Cori
Two YearsLater
I didn’t thinkI’d like living in a big city, but it turns out that San Francisco is a wonderful place to be. Ty and I stroll Golden Gate park with our Bernese Mountain Dog, Celine. We got her as soon as I moved into his house, which just made sense considering I didn’t even have a job out here. Not that Ty required me to get one. He insists on paying for everything, even though now I’m the manager of a small, locally-owned bookstore that specializes in book matching.
“Let’s lay it out here.” Ty lets go of my hand and takes a few steps in front of me. He lays out the picnic blanket and sets the basket down. Celine, the well-behaved girl she is, takes up half of the blanket but lays down, and I take off her leash. Ty breaks out the wine and cheese, and we watch people playing frisbee or out for their evening stroll.
It’s hard to believe that my life’s turned out like this. I thought I’d stay in Thunder forever, but that was only because I was never presented with any reason to leave. My brother still lives there, so we make it back at least twice a year.
After that night in Ty’s hotel room, we decided that the three of us should sit down and talk about things. At first, Dave was reluctant, thinking I’d betrayed him and was taking Ty’s side because I’d always been in love with him—something he said in front of Ty that mortified me, but when Ty didn’t react oddly to it, I knew Dave’s words were spot-on.
The two men reached an agreement. Ty would fund a branch of TyGra Inc. in Thunder Mountain, and Dave would run it. This made the lump sum my brother asked for null and void. In the end, hatchets were buried, leaving everyone happy and optimistic for the future.
Especially me, for my future with Ty.
“You’re awfully quiet over there,” Ty presses a soft kiss against my bare shoulder, still sun-kissed from being in the constant California sun.
“I’m just watching the sunset. Watching life swirling all around us. It’s so different from Thunder.”
“Better or worse?” I love that he’s still afraid that I’ll grow so homesick that I insist we have to move back. I won’t. It’s hard to admit, but I’m becoming a California girl.
“Just different, babe. They’re both awesome in their own way.”
“I can see that.” He says and reaches into the picnic basket. “Shit, I forgot it.”
“What?” I look down at our perfect little picnic spread. We have everything we normally have. He gets to his feet and crouches down, his head buried in the basket. “Babe, what did you forget?”
I crane my neck to see over his shoulder, and the minute I do, he shifts his position so that he’s down on one knee. It takes a moment for me to truly comprehend what’s going on, then I gasp once the full picture comes into focus. Ty holds a beautiful diamond and sapphire ring in his hands. His bright eyes filled with hope and, if I’m not mistaken, a little bit of fear.
“Cori Reeves, I love you more than I thought it possible to love another human being.” As if on cue, Celine barks. Ty turns to the dog. “I said human being. You’re still my favorite pup.” Celine lowers her massive head, and I press my fingers to my mouth and laugh. “I want to spend the rest of my life with you. Will you marry me?”
The whole world spins around me, yet it’s like everything stands still. My mouth goes dry, and my eyes fill with tears. “Yes,” I say, fervently shaking my head. “Of course I’ll marry you.”
“Yes?” Ty’s eyes widen, filled with relief.
“Of course, you idiot.” I wipe the snot threatening to fall from my nose. “I’m madly in love with you, and I always have been.” He puts the ring on my finger and pulls me to my feet. When he wraps me in his arms, I melt into him as I have every day since we’ve been together.
“I love you too, Cori.” His voice warms me, sends a wave of pure comfort through me. I know as long as we have each other, the world can’t hurt us. “I love you, too.”
Feeling left out, Celine nuzzles her head against our legs, nearly knocking me over in the process, but Ty holds onto me tight, kissing me until the sun disappears for the day. Mrs. Tyson Gray…I like the sound of that.