Away (12 page)

Her hands fly up to her mouth. “Noah...”

“I won’t take anything but a yes. I’ll follow you around on my knees all day if I have to,” I joke.

“Noah, are we ready for this?” she whispers. “I don’t want you asking this just because we’re having a baby.”

“I was going to ask you this long before I knew you were pregnant,” I say.

“I don’t want to rush into anything. We’re so young. Too young, everybody’s going to say.”

“Since when do we care what everyone else thinks? Does their opinion matter, or does ours?” I smile.

“I’m afraid...”

“I know you’re frightened,” I say, and I take her hand. “But we’re already moving in and becoming parents together. I love you, and I’m never going to want anyone else. For me, there’s nothing left for me to do but jump into my life with you headfirst.”

She smiles. “Then yes. A thousand times yes. Let’s get married. Now and forever.”

I slip the ring on her finger and stand up to scoop her into my arms, spinning her around the room as I kiss her. She looks into my eyes and says, “I’m the luckiest person in the world.”

“That’s where you’re wrong,” I say, and I stroke her hair. “Because no one has ever been luckier than I to have you. Now let’s go get a dress. No better time than tonight, right?”

“I guess not. I always liked the idea of eloping. Running off together.”

“Then let’s run and never stop. Life’s coming at us full speed, and I don’t want to miss a second of it.” I grab her hand to begin facing whatever life is to throw at us, side by side. 

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