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“Her absence is like the sky, spread over everything”

— CS Lewis

“KEEP YOUR EYES closed, Chloe”

“Okay, but will you tellon?” I asked Easton, s between the two of us the last fewapart Or e days were co another

He guided me up a step and then stopped me

“Can I open thele

Easton and I had been dating for ten months to the day I was positive this was a surprise anniversary dinner and a way for Easton to attee Station before I headed horaduated from Texas A&M and were about to start our careers It wasn’t lost onto handle our long-distance relationship Easton was taking a position with a drilling cos to work for my family’s cattle ranch, the Frio Cattle Co up, and I couldn’t wait to get back I oat Patches most of all

Even though my heart wanted to reo there

Warm breath tickled my ear as Easton whispered, “Open your eyes, Chloe”

I opened theht before me Red roses filled the small private room of my favorite Italian restaurant in town A rustic, round table held candles and two plates filled with my favorite dish, chicken fettuccine alfredo

“Oh,ever!” I said, spinning around the roo Easton “You did all of this for our ten-month anniversary?”

He dropped to one knee, and

No No No Please stand up

“I did this because I’m madly in love with you, Chloe Parker, and I don’t want to live without you I would be honored if you would please be my wife”

Mydown at him, unable to make my uy I’d ever kissed Hell, he wasn’t even the guy I lost inity to He was someone I had coh to marry him? This was not how I had envisioned this etting harder to breathe