something special about you. The night of your birthday party, when we first talked, I couldn’t shake the feeling that you were it for me, that you were the one who was going to change everything. And you did. I’m so thankful for every part of our life together.” He paused and stood, digging in his pocket and removing a small blue velvet box. He knelt back down and opened it for her.
Nestled inside was a ring featuring a stunning marquise diamond with three smaller, round stones on each side, set in a simple rose gold band. It was elegant, incredibly unique, and probably ridiculously expensive.
Berkley loved it.
“Berkley Iris Daniels,” Brent said, drawing her attention back to his face. “I love you more than I’ve loved anyone or anything in my life, including hockey. I would give it all up if you asked. If it meant spending the rest of my life with you, I would do it, but I’m hoping you’ll let me keep playingandkeep you. Will you marry me?”
The sun broke the horizon then, spilling orange light across the sky like an egg yolk cracked into a pan. In an instant, the once shadowed trees became vibrant green, the light dappled the dark teal waves of the lake, making them sparkle, and the ring lit up like a beacon, refracting rainbows all around them.
But Berkley only had eyes for Brent.
Beaming down into his handsome face, Berkeley replied without hesitation, “Yes.”
