Orion had no idea that this was the place where Lukas had planned the picnic—where he’d brought me to skate. There was a little gazebo off to the side that we hadn’t used, but Orion had requested some champagne, candles and flowers to be set up. I bit my lip and sucked in a deep, quiet breath. The twinkling lights were flickering on, and the sun was starting to set.
Eloise already had her phone out, and I quickly ducked out from the trees to grab some scenery shots.
I managed to tuck myself away just as Orion and Annalise came around the corner. I heard her gasp.
“I love it here,” Annalise said, her voice wistful.
“It sure is beautiful.”
I heard Eloise melt because my brother was staring at Annalise like she hung the moon and the stars in his whole world. I took more photos and quietly wiped at the tears that had started to fall.
“I’m so glad we came on this trip. I love your family.”
I watched as my brother lowered himself onto one knee while Annalise was turned away.
“Anna, baby?”
Annalise turned around, and her hands flew to her mouth.
“I have loved you from the moment you agreed to let me take you out. You’ve stuck by me through so much, and I want to be there for you until the end of time. You’re my best friend, the light of my life. I want to spend the rest of our lives together.”
“Oh my God,” Annalise breathed out, emotion heavy in her voice.
“I know you’ve been waiting for me to ask you this, and I know you went snooping and found a ring ages ago.”
Annalise laughed, tears rolling down her cheeks.
Orion grinned. “And maybe you thought I was procrastinating or something. But I was waiting for this moment. Annalise, baby, if you’ll have me, will you marry me?”
I snapped more pictures.
The ring was an heirloom piece—it belonged to Annalise’s mother. Neither of her parents were around—I remembered the day Orion got the call that they’d been in an accident and he’d dropped everything to get to Annalise. Her grandmother was her only family left, and when Orion had started this process, he’d gone to her first. He showed me the ring, and it was perfect., Annalise would love it.
Annalise gasped, and buried her face in her hands when she saw the ring.
Her mother’s ring was nestled in the box.
Orion stood up, pulling her into a hug.
“No! Nonono, get back down there! I haven’t said yes yet!”
She pushed him away and back down onto a knee. She held out her trembling hand, and he pressed a kiss to it before taking the ring and sliding it onto her finger.
“So that’s a yes?” He teased.
I snapped photo after photo as Annalise wrapped her arms around Orion’s neck and cried. When she leaned back, Orion wiped his thumbs under her eyes, while she stared at the ring.
“The ring I found?” She asked.
“A cheap one I got from an online retailer. You can wear it when we go traveling, so nothing happens to this one. I also knew you’d started snooping through my drawers.”
A laugh bubbled out of her, and she kissed him.
I was so happy, but ache was forming in my chest and tears pooling in my eyes.
“I’m your fiancée!”
When he led her over to the gazebo and champagne, Eloise and I stood up, and when Annalise saw us, she started crying again. Orion popped the cork and had filled two flutes by the time we’d made our way over.
