Page 103 of Bad Boys After Dark - Brett
Mick came around to Sophie’s side of the aisle and extended his hand. “Sophie, can you come with me, please?”
Oh no. Is there a work issue? “Sure.” She stepped from the aisle, and Mick offered his arm. “What’s going on?”
Dylan rose to his feet and placed a bouquet of flowers in her arms with a wink.
Sophie’s pulse spiked. “What’s this?”
Mick guided her toward the stage. Her pulse spiked anew with every step. “Mick?”
He placed his hand on her back, urging her forward, and said, “Deep breath, Sophie. Breathe.”
The lights brightened slowly, bringing life to a weeping willow decorated with yellow lights, a makeshift creek complete with running water and surrounded by plants and flowers like the creek in her parents’ backyard. When they reached the stage steps, she saw glittering gold and silver stars hanging from the ceiling, and beneath them Brett waited, looking darkly handsome and nervous in his navy suit and tie.
“Oh my God.” Her legs trembled. She was pretty sure she might pass out, and grabbed Mick’s arm to stabilize herself.
“Breathe, Sophie. This is your night.”
As Mick accompanied her up the steps, a rose-petal path came into view—leading directly to Brett.
Adeline began playing “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star” and Carson took Sophie by the elbow, as if he knew her legs had turned to jelly.
UNTIL COMING TOGETHER with Sophie, Brett’s life had been defined by a handful of happy memories followed by weighty, awful losses and several years of trying not to feel anything at all. As he watched his beautiful girlfriend walking across the stage clutching her bouquet, rose petals puddling at her feet, he wanted to memorize the trembling of her lower lip, the sway of her hips, and the look of love in her eyes. He never wanted to forget the sound of Adeline’s piano playing or the rush of emotions coursing through him. It was those all-consuming emotions that sent him forward, unable to wait a second longer to be by Sophie’s side.
Carson gave an approving nod as Brett took Sophie’s arm and led her up the path to the tree. “Hi, baby.”
“Brett…?” Her eyes darted to his family in the audience, then back to him again. “What are we doing?”
“I think you know.” He took her hand and got down on one knee.
“Oh God.” Tears welled in her eyes.
“I had a whole speech worked out, but now that you’re here, I can’t remember a word of it.”
She smiled as tears slid down her cheeks.
“You’re my diamond in the sky, baby. I want to celebrate our highs and be there to pull each other through the lows. I want to go to bed with you in my arms and wake to your smiling face. I want to make all your dreams come true, baby. I want everything with you. Will you marry me? Be my forever kiss?”
He rose to his feet, and she stepped closer, the bouquet of roses crushed between them as she whispered in a shaky voice, “Define everything?”
“Everything, baby. White picket fence, a house in Oak Falls for when you feel like going there, babies, sitting on the porch with a shotgun when our girls go to homecoming.”
She smiled through her tears, squeezing his hand, and asked, “Are you one hundred percent sure you want children?”
“Absolutely. I want as many as you want, and I promise to love them and provide for them and parent them enough that they’ll think I’m a big pain in the ass.”
She laughed and whispered, “That’s good, because I think I’m pregnant.”
Shocked laughter fell from his lips. “Pregnant? Really?”
She nodded. “I took a test before we came, and it was positive.”
“Baby!” he shouted. Tears sprang from his eyes as he hauled her against him. “Oh my God. We’re going to have a baby!” He kissed her hard, both of them laughing as gasps and cheers rang out around them. “Sophie, is that a yes?”
“Yes!” she said between kisses. “Yes, I’ll marry you!”
The lights brightened, and rose petals showered them from above as he slipped the diamond engagement ring on her finger. Then he reached into his pocket and handed her another ring.
