Total pages in book: 25
Estimated words: 23556 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 118(@200wpm)___ 94(@250wpm)___ 79(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 23556 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 118(@200wpm)___ 94(@250wpm)___ 79(@300wpm)
Everyone laughs, but I can tell she wants that. She meets my gaze, and she doesn’t have to say a word. I get up, even though her mom and Owen’s start to complain.
“He can’t see her in her dress!”
I don’t care. If she wants Owen, I’m getting Owen. I head down the hall, calling for him. He appears out of nowhere, and I laugh. “Angie needs you to reassure her. She’s doubting how she looks.”
“Fucking hell. Thanks,” he says, and then Evan pops his head out of the door that Owen had just come in from. I cock my head at him in confusion, and he looks kind of crazy. A red nose, wild eyes, and wind-kissed cheeks.
“What in the world are you doing?”
“We found a Bigfoot track.”
I snort hard. “Evan, stop.”
“No, for real. Come on. You got your phone? That’s what Owen was getting.”
“Wait, are you serious?”
“Yes. Come on,” he urges, and he helps me get my hat and coat on. I put on my gloves and step into my snow boots with his assistance. He takes my hand, and we head out into the darkness.
“How in the hell did you find a track?” I ask as he uses my phone for light. There is some light from the moon and then the massive number of Christmas lights Elli had put up, but it’s still dark.
“We were out here getting the sticks, and I found it. It’s crazy!” he says, laughing, almost as if he doesn’t believe it himself. “Remember last year when we went through Bigfoot country?”
I smile widely at him. “Of course I do. How could I ever forget that?” I ask, and honestly, how could I? Our love story is, of course, my favorite. I mean, don’t get me wrong, my sister’s is great, and I got a dad and a nephew out of it, but Evan? Well, Evan’s love has been life-changing. I never knew I could love someone the way I love him. I am a better person because of him. He has been an absolute gift to my heart, and I can’t imagine loving anyone the way I love him.
“It was the first time we said we love each other.”
He smiles back at me. “And I haven’t stopped falling in love with you since.”
“Neither have I. Don’t think I ever will either.”
“Same,” he says with a wink, and I squeeze his hand. “It was right around here,” he says then, slowing down, and I keep my eyes peeled.
“I don’t see it.”
“I know it’s here,” he says quietly as he moves the phone with the flashlight around. I see something sparkle just as he says, “There it is!”
And sure as shit, a huge footprint is before us. “What the hell! Did you guys do this? Are you pranking me!” I accuse him, but he looks so serious. I look back, and once more, something sparkly catches my eyes. “Is there something stuck in the snow?” I bend down and reach into the footprint for the glittering thing. When I realize what it is, I turn to show Evan, but everyone is standing around us with lit candles in their hands. That’s when I see Evan, on one knee. With his face illuminated by the candles, I can see the most sincere and loving look on his sweet face.
Everything stops.
My heart.
My breath.
Any coherent thought.
Hell, I’m pretty sure the snow has stopped.
“I had dinner with Aviva and Nico and asked for their blessing to marry you. I promised that I would love you more than I ever dreamed I was capable of. That I would take care of your well-being and your mental health just as you have taken care of mine. I promised that you would never want for anything and that you would always know your worth.”
Tears burn my eyes as I hold his gaze with mine. “Oh, Evan.”
“That was over six months ago, and the reason I’ve waited is because I wanted to give them time to adjust and to see that my promise is real.” My heart skips probably a billion beats as I get lost in his loving eyes. “In my darkest hour, when I thought love wasn’t ever going to happen for me, you came along. You brought light into my life, Callie, and loved even the darkest parts of me. My love for you is bigger than any Bigfoot out there.”
I choke on my laughter as I drown in his gaze. “I love you, Evan.”
He reaches up, taking the ring from my fingers. I cover my mouth to keep in the sob as he says, “I don’t want to make fun of Bigfooters with anyone but you.”
My voice is shaky as I agree, “I don’t either.”
Evan’s lips start to tremble as he swallows hard. “Will you marry me?”
I drop down to my knees in the snow and take his hands in mine. “Yes, Evan. Yes. A thousand, million, trillion times, yes.”