Chapter 43: Olive
Three Months Later...
Looking through the window at what used to be part of my parking lot, I admire the finest ass to ever be wrapped in denim. Brooks took the day off so he could sit in on my first class in the new addition. He’s currently wandering around in there looking for any faults. We both know he won’t find any. The addition passed every inspection with flying colors but that doesn’t stop him from being a perfectionist.
I’m beyond excited about this first class: Buttercream Basics. I have everything prepped and recipe packets printed for each attendee, even though it’s almost entirely filled with friends and family. They all wanted to be here to support me, so I can’t complain.
I’ve got two more classes scheduled in March: French Macarons for Beginners, and Eclairs and Cream Puffs. They both sold out within two days of posting them on my website. Lilah and I have been staying up late putting together more class ideas. We even have a Girl’s Night Out planned, featuring dessert tastings and cocktails with dirty names, a la Chelsea’s bachelorette party.
A few hours later, I’m standing in the front of my classroom doing a demo on how to use a turntable to buttercream a cake as twenty people follow along at their stations. My brothers are more interested in eating the frosting than covering a cake, but at least Julia and our grandmother are focused. Julia is concentrating so hard that her tongue is sticking out the side of her mouth.
Leaving my station at the front of the room, I walk around, giving everyone pointers and smacking Lukas’ hand as he tries to steal another finger of buttercream from his bowl. Lilah is following me around, snapping photos for the website. I hope she caught that on film. I’m going to frame it and give it to him for Christmas next year.
When I get to Brooks, I can see he’s struggling. The man can spackle walls, paint, and use a nail gun like a badass, but buttercream just isn’t his forte. I correct the way he’s holding the offset spatula and realize his hands are shaking slightly.
“Are you ok?” I ask him as I take his hand. I’m worried about him. I mean, I’ve never seen him so much as tremble. He squeezes my hand in his much larger one and seems to settle a little.
“Yeah, just nervous,” he answers me with a smile.
“Oh, well, that’s to be expected. I’m very intimidating,” I joke, letting out a laugh as I stroke his bicep.
“It’s not that. I just want to get this right,” he says. I give him a quizzical look as he sets the spatula down and reaches into his pocket and pulls out a little box.
“Oh my god,” I whisper. “What are you doing?” My heartbeat pounds in my ears so hard I almost miss his response.
“I’m making you mine forever.” Brooks drops to one knee right in the middle of the classroom. His dark blue eyes are piercing, but his mouth turns up in a small smile as he opens the box and holds out an obscenely enormous diamond solitaire ring.
The room spins around me as I try to stop the excited ringing and thumping in my ears. This is happening. This is really fucking happening. The rest of the world dissolves away, leaving just the two of us.
“From the first moment I saw you, I wanted you more than I’ve ever wanted anything in my life. Every day with you is better than the last and I wake up so grateful that you chose to let me in. That you put your trust in me. I want to spend the rest of my life waking up with that feeling. I want to spend the rest of my life loving you and having you love me in return.”
Brooks takes a steadying breath, his smile crinkling the little lines around his eyes the way that I love so, so much.
“Olive, will you marry me?”
“Holy fuck.” I’m so lost in Brooks that I didn’t even realize it was me whispering it until everyone starts laughing. “Yes! Oh my god, yes! I love you!” I shout.
Brooks launches to his feet, swinging me off mine. He holds me tight, kissing me like he’ll never let me go. I hug him close, knowing deep in my heart that he won’t back away. He won’t leave me. He won’t stop wanting me. He’ll always love me as much as I love him.