He was right, but it was a whole lot different this time.
“Hey, I thought you were all here for moral support?” I said.
“We are, but we also came for the food and beer afterward,” Rowan said.
I guess I should be happy that Rowan was even there. Brinley was getting further along in her pregnancy and the man was overprotective, to say the least. He would also probably wrap the woman in bubble wrap if he could.
But I’d probably be the same way and was hoping to find out sooner rather than later.
Although, I needed to stop overanalyzing everything I saw and let my heart drive my decision.
I looked at Braxton and Landon who stood quietly watching the exchanges.
Then, Gyth slapped me on the back. “You got this man. This is step one in making it official.”
When I turned back toward the cases, my eye caught on one item in particular. “Can I see that one please?” I asked the sales lady.
My pulse picked up when she placed the object in my hand.
I looked at the guys.
“This ring is perfect for Ruby.”
Now I just needed to find the perfect time to pop the question.
ChapterThirty
RUBY
A sleepover,who would have thought at my age?
I was excited, even if not sleeping with Lyric did make me pout a bit. The man was like a warm blanket on a freezing night and I felt like nobody could hurt me when his big, strong arms were wrapped around me. It was almost the end of June so the nights were not cold, but even if it was a hundred degrees I’d still want to be surrounded by him as I slept.
But we had planned to do it long before and kept having to reschedule because everything was so busy and our schedules hadn’t matched up. There was also the fact that once again things had been quiet and we didn’t know who was after me, so the guys kept talking us out of it.
I couldn’t let the girls down and I couldn’t live in fear. Besides, our men were always looking out for us. Lyric was staying with the family and Rowan was camping out in front of the house in case anything happened, while his and Brinley’s son spent the night at Gyth and Summer’s with their boy.
It would be fun and maybe some wine, good food, and gossip with the ladies would help me relax. It had been a chaotic few weeks with Jett and Patience’s graduation, throwing them a party, and work. I still couldn’t quite believe or wrap my head around the fact my brother was all grown up. He was done with school and would be leaving for boot camp soon.
A shudder ran through me at the thought.
While I was supportive and proud, I was so scared. If anything happened to him, I wouldn’t be able to handle it. I knew Gramps worried too but he held it in. And while Patience was a supportive, amazing friend, I could see the fear and sadness in her eyes every time the subject came up.
“What are you thinking about?” Lyric asked, coming up behind me as I stood in the bathroom throwing my necessities in a bag.
“Wait, you don’t know? You’re slipping.”
He grabbed my sides and tickled me relentlessly until I was screaming uncle. When we settled, my back to his front, standing at the bathroom mirror, he circled his arms around my stomach, and rested his chin on my shoulder.
“I’m going to miss you.” He turned and kissed the side of my neck, sending tingles down my spine.
A moan escaped me. “Maybe I don’t have to go?”
I knew I was going but if he kept up what he was doing I might be late. Something that has happened before and I knew I’d never hear the end of it all night. I turned in his embrace and his lips left my skin.
“The girls will hunt you down if you don’t show,” he said, causing laughter to bubble up and slip free.
“I suppose you’re right. But I’m going to miss you too.”
