You're the One - Part 1 || Greta Van Fleet

Chapter 158: Just Say Yes

When I stepped outside, I saw Jake making his way out of their house. A smile escaped my lips when I noticed he had gotten changed, now wearing a white button down tucked into navy blue dress pants, his hair pulled back into a bun, and his guitar slung behind his back. He shoved his hands into his pockets, flashing me an enthusiastic smile. He was the most handsome man I had ever seen, no matter what he was wearing.. but he knew how much I loved when he put his hair up.

"Hi.." I said, my smile growing into a wide grin. "Look at you. Now I feel underdressed." He shook his head, his cheeks burning red.
"You are so beautiful." He said simply. "I'm the one that needs to get cleaned up for you." I shook my head, unable to take my eyes off of him, my heart beating faster. I reached out for his hand, pulling him closer.

"You are so handsome." I sighed, staring up at him, completely mesmerized. He bit down on his lip, holding in his smile.
"Thank you." He said, playfully spinning around. "But.. tonight isn't about me."
"Oh.. then.. who is it about?" I asked. He held his stare on me for a moment before leaning in, gently kissing me on the lips.
"Come on." He said softly, motioning towards the trail. "I have something to show you." My heart jumped.

It was happening.

He took my hand, intertwining our fingers as he guided us through the yard towards the trail to the lake. It was amazing how I could feel so nervous and yet so calm whenever I was with him. I could feel his hand start to sweat as his grip on me got tighter, guiding us down the path. He stayed quiet, keeping his eyes down as we walked in silence, but I didn't mind. 

I thought back to that night he brought me here.
The night he told me he loved me.

I remember thinking he was crazy, knowing it was way too soon to know if I could ever feel that way about someone, but after seeing how sure he was, I realized just how easy it would be for me to fall for him too. And then I did, right then and there. I reached up, gently holding the crystal from his necklace within my fingertips.

As we got closer to the lake, my smile grew, my heart beating faster as I noticed strings of twinkle lights dangling from the trees and small lanterns strategically placed, guiding as down the path to his favorite place in the world, bathing us in their warm, glowing light.
"Jake.." I said softly, squeezing his hand. He peeked back at me, giving me a gentle smile, squeezing my hand in return as we finally reached the open water, which was filled with twice as many lanterns, illuminating the water all around us. My jaw dropped as I looked around, taking it all in.

It was happening.

"Jake.. what's going on?" I asked, giggling to myself, tears coming to my eyes. He lead me over to a log washed up on the shore, where he sat down close next to me. I was hypnotized by him as his face glowed in the flickering lights of the lanterns that surrounded us. None of this felt real. I was terrified that any minute now, I would wake up back in my bedroom in my apartment, like none of this ever happened.

He sighed, moving his guitar onto his lap, staring back at me for a moment with a gentle smile. I stared back into his eyes, trying to enjoy every second of this for as long as I could.
"I wrote you something." He said softly, biting down on his lip. Even in the warm glow I could see his cheeks burning red, and I wanted nothing more right now than to just hold him.
"You did?" I asked, my smile growing. I wiped my eyes, but it was no use. I could tell the tears wouldn't be stopping, so I just left them to fall.

He nodded, taking a deep breath, flashing me another smile before he started to play.

He kept his eyes locked on me while he sung, and my face began to hurt from smiling so big; I hadn't been able to stop from the moment he walked out the door. This couldn't be real. He couldn't be real. I didn't know it was possible for someone to make me this happy. How did I get so lucky to find someone like him? To have him love me more deeply than I have ever felt in my entire life.

He was everything. 

When he finished, he placed his guitar behind him, gently reaching out for my hands. By now, my heart was pounding in my ears, I wouldn't have been surprised if he could hear it. He giggled to himself as he reached up, gently wiping my face as more tears fell. For a moment, I could see his eyes begin to water, but he quickly blinked them away. Thank god, because there was no way I could handle him crying too.
"Jess.." He started, his smile growing, his grip getting tighter on my hands. I moved closer to him, our faces now inches from each other. 

It was happening.

"Jess.. I have been waiting for the perfect moment to do this, but.. whenever I'm away from you, I realize that.. every moment we're together is the perfect moment. There is no one moment that could ever fully encapsulate how I feel for you, but rather.. it's all the little moments we share together every single day. It's the mornings I wake up before you and get to watch you sleep. It's the nights I can feel you reaching out for me, just to make sure I'm still there next to you. It's the way I know you will always be there cheering me on, always there to celebrate me when I get off stage. And as far as I'm concerned, I am only amazing when you think so. Your opinion is the only one that matters to me. As long as I impress you.. then I know I'm doing something right.

I knew you were the one from the moment I saw you, and you have changed my life in ways I have never imagined possible. You have made me want things I have never imagined wanting, and now, I want everything... with you. You've shown me that.. home isn't a place, but a person, and I know if I'm lucky enough to get to spend my life with you.. I will always be home.

Jess.. I love you more than I have ever found the way to say to you. I could write you a million songs, but I am still terrified that I will never truly find the words to express what you mean to me, but I swear.. if you'll have me, I will spend forever trying. I want nothing more than to live the rest of this life with you, forever. So, Jess..." He said, kneeling down in the sand. Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out the little black box and slowly opened it, showing me the most beautiful ring I had ever seen in my entire life.

"Will you marry me?"

And in that moment, it felt like my heart had stopped. He stared up at me nervously, his eyes wide and anxious, a gentle smile on his lips. I wanted nothing more than to stop time and savor this moment for as long as I could, but I knew every second that went by without giving him an answer was more excruciating than the next. And I didn't need a second to think about it. I knew what I wanted and I had never been more sure that I was right now.

I reached down, holding his face in my hands, pulling him into a long, passionate kiss. I felt him sigh as I backed away, leaning my forehead against his.

"Yes."