Chapter 192: The Proposal

Marcus POV

Marcus woke before Simone. The apartment was quiet, and morning light filtered through the curtains. He lay still for a moment, watching her sleep. Her face was calm. Her breathing was steady.

Marcus smiled to himself. His eyes moved to the nightstand.The ring was inside the drawer. He had bought it two weeks ago from a small jewelry store near the river.

He had walked in knowing he wanted something simple. Something elegant. Something Simone would love.The woman behind the counter had asked him to describe her.

Marcus had talked for fifteen minutes without stopping. He had told her about Simone's work, her stubbornness, her kindness, and the way she always noticed when something was wrong with him before he said a word.

He had told her about how Simone had stood beside him when his career had fallen apart. How she had never treated him like a broken player who needed fixing.

The woman had listened.Then she had smiled and handed him the ring. Marcus had known it was the one.The ring had stayed in the drawer ever since.

He didn't know when he would ask. He only knew he would. Marcus got out of bed carefully and walked into the kitchen. He made coffee and sat at the table.

The ring box rested in his pocket, pressing against his leg. His hands were steady but his heart wasn't.The apartment looked different now. It no longer felt like a temporary place they had moved into because of their career.

Simone's books filled part of the shelves. Her work bag rested near the door. His shoes sat beside hers. Her favorite mug was beside the coffee machine.

They had built a life here without even noticing when it happened. Marcus looked around the kitchen.This was home.

An hour later, Simone woke. He heard her footsteps in the hallway before she appeared in the kitchen doorway. Her hair was loose, and her eyes were still heavy with sleep.

She wore his old Hawks hoodie. She had claimed it months ago, and he had stopped asking for it back. She walked over and kissed his cheek.

"You're up early."

"Couldn't sleep."

"Practice?"

"No. I was just thinking."

She sat across from him and wrapped both hands around the mug he had poured for her.

"About what?"

Marcus reached across the table and took her hand. He kissed it."About us."

A smile touched her lips."What about us?"

He looked at her for a moment. He had planned to take her to the river. The bench where they had talked about their future felt like the perfect place. Somewhere quiet.

Somewhere that meant something to both of them. He had pictured himself standing beside the water, asking her the question while the city moved behind them.

But sitting there with Simone across from him, Marcus knew he didn't want to wait.

The river would still be there but this moment felt right.

Marcus stood and walked around the table. He stopped in front of her and dropped to one knee. Her eyes widened.

"Marcus..."

He pulled the ring box from his pocket and opened it. The diamond caught the morning light. Simone's hand moved to her mouth.

"Simone, I don't want to promise you that life will always be easy. I don't want to promise that I'll never get hurt or that my career won't take us somewhere unexpected."

His voice stayed steady, but his heart pounded against his chest."What I can promise is that whatever comes next, I want to face it with you."

Her eyes filled with tears.

"I love you, Simone. I want to marry you. I want to build a life with you. I want to spend the rest of my days choosing you."

He held her gaze."Will you marry me?"

For a moment, Simone didn't speak. Her eyes stayed on his. Her hand trembled as she reached for him. Then she laughed through the tears.

"Yes."

Marcus smiled.

"Yes. Of course yes."

He slipped the ring onto her finger. It fit perfectly. She stared at it for a second before looking back at him. Marcus stood and pulled her into his arms. He kissed her as Simone wrapped her arms around him and kissed him back.

Neither of them moved for a long moment.

When they finally pulled apart, Simone looked down at her hand again."You bought this two weeks ago?"

Marcus smiled. "Yeah."

"And you didn't tell me?"

"I was trying to keep a secret."

She laughed. "You actually managed to keep one."

"I had help from the fact that you never looked in my drawer."

"I have better things to do."

"Clearly."

She looked at the ring again and shook her head."I can't believe we're engaged."

Marcus touched her cheek."We are."

She smiled."We're getting married."

The words settled between them. Marcus felt something shift inside him. Not fear. Not pressure. Peace. He had spent years fighting to get his career back.

Now he was standing in the kitchen with the woman he loved, looking at a ring on her finger. For once, nothing needed fixing.

Marcus called his mother first. She answered on the first ring."Baby. Is everything okay?"

"Everything's fine, Ma. I asked her."

"Asked her what?"

"I asked her to marry me."

Silence filled the line. Then he heard her crying."She said yes?"

"She said yes."

"That's the best news I've heard in years."

"I'm glad, Ma."

"I love you, Baby."

"I love you too."

"Take care of her."

"I will."

Marcus called Darius next. Darius answered on the second ring."It's early."

"I know. I asked her."

A pause.

"She said yes?"

"She said yes."

"Took you long enough."

Marcus laughed."I know."

"I'll tell Grandma. She's been waiting."

"I figured."

"Congratulations."

"Thank you."

"Now don't mess it up."

"I won't."

Simone called Jenny. Her sister's voice came through the phone at full volume. Simone laughed and cried at the same time while Marcus watched her with a smile.

Later that night, they sat together in the living room. The lights were dim, and the city hummed outside. Simone kept looking at the ring on her finger.

Marcus watched her.

"I can't believe this is real."

"It's real."

She looked around the apartment."And we live here. Together."

"Yeah."

She leaned into him. Marcus wrapped an arm around her, and she rested her head against his shoulder. For a while, neither of them spoke.

Then Simone looked up."I wouldn't change the road that brought us here."

Marcus looked down at her."Neither would I."

"Not even the hard parts?"

He thought about it.The scandal. The accusations. Hartford. The mornings when he had wondered if basketball still had a place for him.

Then he looked at Simone."Not if changing them meant losing this."

Her eyes softened."Because it brought you here?"