AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Ready?”
Her eyes dance with excitement. “So ready. The last time I did this was the summer before you left.”
I feel a brief flicker of sadness as I think of the time lost, but it’s quickly replaced by her next words.
“I’m glad that my first time watching again is with you.” The warmth in her eyes has my heart quickening, and I cup her cheek with my hand. She turns her face and kisses my palm.
“I love you,” I whisper.
“That’s right you do.” She quips, as she grabs my hand and starts to pull me along. “Let’s go before we miss it.”
I chuckle. The meteor shower will last for a couple of hours at least, if not longer. This time of morning is when the peak is. I can’t think of a better way to ask her to spend the rest of her life with me than having one or two shooting stars happening in a minute or less.
“Wait,” I grab a blanket for us to lay on. “Okay, let’s go.”
I follow her down the path to the spot that will give us a clear view of the sky without any light pollution. I remember the first time I saw the night sky from this vantage point. Being able to see galaxies and planets with the naked eye is not something that one ever forgets. It’s why I chose this location and time to propose.
I don’t just want Penny to remember where she was when I asked her to marry me, I want her to have the image branded in her memory long after our kids have kids.
Penny stumbles and I grab her elbow to steady her.
“I got you.” I help her climb over the elevated stone before letting go of her arm.
“Thank you.” She puts her hand on mine, and the touch has my body going warm. I hope that I never stop feeling that way from a simple touch from her.
Penny and I have been back together for almost a year, and it’s been better than I could’ve imagined. Not only am I the happiest I’ve ever been, but waking up every day knowing that I have this woman in my life is a dream come true.
“Why are you so quiet?” She asks, glancing at me.
I laugh and roll my eyes, hoping that my voice doesn’t reflect the nervousness that is suddenly coming over me.
“Because I’m trying to concentrate. It’s really dark out here tonight. We got lucky with this coinciding with the new moon.”
When we get to the spot, I put a hand out to stop her forward movement as I shine the flashlight around to make sure that the area is clear of wild animals.
I see that it’s safe and spread the blanket on the grass. We both lay down to view the sky above with the constellation Perseus directly above us. Penny rolls up on her arm and gives me a kiss. Her eyes glitter in the night.
I cup her face and smile. “What was that for?”
“Thank you for coming with me tonight.” She leans in and kisses me again. “And because I love you.”
“I love you, too.” I push some loose hair behind her ear and lean in to kiss her again before she settles back on the blanket. My heart is racing and my stomach is tingling. I can’t wait to see Penny’s face when I ask her to be my wife. She gives me a quick kiss on the cheek before rolling back onto the blanket and settling in for the show.
“Oh, I love this blanket,” Penny groans. “It’s one of our best purchases, don’t you think?”
We bought it last year while shopping for a wedding gift for Sean and Jess. We bought three—one for me, one for Penny, and one for the newly married couple. When we move in together, we’ll have two. I hope Jess and Sean are enjoying theirs as much as we are.
“I think so, too. It’s really soft.” I rub my hand across the fabric.
“Hmm.” Penny hums. “Tonight’s sky is so perfect,” she says, awe apparent in her voice.
The stars on a normal night are breathtaking, but tonight, the stars seem to be just a bit brighter. I turn to look at her and watch as her face lights up.
“Oh! There,” she points. “Did you see it?”
I turn my head in the direction she’s pointing and watch as the next meteor shoots across the ink black sky, illuminating it as it flies by. And then another. No matter how many times I’ve experienced this there is nothing like it.
I shove my hand in my pocket and feel the velvet box resting there. I wrap my hand around it and slowly pull the box out. Penny’s focus remains on the sky, her face lit up with joy as the meteors continue to flash across the sky.
