I cleared my throat, focusing on Colton while the rest of the room blurred. “Colton? I know we haven’t been together for very long, but I’ve loved no one the way I love you. You’re the one for me and…and well…” Shit, I didn’t know what to say. “I’d like to put a ring on your finger if you’ll let me.” I dropped to one knee, slipping the box from my pocket and opened it for him. “Colton Reed, will you marry me?”
“Oh, my God.” Mom held her hands over her mouth, her eyes glistening.
Colton stared at me, eyes wide and jaw dropped open.
“Son, you better say yes, or I might have to strangle you,” Andy said.
With a glance at his father and his eyes brimming with tears, Colton swallowed hard and said, “Yes, yes, a thousand times yes.” He held the fingers of his left hand toward me.
“Fuck yeah!” Casey whooped and fist-pumped the air.
Grey and Eli popped champagne bottles open, the corks taking flight.
As I stood, I slipped the ring onto Colton’s finger. “I love you so much, babe.” With my heart full, I grabbed his face and planted the kiss of a lifetime on his mouth.
With a sniffle, he held up his fingers. “Where’s yours? I want to put yours on you.”
“Oh.” I’d stuffed mine in my other pocket and almost forgotten about it. After fishing my ring out, I handed it to him. “Here.”
He skimmed the ring onto my finger and then looked around the room. “Everyone be quiet for a moment. I have something to say too.”
The room quieted as Eli and Grey handed out champagne.
Gazing deeply into my eyes, he said, “Tex, you changed my life, and I can’t thank you enough. When I met you, I was scared and broken, but with your love and patience, you helped me return to the person I was meant to be. I’m not perfect yet, but I’ve come so far.” With glittering eyes, he scanned the room. “And being a part of this family, this crazy football?—”
“And hockey,” Evan called out.
A quick chuckle sprang from Colton’s throat. “Okay, sports family, is amazing. I love you all, but mostly, I love this guy.” He planted a hard kiss on my lips.
I had nothing to fear after all.