Total pages in book: 153
Estimated words: 152064 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 760(@200wpm)___ 608(@250wpm)___ 507(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 152064 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 760(@200wpm)___ 608(@250wpm)___ 507(@300wpm)
Tally is engulfed by her friends, and I smile as she flits around, introducing some of her troupe mates to the Terror group.
“You bring the ring?” Tristan asks quietly.
I pat my pocket. “It’s right here.”
“Good man.”
“Dada!” My nephew bumbles over, falling twice on his way, Rix following behind him, a wide smile on her face.
“You got this, little man!” Tristan crouches and holds his arms out while his son wobbles into them. He showers his little face with kisses and picks him up, then bends to kiss my sister. They jumped on the baby train after Dallas and Hemi had their first. It started a trend. And my parents finally moved back to the city so they could focus on being grandparents and be closer to us.
Tally and I aren’t in a rush. Her career is taking off and I want her to enjoy it. She’s been dancing for En Pointe and this year she has a lead role in the fall performance.
In the meantime, we love being Uncle Flip and Aunt Tally.
“You’ve outdone yourself, Phillip.” Tally’s mom hugs me. She’s dating a guy who works in tech and leaves his job at the office. She’s happy and that’s what matters most to Tally.
“She deserves the world.”
“She’s lucky to have you.”
“And I’m lucky to have her.”
She moves on to chat with Tally’s friends and Vander Zee comes over. “This is a great party, Phillip. Thank you for celebrating my daughter.”
“I live to make her happy,” I say.
“I know you do.” He smiles fondly and claps me on the shoulder. “I’ll be proud to call you my son-in-law.”
I asked him for permission a while ago, knowing eventually we’d be in the right place to take the next step.
We mix and mingle, chatting and catching up, and sit down to a huge, chaotic family dinner. Ties is heading into his final year of university, and Fenna is attending Tilton for music in the fall. Dallas and Hemi have two kids, Ariel is growing up way too fast, Callie is in high school, and Everly and Victor have one more year of university to go. Dred confided that they want to wait until they’re finished before they jump on the baby train with everyone else.
I have a five-year plan that includes retiring from professional hockey and shifting gears so I can be home to raise our kids with Tally. I want a house full of love and kids and memories. And I want to be present for all the important moments.
After dessert, I stand and offer my hand to Tally, who rises with me.
“Thank you, everyone, for celebrating with me today!” Tally turns to me. “And thank you for being the best boyfriend in the world.”
“Thank you for being mine.” I take a deep breath, reach into my pocket, and withdraw the velvet box as I drop to one knee.
Murmurs and excited gasps come from our friends and family.
“Phillip,” Tally whispers.
I open the box and she sucks in a gasp.
“I love you so much, Tallulah.”
“I love you too, more than anything.”
“I want to spend the rest of my life waking up beside you. I want a house full of love, and kids, and big celebrations. I want to take our nieces and nephews to the theater to see their aunt perform, and one day I want to do the same with our kids. You are my future, Tally. You have my whole heart.”
Tears spring to her eyes. “And you have mine.”
“Marry me, Tallulah.” I squeeze her hand. “Keep me.”
“Forever.” Her smile lights up the room. “My heart is yours. Of course I’ll marry you.”
I slide the ring on her finger as our friends and family cheer and whistle.
I rise and wrap my arms around her, kissing her tenderly.
She’s my home.
She has my utter devotion.
Her happiness is mine, and my heart is hers to keep.