Congratulations to Tari Faris who won the April writer’s Challenge with her Passionate Proposal! Below is the her entry: A Proposal Worth Waiting For. Don’t miss your opportunity to win 49 points just for ENTERING the challenge, or 210 points for winning. Each month we randomly select one of the contributors to win a FREE BOOK from the MBT Store. You can find the May Writer’s Challenge on your Locker Room Page.

A Proposal Worth Waiting For

Whoever said that red was the new blond had never watch the man they loved walk in the room with Barbie on his arm. Hannah glared in the mirror and yanked out one bobby-pin after another until her hair resembled a circus clown. She dug her fingers into the mass and massaged the pain from her scalp but it didn’t do much to tame the volume or the color.

She unzipped the lavender formal, slipped it off, and ditched it on her bed. After pulling on her owl pajama pants and lime green sweatshirt, she settled into her overstuffed chair by the window and drew up her knees. So much growth, so much learning and yet she found herself back where she started. Alone and with an ache so deep in her chest that it took effort to breathe.

Then, she had simply wanted to be married. Now, the longing for marriage remained but her heart only beat for one man. Unfortunately, his heart didn’t beat for her.

Hannah dropped her head in her knees. She heard a car pull up and she glanced out the window. Dread boiled in her stomach. Why couldn’t he just leave it alone?

Hannah had already made a fool of herself at the wedding, did he really need to show up here so she could do it again only this time looking like she stepped out of a pajama party from a bad eighties movie.

What if he’d brought his date? Daniel had said he wanted them to meet. Perfect.

Hannah stood and examined her reflection again. She tried finger combing her hair – no help. Daniel wanted her to be herself. She didn’t get more Hannah than this.

She marched to the kitchen and threw open the front door. Daniel leaned against the door jam with his arms crossed over his chest.

“Hannah. Hannah. Hannah.”

She longed for another spoon to throw. How dare he come here and be all charming after she humiliated herself?

She turned ready to slam the door in his face when he stepped forward and snagged the edge of her sweatshirt.

“Let go!” She refused to look at him.

“No.” He tugged on her shirt, forcing her to take a step toward him.

Fine. He wanted a confrontation; she’d oblige. She turned toward him with a scowl but saw her mistake too late. She hadn’t realized how close he’d stepped and now her lips hovered dangerously close to his chin.

Daniel’s hand, that had held her sweatshirt, pressed flat against her back and slid slowly toward her shoulder. His musky scent invaded her senses and every nerve in her body sang. She swallowed against her dry throat and chanced a look at him.

His gaze traced her face. “You’re so beautiful.”

“Don’t make fun of me.” Hannah looked away. She lifted her hand but he grabbed it.

“I’m not. And don’t you dare think about rubbing that nose.

I’ve been dreaming about the day when I’d get to kiss every last one of those freckles. I’d feel shorted if you finally managed to rub one off.”

What was he talking about? “But your date…”

“Is Annie. My half-sister. She insisted in coming to meet you and thank you for bring us all back together.”

Hannah’s breath left her. She’d have collapsed if Daniel’s arms hadn’t been around her.

“You’re not…”

“Dating Annie? No. In love with you? Since the tenth grade.”

Hannah’s mouth drop open and she quickly shut it.

“I’m sorry, Hannah. I should never have left. If it too late for us, I understand. But I’ve come back to ask you a question.”

“Yes!”

Daniel smiled. “Hey a guy only gets to do this once. I want to do it right. No answering before the proper time.” He winked at her, stepped back and dropped to one knee. He reached in his pocket and pulled out a round diamond solitaire.

“Hannah-Banana, will you marry me?”

Hannah bit her bottom lip as her eyes filled with tears.

“You can answer now.”

“Yes! Yes! Yes!” She wrapped her arms around his neck as he stood. She reached up and traced his dimple with her finger. Most definitely yes.