Alex

6 months later:

“Thanks for coming with me, Jas.” I ran my arm around her shoulders as we stepped onto the Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge. My cousin, Ryan had been sought after by scouts to attend the college for his mad baseball skills.

Being a senior in high school, he was in need of a little brotherly advice. Since he had no brothers, I was called in by my aunt Carmen to help her son make a good choice when picking the college that would be best for him. For not only his baseball career but also for his academic one.

Jasmine was the first to see my cousin as he made a B-line for us. “Hi, Ryan.” She waved at him.

He hurried to us, looking nervous. “Hey, guys. Glad you could make it.” He shook my hand then gave Jasmine a hug. “I’m a wreck.”

“I know the feeling,” I agreed. “When I was checking colleges who were interested in me when I was a senior in high school, I had Dad to help me make a good decision. Unfortunately for you, your father isn’t around to do that. I’m happy to be of help, cousin.”

His smile was broad as he nodded. “Well, he’s very busy back in Argentina. Since his father passed away last month, he’s been inundated with settling his estate. He and all the rest of his brood of siblings seem to squabble over every last thing my grandfather had.”

“Which was a lot,” I added as we started heading to the coaches office for the meeting that had been scheduled earlier in the week. “Your grandfather was a wealthy man. Leaving no will behind and having fifteen children hasn’t left your father, the oldest of them all, an easy task. I’m happy to help you anyway.”

Jasmine gushed over my cousin, “Ryan, you’re such a talented pitcher that any university will be lucky to get you. You have to keep that in mind when they pitch you their offer. I just wish UF would step up and take some interest in you. Then you’d be with us.”

Ryan nodded. “Yeah, I know. But them winning the College World Series this year has them being picky as all get out. LSU is a great school for baseball players too. And maybe with my help, we could win next year’s title.”

“If you’re going to dream, dream big, Cuz,” I said as I patted him on the back.

After a great meeting with the coaching staff, Ryan and I both agreed the college in Baton Rouge would be ideal for him. Not only was he given a full scholarship, but he was given the rare opportunity to play for their team as a starter even as a freshman. It was too good of an opportunity to pass up. My cousin, Ryan Romero, would be pitching for the LSU Tigers next season.

My aunt was overjoyed with the news that her oldest child and only son was going to be a Tiger for LSU’s baseball team. And my help with the rising star was greatly appreciated by my family.

Jasmine was also highly impressed with me and later that night, after Ryan had left to head back to his home in Miami, she and I stayed in Baton Rouge for the night.

I had something I wanted to ask her and I wanted it to be special.

Her dark hair shone in the twinkling lights. Taking her to Roux 61 — a Baton Rouge legend — for what I hoped would be a special night she’d never forget, we were holding hands as we listened to the singer on stage. A guy I’d talked to in secret only moments before he took the stage.

Beaux Atkins proved to be a pretty cool guy and was all types of happy to help me out with my special request. The song over, he gave me a nod and a smile. A thing that had Jasmine looking at me with wonder in her eyes. “You know him?”

“Kinda,” I admitted.

Beaux took the mic in his hand as he came toward us. Jasmine’s expression went from wonder to ‘what the fuck’ in an instant. “Alex? What’s happening?”

“Hi there, Jasmine,” Beaux greeted her. “How was your dinner?”

The spotlight that had followed him grew to include her in it. She went pale then blushed. “Good. Thank you.”

“How’d you like my performance, Jasmine?” he asked her as I took the chance to move out of my seat as he had her full attention and the spotlight on her had it impossible for her to see what I was doing.

Pulling the ring out of my pocket. I fought back the nerves that were brewing inside of me.

Was I really about to do this?

Jasmine’s voice wobbled as she answered the singer, “It was great. I loved it.”

"Good, good," he said and handed the mic to me, and the spotlight grew to incorporate Jasmine and me, leaving him in the dark.

Jasmine’s eyes went to me, and when she saw that I was on one knee in front of her, her hands flew to cover her mouth, and her eyes glistened.

“Hi, Jas,” I said with a sly smile.

“Hi, Alex,” she whispered behind her hands.

“Mind if I ask you a question?” I teased her.

She finally dropped her hands away from her mouth, and I saw one tear escape. “Okay.”

“You know how I love you, right?” I beat around the bush.

She nodded and gulped. “I do.”

“You know how I love having you with me all the time, right?”

She nodded. “I do.”

I liked the way she was answering me and thought I’d love hearing her say those same words in the near future as a priest asked her a few questions.

My heart was pounding, for reasons I was unsure of. I mean, I was pretty sure she'd say yes to my question, but still, there was that nagging doubt that asked me, ‘What if she turns you down, bro?'

But I pushed that doubt to the side and showed her the engagement ring I’d hid from her for a solid week. “So with all that in mind, I’d like to ask you if you’d like to spend the rest of your life with me? As my wife?”

She gasped and nodded as tears streamed down her reddened cheeks and she held out her left hand. I slid the one-karat diamond ring onto her slender finger as the rest of the restaurant’s patrons clapped and cheered for us.

“Yes, Alex! Yes, I’ll marry you,” she cried out as she got up and I did too. We hugged then kissed as the cheering went on.

I’d heard cheers most all of my life as I played soccer. And they had always made me feel excited and happy. But the cheers I was hearing then were incomparable to all those I’d heard before. I was nearly overwhelmed with emotion.

These cheers were for Jasmine and me and the love we’d found for each other and would never let go of.