You're the Reason - J. Nathan Page 0,67
on her head. The normally unflattering gown did nothing to detract from how fucking beautiful she was. I couldn’t help beaming with pride as I drank her in, knowing how lucky I was she’d chosen me—even after how difficult I’d made things in the beginning.
After Chantel’s trial, we decided there was no better way to celebrate the verdict than to move in together. The judge showed no leniency, finding Chantel guilty of concealing an accidental death, as well as blackmailing and causing duress to Valerie. He sentenced her to two years in prison—the severest punishment for the crimes she could get. And, the icing on the whole fucking cake was Chantel’s father was disbarred for aiding in the cover-up and not disclosing his knowledge of the accident. The piece of shit deserved to suffer right along with his over-privileged daughter.
“Hey,” Sophia said, spotting me in the doorway in my suit.
I knew I’d sweat my ass off in a dark suit at the outdoor ceremony, but I also knew it fit the momentous occasion. “You almost ready?” I asked. “You look amazing by the way.”
She laughed. “Thanks.”
I walked over and wrapped my arms around her, careful not wrinkle her gown or bump her cap that seemed to be fixed in place by too many hair pins. “I’m so proud of you.”
“Stop trying to make me cry,” she said.
I stepped back releasing her from my arms. “What’s that?” I asked, my gaze on something behind her.
She turned, following my gaze to the tall dresser in the corner of our room.
The MVP trophy she received after her soccer championship win stood proudly on top of it. My girl kicked some serious ass on a soccer field. I guess I should’ve known she would. From our first meeting, when she was drunk as all get out, she still put my ass in its place. So many nights after, I replayed that exchange in my head wanting to hate her for making me feel anything toward her. And so many days after, I tried getting the same reaction out of her. Because if she hated me, I couldn’t fall for her. Right?
“What?” she asked, pulling me from my thoughts.
“Your mason jar. It looks like something’s in it.”
She squinted at the jar that sat beside her trophy, noticing I was right. There was something inside it. “What is it? We did everything.”
I walked over and picked up the jar, examining the contents. “There’s one more paper.”
“There can’t be.”
She was right. We had done every last thing in that jar, but I handed it to her anyway. “Hurry up. We still have time before you graduate.”
She unfastened the top of the jar and reached inside.
My heartbeat began to gallop like a fucking race horse.
Her fingers snatched the folded-up sheet of paper that looked like all the rest had in the bottom of the jar. She looked to me.
I nodded my encouragement.
She unfolded the paper and read it aloud. “Marry Chase Shaw.” Her eyes flashed up—make that down—to me now kneeling in front of her.
She gasped like I knew she would.
Man, I loved that sound.
“That’s my wish, Soph,” I said. “I’ve helped make your wishes come true, now I’m hoping you help make one of my wishes come true.”
Tears glazed her eyes as she gazed down at me, staring at me with so much love—love I never thought was possible.
I grasped hold of her left hand. “I promise to make you happy every day for the rest of your life.” My thumb brushed over the back of her hand, so smooth and soft like the rest of her body. “And I promise to be the reason you have new and exciting experiences whenever you want to have them, no matter how crazy they may be.”
She laughed, and the happy tears in her eyes threatened to fall. “I told you not to make me cry.”
I smiled up at her. “What do you say, Soph? Will you make me the happiest guy alive and marry me?”
Not needing a second to consider it, she nodded. “Yes.”
I pulled the one-carat platinum ring I knew she’d love from my pocket and slipped it onto her finger. Before she could even admire it, I swept her up into my arms—this time not worrying about wrinkling her gown—and kissed her. The tears rolling down her cheeks added salt to our kiss. And though I didn’t think anything could top our first kiss in the library when I didn’t give her a chance to resist me—because