Page 31 of Invaluable

Epilogue

Next December, Camp Rhino, Afghanistan

Pat,Vic, and I stood awaiting the USO tour plane. A year ago, I stood at this same place, no idea my life would change when that same plane landed.

Pat punched my arm. “Yousure?”

“Never been surer about anything in my life,” I answered confidently.

I clutched the ring in my right pocket. Even though I still had substantial wealth left over from my football days, I never flaunted it. And besides that one amazing night back in San Diego, I’d never spent recklessly.

But I broke that rule when it came to herring.

I’d called a jeweler I knew back in my ball days and he helped me design a custom ring. A five-carat, flawless stunner. It was perfect, just likeSara.

Our year had gone smoother than I’d expected it to. We rarely argued, she was patient and didn’t complain about the time I spent away from her at training or deployments. I had to give it to her. I was the one that moaned and groaned on occasion about our time apart. I missed her so fucking much. She’d moved into my place in August and we’d followed into a rhythm.

But I’d been lying to her. I kept telling her I didn’t want to get married. Not until I was out of the Teams. She hadn’t nagged me, but clearly made her feelings known that she wanted to get married.

Last year she’d shocked the hell out of me and it was time I returned the favor.

The plane touched down and Sara was the first off. No surprise there. We hadn’t seen each other in three months. She ran into my arms and I swung her around.

On cue, Maya began to film the moment. I’d contacted her a week ago. I’d been a bit worried that she’d spill my secret, but she swore that she would keep quiet.

Sara’s eyes grew to the size of saucers when I set her back down and knelt in front of her, taking her hand inmine.

“Sara,” I began.

Before I could say the next word, she screamed. “Oh my god, Kyle. Oh mygod!”

I opened the box. “You saved me. I love you so much. Baby, will you marryme?”

“Yes! Oh my god, yes!” she squealed, and I placed the ring on her finger.

No sooner had I done that when Maya grabbed Sara’s hand out of mine. “Damn, look at that rock. Nicely done, Kyle. Congrats, Sara.”

I cleared my throat. “Uh, Maya?”

“Sorry, I got a little happy. I’m still recording though. I zoomed in on that baby.” Laughing, I focused my attention back on Sara. She was all smiles. And surprised. Mission accomplished.

“I didn’t think you wanted to get married! You kept saying how happy you were with the way things were. What changed yourmind?”

“You, baby. You.”

The other girls swarmed her and she showed off herring.

I pulled her away, cupping her face and kissing those lips I couldn’t get enough of. After I was satisfied with the kiss since she looked drunk with anticipation of what the kiss would lead to, I took her hand and pulled her with me as I walked backward. “Where are we going?”

“To my barracks room. You’re not getting out of my sight thistime.”