I nod. Over and over again, my head bounces up and down as I struggle to find my voice through the onslaught of emotions. My hand trembles as he takes the ring out of the box and slides it on my finger.
“I need your words, Reese’s Pieces,” he says, making me laugh.
I swallow hard. “Yes,” I say. The words are hoarse with the emotion clogging my throat. “Yes, I’ll marry you.”
His lips find mine in a bruising kiss, and before I know what’s happening, we’re on the bed, and he’s pushing inside me. He makes love to me like he never has before. Without a doubt, this is a night and a proposal I will never ever forget.
Chapter 21
Cooper
Life has been hectic since my fiancée and I returned home from Nixon and Tessa’s wedding. Fuck me, I’ll never get tired of calling her that. We moved my fiancée out of her apartment and into our new house. We then moved my condo. We hired movers, but Reese still insisted on packing the boxes ourselves. Then we went furniture shopping. We have a big-ass house and needed a lot more furniture. My fiancée wanted us to pick it out together so that while I was away at training camp, it could be delivered, and she could get to work making our house a home.
Speaking of training camp, it’s been long and grueling as it always is, but I’ve missed it. I love the game, and this season I feel invigorated. My rookie season was outstanding, and my five-year contract shows that, but this year still feels different. Instead of wishing Reese were watching, wondering if she was viewing from home, I know my biggest cheerleader will be with me for every game. Maybe not always in the stands, but in my heart. This time, I know I’m in hers as well.
“Cooper!” My name is called out by the media.
It’s the last day of camp, and they’re swarming as we just wrapped up. I hate this part of the gig, having microphones and cameras shoved in your face. I just have to remind myself that this is my job. It’s what I get paid to do.
“Cooper, Harold Johnston, ABN News,” he says, stepping in my path. “You’ve been on fire out on the field. Can you tell us what prompted this? Your stats show you’re a gifted player, but the coaching staff seems to be raving about your training camp readiness,” he says.
I grin. “I guess that’s what happens when everything in your life aligns.”
“Meaning?” he asks, shoving the microphone back into my face.
“Meaning, I got engaged during the off-season to my best friend and the love of my life.” I shrug.
“Can we get a name?” another reporter yells out.
“Reese.” I smile into the camera. “Her name is Reese, and her last name isn’t important because she’s about to become a Reeves.” I grin. Let them chew on that.
“Cooper!” another one yells.
I wave at them and push through the crowd to the locker room. I can only handle so much. I gave them the juicy details that will sell their papers and let the world know that Cooper Reeves is as good as a married man. Besides, I’m going home to see my future wife, and that’s what matters.
I rush through a shower, pack my shit, and head home. Pulling up to the gate, I enter the code and drive up our lane. It’s damn good to be home. Although this place is still new to us, knowing that this is where she’s been laying her head at night, it makes it my home. She’s sent me pictures of how she’s been organizing and decorating, and I’m excited to see it all in real life. Almost as excited as I am to hold her in my arms and take her to bed.
I’ve missed my girl.
“Honey, I’m home!” I call out. I hear a screech and then footsteps as they race down the stairs. I barely have time to drop my bag to the floor before she’s flying into my arms. I catch her easily as she wraps her arms and legs around me.
“I missed you so much!” she says, burying her face in my neck.
“I missed you too, baby,” I say, moving us to the living room, and sitting on the couch that we picked out together.
She pulls back, and her smile lights up her face. “I can’t wait to show you everything. Come on.” She tries to stand, but I hold tight.
“I want to see it. I promise you, I do. Right now, I just want to hold you.”
“How can I argue with that?” she asks, snuggling back up to me.
“Tell me what’s been going on?”
“Just getting the house in order. I have all of our things unpacked. The bedroom furniture was delivered, and the bed looks so damn comfortable. I can’t wait to sleep in it tonight.”
“Where have you been sleeping?” I ask her.
“In my old bed in one of the spare bedrooms. I just didn’t feel right that you weren’t here.” She shrugs.
I kiss her hard, needing her to feel how much I love her. “What else?” I say, panting as I pull away from her kiss.
“I found office furniture that I love, and it was delivered last week. I got it all set up and organized, and I’m ready to dive into the foundation. I’ve been working with John, and all of the paperwork has been filed and approved. The Latham Reeves Foundation is official.”
“You’re going to do amazing things, future Mrs. Reeves.”
She grins. “Fiji.”
“What about Fiji?”
“That’s where I want to get married. I just want it to be our parents, and if Nixon and Tessa can make it, that would be great. And anyone you want to be there.”
“You. All I want is you. You have my schedule, and you said your Amex arrived, right?” I ask. She nods. “Good. Make it happen. Just tell me when and where, or if you want me to handle it, I can do that too. Just tell me what you need, baby.”
“You and me in Fiji.”
“How did you come to decide on the location?” I ask, running my fingers through her hair.
“I typed in destination weddings, and it popped up. The images are beautiful.”
“How soon can we make this happen?”
“Well, with the season, it’s going to be difficult, especially if we want Nix and Tess to be there.”
Damn. “So, what you’re telling me is that I have to wait until after the Bowl game to marry you?”
“Probably.”
“That’s too far away.”
“It’s a few months at best. That will give our parents time to plan to be off work, and us time to plan it all out.”
“What do you need from me to make this happen?”
“Nothing. I found an amazing resort. I can show you pictures later. If you like it, I’ll call and set it up. Then I just need to tell our families, Nix and Tess, and find a dress.”
I can’t help but think about the last time she was in a wedding dress and how it all ended. “Do you have one in mind?” I ask her.
“Simple. Elegant. Flowing,” she replies wistfully.
“Anything you want, baby. I can’t wait to marry you.”
“Me too, Coop. Me too.”
We spend the next hour talking about life and getting caught up. She tells me more about what she’s been up to and her ideas for the foundation, while I tell her about camp and how stoked I am about the team this year. “I really think we have a Bowl team,” I tell her. All the guys are on point this season.