When he pulls away, we’re back at the bottom and getting off.
“Thanks, man,” Evan says as he hands him the money. “Best thing ever.”
“Yeah, I hear that a lot,” the guy laughs, pocketing the cash.
“Nah, my girl just asked me to marry her and she ain’t even knocked up.”
I roll my eyes and slap him in the chest, but he just laughs. Someone yells out that they’ll marry him because they are knocked up. I grab his hand and pull him out of the crowd and toward the exit before anyone can try to steal my man.
“Why are we leaving? I want to win you one of those giant stuffed animals.”
I shake my head, biting my lower lip. “I just wanted to stop and ride the Ferris wheel so I could ask you to marry me.”
“I should’ve asked you by now.”
“No,” I say stepping to him. “It was meant to be this way.”
We walk hand-in-hand back to the car, stopping every few steps so he can kiss me. He tells me that as soon as we’re moved in, he’s placing a ring on my finger. I’m not worried about a ring. I just want to be his wife.
“When do you want to get married?” he asks as he shuts the car door. He’s going to drive us to a hotel because there’s no way we can have sex in the car and we have to have sex… now… according to him.
“When my mom can walk down the aisle holding only your brother’s arm.”
“Next summer?”
I nod. “In Coronado,” I say, much to his surprise. “I want to marry you on our beach.”
Evan smiles and presses his lips to mine. “You and me on the beach surrounded by our friends and family, sounds just about perfect.”
“You make everything perfect, Evan.”
He does, at least for me. Meeting this man when I was seventeen was a dream come true and with everything that we’ve been through, marrying him is like starting a new chapter…
One that I can’t wait to write.
Read Evan’s Letter to Ryley
Other books by Heidi McLaughlin
Babe,
I thought about starting this out with something corny like “My Dearest Ryley,” but that didn’t seem fitting. I love to call you “Babe” and figured if you’re reading this, it’s because I’m not around to call you that anymore.
You tried to break up with me tonight because you didn’t want me to feel like I was being held back. I’m hoping that someday I’ll be able to tell you how I feel, in words that will make sense to both of us. Right now, all I can say is that you push me forward. You make me want to be the man you deserve in the future. I say future because you and I will be together, but in the event that we’re not I want you to promise me something: I want you to find a man who will take care of you, who will treat you like the princess that you are. I want you to be with a man who puts you first because regardless of my job, you’ll always be my #1. Nate will be there to protect you from any asshole who thinks he’s worthy.
Ryley, I’m making a promise to always come home to you whether I’m battered and bruised, or knocking on your door because I have 24’s of leave. It’s not going to matter because a lifetime with you is never going to be enough. I know those aren’t my words, but words I learned from you and one of the many movies you made me watch but I still mean every one of them.
You’re the love of my life, Ryley... never forget that.
Evan
Evan’s Mixed CD for Ryley
Evan’s Mixed CD for Ryley
98 Degress – I Do Cherish You
N’Sync – I Want You Back