Chapter Eighty-Five

Sidney left for Sweden. He wouldn’t be back for two weeks. It would be hard, really hard. Because we couldn’t talk on the phone that much, either. It would be hard because Sidney is my best friend. Without him, I have Jacob and Sophie and Connor, that’s it. If I don’t talk to Sidney, I have to talk to one of them. Problem is Sophie has Jake now and vice versa. Connor is Connor so who knows. I would go and talk to Simon, but Sidney hates Simon.

“Hey.” He called one night.

“hi.” I replied.

“How was your day?” He asked.

“Well its day eight without you.” I said.

“Jo.” He said.

“What? I’m just saying. I miss you. Its lonely without you.”

“I miss you too.”

“You have your teammates who are like your best friends.” I said.

“you have soccer and Sophie, Jake, and Connor.” He said.

“I just want you back.” I said.

“Hey, babe. I love you but I have to go. I’ll call you tomorrow.”

“I leave tomorrow for a road trip to Michigan.” I said.

“Well call me when you can. I love you.” He said.

“I love you, too.” I said.

“Jo, I miss you. Everything is going to be fine. You worry too much.” He said.

“Thanks, be safe.”

“You too love.” He said and then he hung up.

Mid-October.

Sidney and I have been normal. Everything has been good. Max and us have hung up all the time. Usually multiple times a week. I stay are Sidney’s on the weekends and we are together a lot. Everything feels good.

“Don’t make any plans for tomorrow night.” Sidney said after his game.

“Why?”

“I’m planning something.” He said.

“Okay.” I said confused.

The next day Sidney picked me up for a date night. I didn’t realize what today was. It was October 19. Three years ago to the day I met Sidney. He remembered. He always remembers.

After we went to dinner, we went to the park I always go too when I am sad. We sat on the bench and just held hands. It felt so right.

“Three years ago, a girl rang the doorbell. No idea that girl would become my best friend, soul mate, or my girlfriend. In some ways three years seems so long ago because we been through so much. I can’t imagine meeting you and not loving you from that day. I can’t imagine what life would be like if you never came to pick your sister up.” He said.

“I love you.” I looked at him.

“I love you too. That’s what I’m trying to tell you. I don’t tell you enough how you have changed my life. I never thought it would be okay to not love hockey the most. Three years ago flew by because you have always been there. You are always there no matter what happens. I love you and I can’t tell you how much I love you. This day three years ago could arguably have been the best day of my life because it changed the course of my life forever. Thank you for loving me.”

“No, Sidney. Thank you for loving me. Thank you for picking me and sticking with me.” I said with tears.

“I got you something.” He said pulling out a box wrapped.

I opened the box and pulled out a diamond ring on a silver chain.

“This is hopefully our engagement ring. I know its way too early for us to get married. But, I never will doubt the fact that it will happen.” He said and I just looked at him.

“I just don’t want you to doubt either. When you see this ring I want it to remind you that someone is always thinking of you and that I love you.” He said and he pulled out the ring. I looked at it. It was beautiful. I don’t even want to think of how much it cost. It was white gold with a princess cut diamond in the center. It had two smaller diamonds on either side. It was beautiful.

“Sidney, you didn’t need to do this.”

“I love you and I don’t want you to ever feel alone, because you aren’t. I’m always going to be here.” He said.

“Did you see what it said?” He asked me. I looked at it again. It had our initials and it had Forever my best friend, eternally my love. I read it and I just started to cry.

“Babe, I love you so much and you didn’t need to do this. I know you love me.”

“It just doesn’t seem right for us to keep saying I love you. Because its not enough for me to say it. If you weren’t in school I would marry you tomorrow. That’s how sure I am that I want you to be by my side.” He said.