Fifteen
Nina
The week passes by both unbelievably fast and unbelievably slowly. I stay busy with all the final things to do before the opening, but when I think about Bryce’s decision looming over our heads, it almost feels like time is standing still or moving backward. I don’t want him to go. I want him by my side, always. When I think about our children and all the things we’ll do with them—school plays, football games, summer vacations—I see him right there beside me. But the fact of the matter is that he may not be. And if he chooses to take this job, I will let him and support him because it’s what he’d do for me. I know how bad it will hurt to watch him drive away and not see him for a week—not knowing if I’ll ever see him again—but I’ll have the strength to do it if that’s what it takes.
Today is finally the grand opening of the youth center, and while I’m excited, I’m also filled with nerves. What if I forgot something? What if something goes wrong and the whole town sees me fail?
“Stop overthinking,” Bryce says, pressing a kiss to my forehead as I stare at myself in the mirror.
I smile at his words. He knows me too well. “I think I’m ready to go.”
“Me too.” He holds out his hand, and I slide mine into it as he pulls me toward the door.
“Wait, did you pack the—”
“Already got it,” he says, cutting me off.
“What about the—”
“Yep, done.”
“And the—”
He spins me around so that I’m facing him and then he places his hands on my shoulders while looking me in the eye. “We have everything. You’re ready. This is going to be your day. Okay? Everything will be perfect. Just calm down and enjoy it. When you look back on this day years from now, do you want to see yourself running around and wearing yourself out with worry, or do you want to remember the excitement, the look on all the kids’ faces when they walk in for the first time, and the way everyone in town looks at you like you’re a real-life superhero?”
I laugh. “I pick option number two.”
“Good girl,” he says, pulling me against him for a kiss.
We make the drive to town, and it seems like everyone has already arrived and is excited. We park, and he leads me up to the front doors. There’s a red ribbon tied across the front, and the mayor is giving a speech. I can’t believe we almost missed it.
A giant pair of scissors are handed my way. I have to use both hands to hold them. I have been waiting for this moment for such a long time. Giddy with excitement, I hold them up to the ribbon, smile for the camera, and cut through it. Finally, the youth center is officially open.
The doors open, and as everyone starts pouring in, I get swept up in the commotion. Today is an open house, so everyone can come in and see all that we have going on. They wander from room to room, taking in all my hard work. It seems as though when one person walks away, another walks up to me, ready to tell me how great of a job I’ve done and what this means to the town. I cry more than I care to admit, but I’m feeling so many emotions right now. Everything from happiness and excitement about finally having the place open to nervousness and worry about what Bryce is saying on the phone right now.
It feels like there are a million chattering people between us, and I can’t hear over all of them. I wish he’d come and tell me his decision right this instant, but knowing him, he’s going to make me wait, not wanting to distract me from my day.
Hours pass by in a blur. My feet hurt from standing all day, and my throat hurts from all the talking, laughing, and crying. As much as I’m enjoying the moment, I feel exhausted from all the overwhelming emotions running through my body. As things begin to wind down, everyone makes their way outside, where there are party tables set up with food and drinks.
It was a way to get everyone out so the staff can start cleaning up and getting ready for a full day of operation tomorrow. Everyone goes their separate ways, finding seats and getting food. I find myself overwhelmed by it all and need a few minutes to myself. I step away to the lake that runs along the back half of the building. The night is beginning to get chilly, and the breeze from the water whips around me.
I wrap my arms around myself as I gaze out over the water at the darkening sky filled with diamonds. I take a deep breath and let it out slowly. I turn and look at the center and all the people here to support it. It means the world to me that the whole town is here to show their support. Already, there are kids using the skate ramps and basketball courts. It makes me smile to see everyone enjoying my little vision.
I turn back to the water and look up at the sky, sending a silent thank you to my parents for making this all possible. To my surprise, strong arms wrap around me, and Bryce’s scent hits my nose. I lean my back against his chest, and we both stare out over the water.
“You did it,” he whispers in my ear as he presses a kiss to my head.
“I couldn’t have done it without you and your support, which is why I’m ready to hear your decision. No matter what it is, we’ll handle it, and we’ll make it. We’ll fight for one another, right?” I turn to face him.
“Right,” he agrees, falling to one knee in front of me.
It feels like the whole world freezes in time as I take him in, him in the gray suit he’s wearing that fits him perfectly. He pulls a box out of his pocket. “Nina, there’s no place I’d rather be than right here with you. I don’t need a fancy job in the city to be happy. I need you. I need this place. I need our family. I’m not taking that job. I can’t stand the thought of missing a single minute living this life with you. Will you please marry me?” He opens the box, and the lights from the party shine off the big diamond.
I gasp at its beauty and cover my mouth. “Are you sure? I don’t want you putting your life on hold for me, Bryce.”
He shakes his head as he takes the ring out of the box. “I’ve never been more sure of anything in my life. I want you. I want this town. I want my job. And I want you to marry me. Will you marry me?”
Tears fill my eyes and flow down my face as I nod my head up and down. He slides the ring onto my finger, then quickly stands and pulls me against his strong chest before pressing his mouth to mine in a deep kiss.
He kisses me long and hard, and I know without a doubt that he was right about us. He’s a gift sent to me by my parents. We’re written in the stars, and together, we can take on anything the world throws our way. Together.
When he pulls away, he’s wearing a wide smile. “Now, where can we be alone in this building? I need to make my fiancée remember why she fell in love with me to begin with.”
I laugh but take his hand and pull him into my office. It’s surrounded by windows so I can see out in all directions, but I lower the blinds.
“From the moment this couch arrived, all I could think about was breaking it in with you.”
He smirks as he tugs off his jacket. “Really? Because I got my eye on that desk.”
He pulls me to his chest and lowers me onto the desk as he works my dress up my thighs.
I don’t know how the rest of the party goes because, for the next four hours, we stay locked away in my office and break in the desk, the couch, the floor, and any other surface that will hold me.