Saved By Carli

XLIV

Sage's POV

"Mallory Diane Pugh will you marry me?"

"No way"

"Wh-what?" I ask dumbfounded and with tears in my eyes.

"Oh baby no I didn't mean it like that. Of course I'll marry you." Mal says then gets on her knees in front of me and wipes the tears from my eyes. "It's just..." Mal pulls out a black velvet box from her purse and opens it. "I was actually going to ask you to marry me."

I smile then smash my lips onto hers. "If you'll marry me then I will marry you." I say with a huge smile.

"Then it looks like we are getting married." Mal says then I slap her arm. "OW. What?"

"You ever scare me like that again you will be sleeping on the couch and going without sex for a year."

"You got it fiancée."

"I can't believe we're getting married."

"Well you better believe it Sagey because it's you and me forever."

"Mal?"

"Yeah?"

"Hotel...Now." I say sternly and Mal vigorously nods and we head back to the hotel and right before we were about to celebrate our engagement my phone rings. "We'll finish this later." I say to Mal who nods then I answer the Facetime.

"Hey Sage...Hey Mal." Christen says and Mom comes over.

"Hi." Mal and I say in unison.

"Well you two are never gonna believe what just happened." I say and Mom and Christen look at each other then at us.

"What happened?" Mom asks.

"Well this morning I took Mal to The Trocadéro, which I sent you a picture of." I say and Mom gets out her phone and shows Christen her phone.

"Wow that's beautiful." Christen says.

"Yeah...Well I took Mal there and we were walking and talking then we stopped and looked at the view and I got down on one knee and proposed..."

"WELL..." Christen yells obviously getting impatient.

"Her exact words were No way" I say and both of them look pissed.

"Mal next time I see you I am going t-" Mom goes to say, but I cut her off.

"Mom she had a good reason to."

"Yeah...and what's that." Mom says still pissed.

I raise my left hand and show them the ring. "She was going to propose to me."

Now Mal raises her left hand and speaks up. "And I did say yes as well."

"Well that's not what I was expecting...sorry Mal." Mom says.

"It's fine Carli. I would've let you kick my ass if I said no."

"Well congratulations you two." Christen says.

"Thanks." I say then I suddenly feel sad while looking at Mom. Mom notices this then whispers to Christen who gets up and walks away.

"Hey Mal can I have some alone time with Sage?" Mom asks. Mal nods and kisses my cheek then leaves. "Is she gone?" I nod. "Sage what's wrong?"

"My stupid pessimistic side is coming out."

"Okay well what is bothering you?"

"You'll be so far away."

"Sage I won't be that far away baby. I'll only be a 3 hour car ride away or an hours flight away."

"Yeah I know." I mumble and look down.

"Sage look at me." I look at Mom. "I know what you are thinking right now and Sage?"

"Yeah?"

"I. Will. Never. Forget. You...Ever. Okay?"

"Okay." I mumble.

"Baby you are my first child and you will always have a special place in my life and my heart.

"I know." I say with a smile. "Can I ask you something?" I ask.

"Of course." Mom says.

"When are you going to ask Chrissy?"

"After the Olympics and NWSL season. I'm going to retire as well."

"Think it's the right time?"

"Yeah. I've achieved everything and I really want to settle down and live my life with Christen."

"Wait...does that mean you two will live in Utah?"

"No. We actually talked about this and Christen decided that when we get married she will live in Jersey with me and just fly out for the games."

"Oh okay...good."

"Yeah. Well I'll let you two go celebrate and when you get back we'll start planning your dream wedding. Okay?"

"Okay...and Mom?"

"Yes baby?"

"Thank you." I say and Mom smiles.

"Of course Sage. That's why I'm here."

Now I smile" I love you Mom."

"I love you too Sage."

"Bye Momma."

"Bye Sage."

"MAL YOU CAN COME BACK IN." I yell.

"Everything okay?" Mal asks as she comes back into the bedroom.

"Yeah...just nerves to be away from Mom." I say as Mal get's back into bed and I snuggle up to her and lay my head on her chest.

"Are you okay?"

"Yeah I'm good now. Mom calmed my nerves. I'm really excited to live with and marry you." I say as I trace circles on Mal's toned stomach.

"We've had a hell of a year."

"Yeah...you won the World Cup. I won a Grammy."

"And now we're getting married...You know I could marry you right now."

"Me too, but I don't think or parents or the girls would be too happy with us."

"Yeah...How many more days are we here?"

"5"

"Well when we get back let's look into buying a house." Mal says.

"We could also look into building a house."

"Ooh I like that idea...we also need to set up a joint banking account."

"Yeah we do, but let's enjoy the rest of our trip...Now where were we." I say with a smirk then continue the engagement celebration.