Collision Course

THE PROPOSAL

**Chapter 18: "The Proposal"**

After meeting each other’s families, Lexi and Julian’s relationship felt like it had entered a new phase. It wasn’t just love—it was commitment, a solid, unbreakable bond that had grown from the moment they met. Every day together was a reminder of how far they had come and how much further they could go.

As Julian paced nervously in their shared apartment, a velvet box burning a hole in his pocket, he thought about all the times he'd imagined this moment. **Would she cry? Would she be speechless? What if she wasn’t ready?** His thoughts raced, and his palms were sweaty, but he knew deep down that this was the right thing to do. Lexi was his person.

Lexi came into the living room, still toweling off her hair, wearing one of Julian’s oversized hoodies, and humming a tune softly under her breath. She looked up at him and noticed the tension in his posture. “What’s up with you? You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”

Julian let out a nervous chuckle. “Uh, no ghosts. Just… thinking. How about a walk?”

Lexi’s eyes brightened. “Sure! It’s such a nice evening.”

As they walked through the city streets toward their favorite park, Lexi felt a peaceful warmth wash over her. She thought about how Julian had seamlessly become a part of her life—**her other half.** She smiled as she remembered their first meeting at the coffee shop, and how unexpected yet perfect it had all been.

When they reached the park, the late autumn sun was casting a soft golden hue over the trees. The air was cool, but not cold, and the familiar path they often took together stretched out in front of them. Julian took Lexi’s hand, and they strolled in comfortable silence for a while, letting the natural beauty of the evening surround them.

But inside, Julian was buzzing with nerves. His heartbeat quickened, and his mind replayed the words he wanted to say. As they walked near the pond, he felt the moment arrive like a tidal wave—there was no turning back.

“Lexi,” he said softly, his voice thick with emotion.

She turned to him, catching the tone in his voice. Her eyes searched his face. “Yeah?”

Julian stopped walking, and they stood facing each other as the last rays of sunlight glistened on the water behind them. He took both of her hands in his, drawing her closer. His heart pounded so loudly in his chest that he was sure she could hear it.

“I’ve been thinking a lot about us,” Julian began, his voice steady but his hands slightly trembling. “About how far we’ve come. About the future. And about how every single moment with you feels like a piece of home.”

Lexi’s breath caught in her throat, her mind racing as Julian’s words sank in. She knew what was happening, and her heart swelled in anticipation, her eyes filling with tears.

“From the day we met,” Julian continued, “I knew you were someone special. But over time, I’ve realized you’re not just special. You’re the one. My person. And I can’t imagine spending the rest of my life with anyone but you.”

Julian reached into his pocket and pulled out the small velvet box. Lexi’s eyes widened as she gasped, her free hand covering her mouth in shock. **This is real. This is happening.**

Julian knelt on one knee, holding up the ring as he gazed up at her, his heart full of love and vulnerability. “Lexi… will you marry me?”

Tears streamed down Lexi’s face as she nodded, her voice breaking as she whispered, “Yes. Yes, I’ll marry you, Julian.”

The moment felt surreal, as though the world had shifted beneath their feet, aligning them perfectly in a way that was undeniable. As Julian slid the ring onto her finger, Lexi felt a wave of emotions wash over her—love, joy, excitement, and the sheer awe of knowing she had found her forever.

They embraced, holding each other tightly, as if neither wanted to let go of this moment, this feeling. Lexi buried her face in Julian’s chest, her tears of happiness soaking into his shirt. And in that embrace, with the golden sunset casting its light over them, they knew they had stepped into a new chapter of their lives—together.