Her and the Basketball Champion

chapter 52

I stare up at him, my heart pounding against my chest. It makes sense that the next thing we do after confessing our love is getting married, but I still can't believe it.

Jonas wants to marry me.

He's looking at me like he's serious, and I know I definitely feel crazy right now.

And special.

And so fucking in love that I just want to cry.

"You really want to marry me? I can't tell if you're joking, but I guess it makes sense, but I see why you might have joke-" I get cut off from my rant by Jonas moving a step closer to me.

"Eliza. There is nothing in the world that I want to do right now other than marry you. Hell, I would fucking do it right here, but I want to do it Halal with you." He sounds breathless when he speaks, like he will forget the words if he doesn't say them quick enough.

There is hope glimmering in his eyes, and it makes him look so radiant and happy, that I can't ever not accept.

Why would I? I love the man at the end of the day.

"I want to marry you, too." I say, and I feel a slight blush creep up on my face as he continues to stare at me. I'm smiling like crazy and he is too, and it feels like my face is going to fall off, but I don't care because I could smile at him all day and never get tired of it.

"I know what I need to do. Is your dad home right now? Come on, I'm getting you time off and then we're going to speak to your dad. I'm driving." He walking towards the door now, and I'm still rooted in place, struck by what he's saying.

He wants to speak to my dad.

I want him to speak to my dad.

Fuck, this is happening.

'Eliza, are you okay. Do you want to do this. We can take it slow, but I'll die in the process, but that's okay bec-" I think we both have a problem with stopping each other's rants, but I love it though.

"I don't want to take it slow. I want this." I start to walk towards the door, opening it up and knocking on Claire's office next door to me, a newfound confidence in my stride. I hear footsteps behind me, and peek over my shoulder to see Jonas following. We both wait, side by side, for Claire to open the door.

"I'll go in alone. You wait outside." I say.

I don't want Claire to feel intimidated by Jonas, I want to do this alone.

"Are you sure?" I nod my head and he steps back to lean against the wall next to the door. His gaze never wavers from me, and the look he gives me makes me feel so powerful, that when I hear Claire's shrill "Come in," I walk in there with my head held high. I'm getting time off whether she likes it or not.

"Hi, Claire. I don't have long to chat, but I wanted to ask a massive favour if that's okay." She's sitting at her desk, her glasses propped up on her head, and she's holding a thick stack of papers in her hand as she slouches against her seat.

"Oh, hello Eliza. What's this favour?" She looks up from her papers and analyses me from head to toe. I can feel her scrutinising gaze rake me in and I shuffle on my feet a bit to try and ease the discomfort brought on by her stare.

"I wanted to ask for some time off. I'v filed everything ahead for a few days, and all of your letters should be on your desk by tomorrow morning. There's a family emergency I need to get home for, so please, preferably a couple of days should do it." I say. I'm nervous for her answer, and my back is ramrod straight as I wait for it.

She doesn't say anything for a moment, and I'm afraid she's about to dismiss me without saying anything, but then she smiles that weird grimace of hers and a spark of hope ignites within me. I force myself not to turn around and peek for Jonas through the glass in the door.