Page 106 of Exes and O's

Please know I hate myself for this title. But damn, it was appropriate.

The day you barged into my life and talked my ear off, you rewrote everything I thought I knew. I’ve told you this before, but I felt like I already knew you. I fell in love, fast, with your warmth, passion, and kindness. Somehow, you go to great lengths to make everyone in your life feel special, and you don’t even have to try.

Most of all, after everything you’ve been through, you never once gave up hope for love.

I don’t think I can ever repay you for the joy you’ve given me over the past year. I know there will be challenges ahead, but I want to face them head-on with you by my side. I promise to spend the rest of my life making sure you get the happily ever after you deserve.

Will you marry me?

Tears spring into my eyes, and I fumble the book. It plummets to our feet, facedown. Through my blurred vision, I see that Trevor holds a red box. In the cushion sits a stunning oval diamond atop a thin yellow band. It’s an exact replica of the one from all my Pinterest boards.

The weight of his eyes on me produces an instant smile. “This is... the grand gesture of all grand gestures.”

“You deserve all of this and more,” he says, his tone unwavering. “If I’m going to keep up with those heroes in your books, I need to up my game.”

“I don’t need gestures, honestly.” I stare into the eyes that captivated me from day one. They’re brimming with pure love, drowning out every last bit of doubt I’ve ever had. “You are more than enough. Just you.”

“I love you.” He stands, giving me a tender kiss on the temple that makes me see stars. “Now can you please answer my question? I’m gonna pass out if you don’t say yes right now.”

I raise one brow. “Metcalfe, did you really think there was a reality where I’d say no?”

A grin lights up his entire face like pure sunshine, just for me. “Nah. But I want to hear you say it anyway.”

“Yes!” I shriek, yanking the ring out of the box.

Trevor’s steady hand helps to guide it onto my finger.

When I hold my hand up, the diamond hits the ray of sunshine streaming in from the window. Aside from my new fiancé’s smile, it’s the single most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen. I will never take this off as long as I live.

I go on my tiptoes, wrapping my arms around his neck. “Are you sure you know what you signed up for? Me, all over you, talking in your ear, forever and ever? Swooning over the other fictional men in my life?”

“I can’t imagine a future more perfect than that,” he says without an ounce of hesitation. “As long as I’m your favorite hero in the end.”

Without notice, I leap into Trevor’s arms, wrapping my legs around his waist like a koala. He holds me there, tight to him, laughing softly into my mouth.

I tell him I love him, over and over, planting feverish kisses everywhere I can manage, one for each of the infinite reasons I amcrazyin love with him.

He’s not just the hero of my dreams. He’s the hero beyond my wildest imagination.

The best part? He’snonfiction.