I take Shelby’s hands in mine, staring into those sapphire eyes, highlighted by the setting sun. A breeze kicks up, making the leaves shake in the trees and ripples form on the surface of the water.
“Shelby?”
She scrunches up her face, probably wondering what’s wrong with me and why we aren’t digging into our food right now. “Yeah?”
I drop down to one knee, and her eyes go wide. “I love you, Shelby Sweet. Have since the day we met. If friendship is the foundation for a happy marriage, then there will be no two people happier than you and me. I know we went about this all backward, but I want you to have the ultimate proposal experience. You deserve all the good things life has to offer, and I’ll spend the rest of my life getting them for you.”
Her eyes are swimming with tears. It’s the small smile playing on her lips that has me continuing despite the fear that I’ll fuck this up. I reach into my pocket and pull out her momma’s rings. I hold them up and see the moment she realizes what they are. Her free hand goes to her mouth, and the tears fall down her cheeks.
“Archie sent me these. I figured you should have a choice in what you wear on your finger for the rest of your life. All I know is I want that ring to mean that you’re mine and I’m yours. Forever. Marry me? For real?”
Shelby nods her head emphatically before she pulls her hand down and says the words. “Yes, Dallas! Of course I’ll marry you!”
I stand and pull her into my arms, sealing our promise with a kiss. A low grumble behind me has us breaking apart. I grin while Shelby tries to look behind me with confusion.
“I wasn’t told there’d be kissing,” Ryder says with some attitude.
We hear a shushing noise from the trees off to our left. I have to choke back laughter. I move to the side so Shelby can see Ryder approaching with a cake in his hands. He gives me a dirty look but turns an angelic smile Shelby’s way.
“What is this?” Shelby whispers.
“You have to read the cake,” Ryder informs her.
Shelby’s gaze drops to the round cake which sports cursive writing in blue icing.Will you be my bonus mom?
Shelby’s hand goes to her mouth again, eyes back to leaking. She glances at me, and I shrug. “We’re kind of a package deal.”
Shelby drops to her knees, gently takes the cake out of Ryder’s hands to place it on the blanket with our supper, and pulls him close, hands on his shoulders.
“There’s nothing I’d like better than to be your bonus mom. It would be an honor.”
And then I’m the one choking up, watching those two hug like they were always meant to be in each other’s lives. It’s plain to see my boy loves Shelby and always has. Hell, he’s smarter than his father. He knows a keeper when he sees one. I join the group hug and thank my lucky stars she said yes.
“Job well done, son,” I whisper in his ear. He lifts his head from Shelby’s shoulder to give me a grin. We’ve been working on his lines for a week now.
Hallie appears at my side when we finally break apart. She shoots me a wink and then gets busy pulling Ryder away so we can enjoy our engagement supper.
“Thank you, Hallie!” I holler after them. I’m one lucky son of a bitch to have her support.
We wait until her SUV drives away, leaving us alone again. Just us and the river we grew up on. Shelby and I sit on the blanket facing each other. Shelby gazes at the two rings on her finger, her momma’s and the one I bought in Hornville.
“It won’t hurt my feelings if you choose your momma’s. It makes the most sense.”
She smiles at me, still glassy-eyed. “I love the ring you got me. But I also know if you can return it, that money can help your family’s ranch.”
I shake my head. “No way. You choose the ring you want…foryou, Sweetness. Don’t think about other people right now. I want you to selfishly choose which one you want.”
She gazes at her hand, her finger touching both in turn. “I’ve changed my mind on quite a few things recently. I used to want a big fancy wedding ring because that’s what the magazines and movies always showed. But now I want it to mean something deeper. I choose my momma’s. I think it’ll be nice to have a reminder of her on my hand forever. There’s history there.”
I reach forward and slide my fingers in her hair to cup her face. “Done. Now let’s eat before your blood sugar gets too low.”
It’s while we’re finishing our supper and before we devour some cake, that I trot out an old memory. I pull Shelby between my legs so her back rests against my chest. The temperature’s dropped enough already that it feels good to cuddle up. “Remember that night in high school when Houston dared you to kiss me?”
Shelby laughs. “Oh god, yeah, I remember.”
I think back on that night. I swear I can hear the echo of our laughter from all those years ago. “I was so pissed you didn’t kiss me.”
She gasps and spins to see my face. “What? I thought you said?—”
