I had no clue how I managed it, but I somehow got the word “yes” out a second time, though it probably sounded like a frog croaking more than anything else. Then I was in his arms, crying like a baby as he whispered in my ear that he loved me.
“Love you,” I said with a nod as he gently pushed me back. He wiped at my tears and then reached into his pocket. At some point the audience had burst into applause, but I hadn’t even heard it because I’d been so focused on Dallas. My hands were shaking like crazy as he slipped a beautiful white gold ring on my finger, then he was pulling me into his arms again. I managed a glance at my mother who was wiping at her face with a handkerchief. And I knew in that moment that Dallas had brought her to this final performance so she could share this moment with us.
That knowledge brought a fresh round of happy tears. He held me tight as he whispered, “Let’s go home, Nolan.”
I nodded because for the first time in the history of ever, I, Nolan Grainger, was actually looking forward to going home.
The End