“Maybe it was a fluke or something,” I tell him.
“No, no, there’s definitely something wrong with it. The lights are acting funny, too,” he says. “Look.”
I turn to follow the direction in which he’s pointing, and am met with Colt, crouched down on one knee in front of me. A smile plays at the corner of his mouth as he pulls a small box from his pocket and opens it.
“Oh my god,” I breathe.
Davis claps his hands together loudly and throws his arms up in the air, shouting, “Double surprise! Gotcha!”
Everyone lets out a laugh in response, Colt and I included, before he clears his throat and starts to speak.
“Rowan Caldwell,” he says, shaking his head with a chuckle. “You uprooted my life. I was happy to be anchored to my work and focus on nothing else, until you came along. You’ve inspired me to seek out fun again and find joy in the little moments that life gives us. You are...incredible. You are aforce. And it would be an honor if you would let me spend the rest of my life with you.”
“Of course I will,” I sob, wiping tears from my eyes. I reach for his hands to pull him off of the floor.
As he stands, he slides the ring onto my left hand. It’s a gorgeous ring, the kind every little girl dreams about getting when they grow up – a cushion-cut diamond, wrapped with a halo, sitting on a small band lined with somehow even more tiny little diamonds. As it slides onto my hand, it catches the light, glittering in all directions.
Colt pulls me tightly into his arms and leans down to meet my lips in a passionate kiss. I could nearly drown in the sound of all of his closest friends cheering – even Emmett.
Davis approaches to throw his arms around us and shouts, “Now it’s a fucking party!”
On his cue, the crowd around us roars to life, moving in all directions, a large portion of them heading for the bar. I look down at the ring on my finger, sparkling wildly under the lights.
“We’re getting married,” I say to Colt, with a face-splitting smile.
“We’re getting married, baby.”
His lips meet mine again, and all I can think about is getting out of here and getting him into our bed.
I finally get to be one of his firsts.
EPILOGUE
Colt
Two Years Later
Emmett races across the backyard, clutching a football to his chest, with Macie hot on his heels.
“You’re not gonna get this one, kid!” He shouts behind him.
Macie lets out a growl and kicks up the speed, forcing her small legs to carry her even faster, until she latches her arms around his waist. He rolls forward, dramatically acting out being tackled, complete with a defeated ‘oof!’
Bending down to grab the ball from in front of him, she proudly announces, “I tackled you fair and square! The championship is mine!”
“Be careful, you two,” I warn with a laugh, flipping over the burgers as I stand at the grill. “Someone’s going to get hurt.”
“Yeah, my pride,” Emmett mumbles as she stands up and dusts the grass from his shirt.
Macie dances behind him, carrying the football victoriously in her hands. She sticks her tongue out mockingly. “Girls rule! Boysdrooooool.”
“Yeah, yeah, you got lucky, twerp.” My son walks over to stand next to me and inspect the food. “Smells great, Dad,” he says.
I can’t remember the last time I used a grill, let alone had a group of people that I love to share it with. I was never the ‘have a barbecue in the backyard’ kind of guy, until my little family came together. Now it’s barbecues, family dinners, movie nights – all of the time. Even Davis comes by at least once a week to join us. It’s been such a refreshing change, and so good for all of us.
The back door opens and our new Australian shepherd puppy, Zipper, flies out of the house to find something to play with, followed shortly by Rowan, who takes a big sniff as she steps out onto the patio.
“Mmmm,” she moans, “that smells so good. I’m starving.”
