Tyler tried to ignore the cameraman that was closing in on them as they stepped onto the pitch. They were almost like wolves, noticing that something was different. Kristie slowed.
“Why are we going onto the pitch?”
“One second.”
Signalling at the opposition captain, who gave him a thumbs-up, Tyler turned to Kristie. He could feel the box in his pocket, almost like it was weighing him down. How it hadn’t gotten broken during the game, he had no idea. It was a miracle he hadn’t been hit in the leg.
Here it came. Tyler took Kristie’s hands and kissed them.
“Kristie, I love you. Since we got together, I knew things were going to be tough, but you’ve been a rock. You make me smile every day, and Kiera is a loving girl because of you.”
“Tyler…” Kristie frowned. “What are you…?”
Tyler dug into his pocket, which had Kristie falling silent. It felt like everyone in the ground wasn’t there. Tyler could see him and Kristie up on the big screen out of the corner of his eye. He ignored it, bringing out the box.
“I’ve never done this with anyone before, and I don’t want anyone to do this with you, either. You’re the one I want in my life, and I want us to be a proper family.” Momentarily wishing he had taken his pads off, Tyler went down on one knee and opened the box. “Will you marry me?”
His words were pretty much drowned out by a loud scream that reverberated around the ground. It sounded like all of the women were going crazy. Kristie looked stunned, her hands going to her mouth in shock. For a moment, Tyler panicked. Would she be telling him no and walking away? He would be heartbroken if she did that.
Then he saw her eyes shining, and when she lowered her hands, she was smiling, even as her eyes filled with tears.
“So, honey? Are you going to put me out of my misery?”
Kristie didn’t say anything. She just nodded. Then she went to him, cupping his hand as she kissed him.
“Yes.”
Tyler barely heard him as the scream had just gotten louder, and there were cheers in amongst the loud noise. His ears were ringing, but he didn’t care. Rising to his feet, he kissed her back and almost lifted her off her feet. Then he put her down, grinning as he broke the kiss.
“Damn, you know how to make me nervous.”
“You really did it in front of a full ground?”
“I didn’t want to give you a chance to run away.”
Kristie laughed.
“I’ll be making you pay for it later. Once Kiera’s gone to sleep.”
“I like the sound of that.”
“Trust me, I won’t make it easy.” Kristie kissed him again. “You’re lucky I love you, Tyler Young.”
Tyler knew how lucky he was. He was aware of it every day he looked at his girlfriend and their daughter.
Now he would feel it even more once Kristie became his wife.
“We’d better get off the pitch.” Kristie gestured at the dugout, where Tyler’s teammates were cheering and clapping. “You’ve got a game to play.”
“Just a moment longer.”
“You’ve got to bowl.” Kristie grinned. “And you’d better make sure we win.”
Tyler laughed.
“I plan to win. I always win.”