“Have I ever mentioned what a loud-mouth you are, Tex? I should never have told you what I was planning.”
“It would’ve been obvious. Look at you. You’re sweating like a defendant awaiting sentencing.”
“It’s hot today! This house doesn’t have air conditioning.”
“That’s got nothing to do with it.”
I snorted and patted my pocket. “I’ve got the ring. Are you happy now?”
“Of course. I’m your bestest friend. It’s my job to get excited for you.” He clamped his arm around my neck, practicallya headlock. “I just don’t want you to stroke out before you ask the big question.”
“Like you almost did before asking Genevieve?”
He laughed, letting me go with one more slap to my back. “Exactly. Now, are you going to give me a tour of this place, finally?”
I rolled my eyes. “Yeah. Let’s round some people up and give them the official tour.”
Keira was chatting with Raymond and Regina. And Keira seemed to like him, so that was good. Together, we took a group around the house to show off all the work we’d done. When that was finished, Keira, Regina, Jessi, and Gen gathered in the kitchen to help put finishing touches on the food, with Zoe underfoot. Raymond went outside to see what Aiden was up to at the grill.
After another hour, the backyard was hopping. We’d set up extra picnic tables to hold everyone, with a long folding table the designated spot for food.Waytoo much food.
River’s wife Charlotte had arrived, and they were holding hands and sipping beers. Cole Bailey chatted with Genevieve and Trace’s wife, Scarlett. Trace and Brynn were murmuring about something and laughing.
Owen sidled over and stood next to me on the deck, handing me a fresh can from Hearthstone Brewing. I thanked him and lifted the drink in cheers.
“I never thought I’d have anything like this,” I said quietly to my friend.
Not just the beautiful home or the most amazing girl in the world at my side. I meant all these people too. A family who would always have each other’s backs.
Owen squeezed my shoulder. “It was waiting for you here the whole time. You just had to believe you deserved it.”
It was pretty amazing. Seeing all these people who cared about us and had supported us. They’d all believed in Keiraand me, even when she and I hadn’t figured ourselves out yet.
Over on the obstacle course, Trace and Scarlett’s son Toby was scaling a rope, while Stephie’s guy Colby was showing off on the climbing wall.
Hell, I hoped Colby didn’t fall and break something, but he was a fit guy. And he adored Stephie too much to be reckless around her again. That had been clear to me since the moment I’d met the guy. Same night we’d spent hours together cleaning up the mess Ryan Garrett had caused.
That night had been the last time any of us had seen or heard from Garrett. Harris Medina had been true to his word. He’d settled things with Garrett in his own way. Medina had also stayed away from Keira since then, and I was glad for it.
Shocking to think it had taken Keira almost dying to knock sense into me. I’d been an idiot back then. A miserable idiot.
And now, I had everything I wanted. Well, almost.
Over a year ago, I’d asked Owen if I deserved Keira. Back then, our relationship had been fake. But my love for her had been real. His answer to the question had stuck with me.
It’s about treating her right every single day.
I liked to think I’d been doing a bang-up job of that in the last year. Keira seemed to think so.
But I wanted to keep deserving her for the rest of our lives, and what better way than to declare my undying love and commitment in front of everyone we cared about?
I hadn’t planned out the exact moment to propose, though. I’d figured inspiration would hit me at some point during the barbecue. So the minutes kept slipping by. We ate steaks grilled by Aiden, mac and cheese, Regina’s gourmet potato salad. Laughed and talked and cracked open more beers or canned cocktails.
The ring in my pocket was constantly on my mind, but Istill didn’t know thewhen. I’d been like this as a sniper too, searching out the perfect moment based on instinct. But today, my instincts were staying quiet.
Fine. I was sweating a little, and it wasn’t just the late summer sun.
Then I saw Trace frowning at his phone. He got up, gesturing to Brynn, followed by Keira. They took a few steps away from the deck and started talking quietly. River glanced over, clearly interested, though he didn’t leave his wife’s side just yet.
