Page 71 of Keeping It Professional

I stood for a moment catching my breath — not from the pedaling, but from how she looked. Her hair was all wild, like a warrior queen’s. Her cheeks were bright pink, to match her full lips. She was glowing with happiness, and with health and strength, and I dropped to one knee.

“Miles? You okay?”

I reached for her hand. Took it in both of mine. “You’re so happy,” I said. “Full of sunshine. I love that about you, how you don’t sulk or brood. Even when you’re mad at me. Even when we fight. Even after the worst day, you still have that spark. I love that about you, and I love— I love?—”

“Miles?”

I let go with one hand. Fumbled in my coat pocket. “I love how smart you are. I love how much you care. I love working with you and coming home to you. I love?—”

“Oh, my God…” Her eyes had gone round. A kid with a lollipop had turned to point, and now he yelledmarry him, and his dad wentshh. Half the arcade was watching, but I didn’t care.

“I love all that you are, and who we are together, and I always will, so Sophie Reeves, will you?—”

“Yes!”

“Will you?—”

“Yes!”

I cracked the box open and it went flying. Sophie caught it midair and handed it back. I pulled out the ring and slid it on her finger, and she held her hand, trembling, up to the light.

“I love it,” she said. “And I love you. I love that you love it when I kick your ass.”

“You can kick my ass every day. For the rest of our lives.”

Scattered applause went up, and a couple of cheers. Somebody let off a cheap party popper. I stood up and swept Sophie into my arms, and kissed her as deep as I dared with kids watching. She kissed back still laughing, bubbling over with joy, holding me so tight I thought my ribs would crack. When she let go at last, she stayed tucked in my arms.

“If you’d waited much longer, I was going to ask you.”

I cocked a brow. “Really?”

“Really. Hold on.” She grabbed her purse off her bike and dug through its depths, and fished out a little blue velvet bag. “This was my father’s.”

My heart leaped as I shook the ring from the bag, a simple gold band with a small inset diamond. “His wedding ring?”

“His, and now yours.”

I slid it on, a perfect fit. She fit just right too, in the circle of my arms. I held her close so she wouldn’t see the tears in my eyes, and think they were anything other than joy.

“I love how bold you are too,” I said, when I felt I could speak. “That you’d have asked, if I hadn’t asked first. I didn’t ruin it, did I? Your big proposal?”

“No. I love this. This was the best.”

“And it’s not over. Come on. Let’s walk.” I took her hand and we walked out of there. We walked out together, through the new, fluffy snow. As we walked, I told her my dreams for our life, the house we’d pick out together, the garden out back. The comfy new bed big enough for us both. The lives we’d save together, and then we’d come home, and we’d cuddle up to watch bad TV. The kids we’d have one day, two, maybe three. Their first days of school. Their graduations. Us in our golden years, and still in love.

“I’ll always be in love with you. No matter what.”

“No matter what.” She leaned up to kiss me, and when she touched my cheek, I felt her ring on my skin. I cupped the back of her neck so she could feel mine. This was it, the start of us. Of the rest of our life.

The End