up,” Gemma instructs. She’s a sassy little thing, and I’m glad I put her in charge of the people part. Takes a sliver of the stress away.
My sister was such a big help with planning this. When I was reminiscing about our past, all the letters we used to write to each other in high school came to mind. At that moment, I knew exactly how and where I wanted to propose.
I stand at the end of the pumpkin patch and know Katie has a long way to walk. She’ll be reading each of the notes I wrote to her about our past and our future. It will take her some time, and I’m okay with that, but I know my heart will be racing until I see her, and she says yes.
I expect tears of happiness because she’s been so emotional lately, but by the end of it, I hope she agrees to be my wife.
Chapter Twenty-One
KATIE
As I’m sitting on a bale of hay with my feet propped up to stop the swelling, I wonder what’s taking Noah so long. Maybe that number one turned into something more serious. The thought has me snickering to myself, then I go back to admiring the pumpkins.
I’ve always looked forward to this little festival. Well, ever since Noah brought me here when I was fifteen. I knew I had feelings for him then, but I was also too young to really understand. I guess it’s true, though—when the heart knows, it truly knows. It might’ve taken us some time to get to where we are now, but I don’t have any complaints, and I wouldn’t change a thing. I’ve thought about if I could go back in time, whether I’d erase some of the heartache, but I realized maybe things wouldn’t be the same between us. My heart flutters thinking about it.
“What’re you grinning about?” Gemma asks.
My mouth falls open when I see her, and I immediately stand to give her a hug. She’s pushing Scarlett in a stroller, and I bend down to catch a peek of her sweet cheeks.
“Come on,” she tells me with a wink. “Let’s look at the pumpkins.”
“I’m waiting for Noah,” I explain, not wanting him to get worried or have to search for me.
“We’re just going into the patch. Text him and let him know,” Gemma says.
I snicker. “Oh yeah. Text. Forgot about that one. Baby brain.”
I send a quick message to Noah, telling him that I ran into Gemma and we’re gonna walk around.
He sends me a kissy face emoji back.
Katie: Hope you didn’t fall in!
Noah: Haha! I’m almost done. See you soon.
I tuck my phone back into my crossbody and follow Gemma. She pulls Scarlett out of the stroller and asks me to take a picture. I snap at least ten, and when we’re done, she hands me a letter.
“What’s this?” I ask, confused as fuck as to why she’s acting so weird.
She snorts. “Open it and read it.”
I’m lost, but I do what she says. When I see the handwriting, I immediately know it’s Noah’s. I can recognize his scribbles from a mile away.
The words nearly fly off the page as I read them.
Katie Bug,
I wanted to take you on a stroll down memory lane and confess some things in the process. The last time we were here a little over fifteen years ago, I nearly told you how much you meant to me. I almost asked you to be my girlfriend but was too chickenshit to do it. I told myself I’d never make that mistake again, and here we are. I love you more than the number of pumpkins in this patch. And you and I both know that’s a fuckton.
Tears sit on the brim of my eyes as I look up at Gemma. “What’s this about?”
She shrugs, and that’s when I see a grinning Tyler, holding another envelope.
“You guys! I swear!” I say as he hands it to me. While I open this one, we continue our slow stroll.
Katie Angel,
We’ve experienced a lot together. Some bad, but way more good. Knowing that you never gave up on me after everything that happened has kept me moving forward in life. I’ll never be able to repay you for saving me, for giving me a chance, and for loving me. I’ll forever be indebted to you, my love, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Now, I’m crying. Tyler chuckles as Gemma places her hand on the small of my back, and