Two and a half months later
“It’s f—fucking freezing.” Kayla’s teeth clacked together as she shivered against me.
I held her tighter, trying to offer any body heat I could. Huddled together in one sleeping bag, I wouldn’t have thought it’d be so cold, but she was right. It was fucking freezing.
The cardboard box we were in—just big enough for the two of us—was supposed to help protect against the chilly wind, but shit. The thin barrier couldn’t change the fact that it was below thirty-five degrees outside.
When Kayla had asked me if I wanted to participate in the fundraiser for Shauna’s place, I said yes, no questions asked. Of course, at the time I didn’t realize we’d be spending the night before Thanksgiving on the streets.
Not that I would’ve said no—anything for Kayla. And this was important to her.
Wanting to help in any way I could, I’d started asking around on campus to see if anyone was interested in participating. Turned out, a few of the fraternities and sororities were big on philanthropy. Many signed up for the overnight, and those who couldn’t still sponsored their friends.
Shauna and the shelter staff were ecstatic. It was the best turnout they’d ever had.
Now, cardboard boxes and tents lined the streets of downtown Cleveland. Cars honked their horns in a display of support as they passed by, some stopping to donate money or offer hot beverages and food.
If only it was like this for the homeless who spent every day and night out here. But that was the whole point of this event. To raise awareness so the homeless would be less invisible.
Kayla gave a full-body shudder, so I tried to distract her with humor. “I guess it would be a bad time to crack a joke about Jack and Rose from Titanic?”
She’d finally gotten me to watch the whole movie, but I had to say the ending sucked ass.
Huddling closer, Kayla huffed out a laugh. “Y—yes. Bad time.”
“What if I told you I finally decided on a major?”
“Really?” She perked up. “Tell me.”
“I think I want to go into social work. There’s not a lot of money in it, but I think it could be rewarding.” Silence. “Kayla? Did you hear me?”
“Are you doing that because of me?” she asked quietly.
I shrugged. Or, I tried to. It was kind of hard bundled up in so many layers.
“You’re a big part of it. You’ve opened my eyes to a lot of things I never saw before. You’re the only person I’d freeze my ass off for.” I attempted to end my joke with a laugh but ended up coughing instead.
“You don’t have to be here, Ezra.” Kayla looked up at me, concerned. “You can go home where it’s warm. After what you went through with the frat, I don’t want you to feel pressure to—”
I cut her off with a swift kiss. “I was kidding. And no way. We’re in this together.”
“But your leg—”
“Will hurt like a bitch tomorrow,” I filled in with a chuckle. “There’s nowhere else I’d rather be tonight.”
“I can’t believe Melanie did this for years,” Kayla said sadly. “So many people live like this every day.”
Making a sound of agreement, I held her tighter and stroked her hair with my numb fingers.
The gorgeous person in my arms had no idea how much she’d changed me for the better. I wasn’t kidding when I said she’d opened my eyes.
I’d always thought of myself as an outcast, but over the past couple months I realized something.
This world is full of outcasts.
And maybe we’d all be okay if we stuck together, if we helped each other. Society would be a better place if we replaced judgment and criticism with compassion and action. As Shauna had said, kindness and generosity were better combined.
Eventually Kayla fell asleep, and I was relieved that she’d get to snooze through some of this. In a few short hours, we’d be back inside, warm and full of good food.
But sleep didn’t find me.
I was too busy thinking about the fate of Max, Cameron, and Aaron. Out of all the offenders, they were getting the harshest punishments.
Aaron was able to avoid jail time by pleading guilty for a lesser charge. Still, his plea bargain was good justice. In addition to getting kicked out of the university, Aaron had to pay a hefty sum to cover the damage he’d caused to Pierre, and he ended up with a lot of hours of community service.
Max and Cameron were still awaiting trial for their dirty deeds, which had made national news, and it seemed like the accusations were amounting faster than anyone could keep up with. The latest buzz had been that the judge assigned to the case had a family friend with a daughter who’d gone through a hazing ordeal, so chances were, she wouldn’t be going easy on their sentences.
I didn’t feel bad for them.
It could be a while before all the facts were sorted out, but one thing was for sure—Pi Kappa Epsilon at McAdams was done. Several other members involved in hazing had been expelled, but many were victims themselves. Now it was just a matter of picking up the pieces and trying to move on.
Sighing, Kayla shifted. She wiggled and snuggled closer, but she didn’t wake up. Slipping her hand into my coat, she sought out my warmth.
I tensed, because her fingers were dangerously close to the small box in my left interior pocket. The box that held the symbol of our future together.
I wasn’t going to ask Kayla to marry me yet, and I had zero plan of execution. All I knew was that I wanted it to start with me asking the question and end with her saying yes.
As I thought about the best time and place, I decided on the forest preserve where we’d had our first date. We could do the kayaking event next summer in July, and I could take her to our tower where I would drop to one knee. We’d probably be sweaty, tired, and smelly from river water, but Kayla would still be beautiful as ever and it would be the perfect end to a perfect day.
My lids grew heavy as I drifted off to that happy scenario.
Sometime later, I woke to Kayla lifting her head and stretching her arm. “It’s morning,” she breathed out, relieved. “I need a hot shower.”
Rays of early morning sun shot through the open end of the cardboard box, throwing light on the dark circles under her eyes. Her hair was messier than I’d ever seen it, and her nose was red from the cold.
And my perfect plan went out the window.
Right then, I knew I didn’t want to spend any more time waiting or holding back. We’d wasted too many years doing that.
Now, six months from now, or five years down the road—my feelings for Kayla would only grow deeper.
We were young, and it was crazy, and it was probably too soon… But seriously, fuck all that.
Reaching into my coat, all apprehension vanished as I pulled out the box and hid it in my closed hand.
“Kayla, I love you.” I pressed a kiss to her temple.
She gave me a sleepy smile. “I love you, too.”
“And I want to spend the rest of my life with you.” I opened the box, and her jaw dropped. Despite the freezing temperatures, I could feel heat bursting over my cheeks. “Will you marry me?”
Lifting her hand, she trailed a frozen finger over my blushing face and smiled so wide I thought her chapped lips might crack.
Then those lips landed on mine and her warm breath ghosted over my mouth as she whispered, “Yes.”