(Present day) 

I pulled my carry on bag out of her trunk while she made her way up the steps to unlock the front door. Ryland’s house was a nice upgrade from her apartment. She had worked hard for it, and refused to let me help her out with it. I was surprised when she let my buy her living room set, but I’d managed to convince her it was a house warming gift. 

Letting out a long sigh, I watched as the translucent puff of air escaped my lips. The ground was covered in snow, and thick icicles hung from the gutters. I pushed open the door all the way set my bag down before removing my scarf and gloves. “Ryland?” I listened to her get a wine glass out of the cabinet. 

“How was your flight?” She called out, as she moved through the kitchen. I could hear her heels click against the wooden floor. “I know you hate those smaller jets…” 

“It was alright.” I moved into the kitchen with her, taking the bottle of Moscato D’Asti off the wine rack. She followed me with her eyes before setting her glass down. 

“Do you want to go to a Christmas party tonight? I know how much you love them.” She mused, giving me a hint of a smile. 

I pulled open one of her drawers and found the wine opener. “Yes, but I actually want to talk to you about something first…” Once the cork was out I poured her a decent amount into her glass. She looked at me with worry filled eyes. If only she knew. 

“Oh. Alright then.” Her gaze shifted downwards as she pressed the glass to her lips. 

My heart was pounding in my chest. It was obvious she was dreading the worst. It was in her nature to always find the bad before the good. I hoped she couldn’t sense how nervous I was. I moved in on her and took the glass out of her hand, taking a drink from it myself before setting it down on the counter top. My hand found hers and I pulled her against my body. I could feel her fingers move over my lower back, and for a minute we stayed like that. “What’s wrong?” She asked in a quiet tone. “I know things between us haven’t been so great. You were just gone so long this time…” 

Shaking my head before she jumped to conclusions, I gripped her hand and led her into the living room. “You were right about it being difficult with the distance, and the lifestyle.” 

She pressed her lips together and then moved over to the fire place. I watched as she pressed the button on to top causing it to light up instantly. She kept her back to me and her arms crossed tightly against her midsection. “It took you two years to decide I was right?” 

I kept my hand gripped around the velvet box inside my coat pocket. “Ryland, meeting you is by far one of the most memorable moments of my life.” 

She looked over at her shoulder at me, her eyes were glassy, and I wanted to reassure her it wasn’t what she assumed. “In those short few days with you, I knew that I had to keep seeing you. You’re the only person who has ever made me feel… like home.” 

“I just gave you coffee and cookies.” She laughed, wiping a stray tear from her cheek. 

“They were really good cookies, but it was more than that. I love you. I knew it wouldn’t take me long to, and it didn’t.” Inhaling a breath, I finally managed to pull the small box out of my coat pocket. Slowly lowering myself onto one knee, my hand shook as I opened it, displaying the white solitaire diamond. It took her a moment to register and slowly her eyes widened and she placed her hands over her mouth. “Will you marry me?” It felt good to finally ask her. A weight was instantly lifted from me, but I still felt the nerves in my stomach. 

“I…I thought you were breaking up with me.” She laughed before nodding enthusiastically. “Yes. Of course I will.” Her smile reached from ear to ear as I placed the ring on her finger. 

“You’re always thinking the worst, I said I wouldn’t hurt you if you didn’t hurt me…” I pulled her down onto the floor with me. She wrapped her arms around my neck before kissing me on the lips. The snowfall outside was picking up and she groaned against my lips.

“We aren’t going to make that Christmas party. I was kind of looking forward to chasing you out into the snow again..” Her fingers ran through my hair and I could care less about any party at the moment. 

“If you want I’ll get drunk on wine and you can reenact that in your backyard…” I bit on her bottom lip lightly.

“The snow is falling pretty hard.” She talked against my lips. “I think we’re going to be stuck here for a few days…” 

“I hope so.” I placed my hand on her back before scooping her up into my arms. 

“You haven’t seen my finished bedroom. The paint took forever to dry.” Her grip around my neck tightened as I carried her up the stairs. 

“Lets see this room of yours then.” Playfully I winked at her, eluding to the first time she had invited me into her bedroom. Her lips fully kissed mine, and I couldn’t help but smile down at her as I kicked the bedroom door open. 

The End