To The Rude Guy in Apartment Five - J. S. Cooper Page 0,60

me with a wicked smile.

I just shook my head. “Just wait until tonight. I will definitely be giving you a spanking for questioning me like that.”

“Any excuse to have me over your lap.”

“You know it,” I said, but my mind was no longer on our conversation. As we got closer to the Rose Garden, my heart started racing. This was really happening.

“You okay?” Magnolia frowned. “You look pale.”

“I do?” I asked, loving the fact that she was so attentive to me. She was so in tune with my feelings. “I feel fine.”

“Okay,” she said but I could tell she wasn’t convinced.

“Wait here a second,” I said as we made our way into the Rose Garden and stopped by the birdbath.

“Where are you going?” She looked confused as I walked towards a shed that was a little bit to the left. She started to follow me, but I held my hand up.

“Wait.”

I prayed that everything had gone according to plan. I’d been texting with Jane all morning to make sure she had everything coordinated and now was the moment I would see if the plan had come together. I walked behind the shed and immediately, some tension left my shoulders.

“Hey!” Jane ran over to me and gave me a hug. “Are you ready?”

“I’m ready.”

I waved at the small crowd of expectant faces. Jane, Olivia, Millie, and Birdie were all wearing matching dresses and grinning. Tate was standing there looking bemused, his eyes on Jane; I wondered if he would ever get off his ass and make a move. To the right of them stood my parents and Doug and his family, and next to them were Magnolia’s parents, Daisy, and her daughter. Next to Daisy, Anna gave me a huge thumbs up.

“Thanks for coming, guys,” I said. “I hope everyone is ready?” Everyone nodded and I smiled. “I’m going to go back now, but you guys can start coming out in about five minutes.”

“Good luck, bro,” Doug called out, and I thumped my fist to my heart. I was so happy that I had his support and love in this moment, and I knew it would mean a lot to Magnolia as well. I took a deep breath and headed back to Magnolia, who was still standing there, looking bemused.

“Did you have to pee?”

“No.” I shook my head.

“Then what were you doing?” She studied my face.

“Time will tell.”

“Are you ready to go in and find a spot?” She giggled apprehensively as she looked around.

“Not yet.” I smiled. Then I took a deep breath. “In fact, I need to say something first.”

“Oh, God, have you been hiding something else from me?” Her eyes widened and she looked nervous. “Please don’t tell me that you’re really a robot.”

“No, I’m not a robot, but even if I was, I would still love you.”

“You’re so sweet, Jagger.” She stroked the side of my face. “My love.”

“Magnolia Allen, there are not enough words in the dictionary to describe how much I love you. If I lived for a million years and told you I loved you every day, that still wouldn’t be enough to let you know how much I love you.”

“Aww, my love.” She beamed at me. “I love you, too.”

“Magnolia, I more than love you. I adore you. You are my life, my reason for being. You are my everything. I don’t want to spend a day without you. I don’t want to take a breath that isn’t for you. Magnolia, I love you with all my heart.”

I dropped to my knee then. Her mouth fell open then her eyes widened as our family members and friends started walking towards us. “Magnolia Allen, I want to spend my life making you laugh, wiping away your tears, sleeping with you, dancing with you, singing with you, cooking for you, and having the most adorable babies with you. I want to be your everything because you already are everything to me. Magnolia Allen, will you marry me?” I pulled out the box from my back pocket and took out the ring. “Will you be my wife?”

I held the ring up to her and my heart almost burst out of my body as she nodded yes, tears streaming down her face.

“What was that?” I said as I slipped the ring onto her finger.

“Yes, my darling Jagger. I will marry you.”

I stood up and pulled her into my arms and kissed her as I swung her around. I could everyone clapping around us, and all I could think