One-handed, I opened the box, showing the ring to her and shutting her the fuck up. “What… What are you doing?” she whispered dazedly.
“Trying to do it right,” I explained as I set the box down and pulled out the ring. Placing it on her finger, I leaned in, my eyes holding hers hostage, and I nearly groaned when they filled with tears. “I love you, Kelli. I want to spend my future with you. Let me cherish you and show you every day of the rest of our lives that you will always be my number one. No matter what happens, I will always put you first. Marry me. Love me.”
“Holy shit,” she breathed, tears spilling over, flooding down her cheeks. “You really just asked me…”
“Marry me, Kell.”
“I…” She shook her head, and my stomach filled with lead as I waited for her to laugh in my face and tell me “Fuck no” just like last time. “I… Fuck. Yeah. Okay. Yes. Yes, I’ll marry you.”
It took me a second to realize the words she was speaking weren’t the ones I was expecting, dreading, but instead, the ones I’d been dying to hear. “Yes?” I rasped out, still not sure I’d heard her correctly.
But she was nodding her head, tears spilling faster. “Yes, idiot. Yes. I’ll marry you. I love you so damn much. I think I’ve always loved you. I want to spend the rest of my life with you. I want to love you and let you love me. I want… I need you. And I’ve never needed anyone in my life. Not until you.”
“Baby,” I groaned, sealing my lips against hers. I knew I couldn’t make her mine the way I wanted to yet, but my kiss told her just how much I wanted her, how much she was loved. “Thank you,” I choked out in a hoarse voice. “You won’t regret it. I’ll make you happy. I’ll do whatever it takes to make our lives perfect—”
“Stop,” she commanded. “I don’t want perfection. That’s boring and annoying, and I want to gag every time I think of those stupid, googly-eyed, perfect couples who can’t stop telling the world how happy they are. I just want you. I want us. We aren’t perfect, but I love it anyway.”
“Fuck, whatever you want, Kell. It’s yours.” I kissed her hard. “I’m yours, baby.”