Page 95 of Undefeated

My chin on his shoulder, I held my arms around his shoulders. He stared at the wall, resting his chin on his clenched fists. I had felt so much emotion in the last few hours, I felt as if I was going to have a nervous breakdown. I needed to be strong for Shane. It wasn’t very often that he’d need me to hold him up, but I think this is one of those times.

“Which brings us to the question,” he said.

I raised my chin from his shoulder.

He took a deep breath.

I can’t take any more. Please no more.

“Kace,” he barely got my name out of his mouth without losing composure.

“Kace, I need to…” he turned his head to the side and licked his dry lips.

“Know something,” he said as he moved his head from his hands.

He opened his clenched fist and reached into his palm with his other hand.

“Would you consider marrying me?” he asked as he removed a diamond ring from his palm.

As he held the ring up, I burst into tears and grabbed his shoulders again. I sobbed and shook as I held him in my arms.

My entire life, since about thirteen, all I ever wanted was to get married and have children. To be able to do it with this man would make me the happiest woman on earth. Incapable of comprehending the emotions I was feeling, I sobbed and held him in my arms.

“Kace?” he asked, holding the ring over his shoulder in front of my face.

I looked at the diamond ring.

Holy.Mother.Of.God.

I wanted that ring more than anything. I wanted to be this man’s wife.

“Kace will you answer? Will you marry me?” he asked, his voice shaking. The ring shook in his hand.

I held him in my arms, sobbing, and opened my mouth.

No words.

“Kace?” he asked, “Kace, will you?”

Tears dripped off of my chin onto his back. I needed to answer him. Inside my head, I said yes, but my mouth wouldn’t work. I lowered my hands, and massaged my tears into his back.

I opened my mouth.

Nothing.

“Kace, babe?” he asked.

And I did the only thing I knew to do.

I raised my hand and tapped him once.

For yes.