“He’s not wrong,” Ford said. “In the last ten seconds she’s already planned out the menu and the guest list. Haven’t you,Mom?”
“I have not,” she scoffed but her cheeks turned fuchsia.
Ashton thrust his hand at her. “See?”
I put my hand dramatically over my heart, my mouth hanging open. “Are you getting cold feet already?”
Ashton’s lips pursed and he turned to his mom. “We’re not engaged. She must’ve found the ring in a box upstairs.”
I slapped the counter like Jenny had. “No, I did not.” I made a face of mock offense. “Are you saying that after the trail of poems, the starlit picnic, and the proposal last night, now you’re having second thoughts?”
Jenny looked hopeful. Ford was suspicious but verging on believing it.
Ashton’s mouth clamped down. His eyes burned into me.
“So…you…are…engaged?”Jenny asked with trepidation.
“Yes. We definitely are.” I rolled my shoulders back, head held high. “Unlike some people, I’m excited about it.”
Ashton’s brow furrowed. I had him twisted in an emotional knot. I felt bad about that but I’d set him straight in a minute. I knew he wanted to marry me. He talked about it every day, as if it were a fact.
“Yay!” Jenny shook her fists in the air. “Mind if I ask when you think the wedding will be?” Her voice was teensy, clearly afraid to push.
Ashton unclamped his jaw enough to say, “In five years.”
“Nooooo.” I scoffed. “Nobody wants to wait that long.” I shuddered. “Do you want to wait that long? I don’t want to wait that long.” I nodded once with finality. “Soon.” I tipped my head. “Actually not soon. Expeditiously. Forthwith. Lickety split.” I snapped. “Posthaste.” I made jazz hands.
Jenny bounced on her toes and clapped. Then she shook Ford’s shoulders. “Did you hear that? Ashton is finally getting married!”
“I’m finally getting married,” Ashton said dryly, clearly convinced I was still pulling everyone’s legs. The big fat joke was going to be on him.
“You could get married at the ranch. Or…” Jenny’s eyes brightened. “What about beach week? We could set it up right in front of the water. Everyone will already be together. Blue will even be there for the last four days.” It was three weeks away. Could we pull a wedding together that fast? Between Jenny and my mom? No doubt.
“I don’t know.” I sighed. “I’m not sure I can wait that long.”
“No, Mom. She’s not serious.” Ashton smacked the counter top. “No one is getting married at the beach.”
Jenny’s face fell.
I shrugged, cool and unfazed. “I mean, I’m getting married at the beach. I don’t know about you. But I have this gorgeous ring on my finger and I am not taking it off. E-ver.”
“No, Tally. Stop it. No one’s getting married.” Ashton smacked the counter again.
I smacked the counter. “I am.”
Ford smacked the counter. “Sorry, FOMO.” He grinned and nodded at my hand. “That was Granny Dupree’s ring.”
Jenny smiled. “When Ashton told us you two were finally together, we thought you should have it.” She shrugged. “Not that we favor Ash?—”
Ford snorted.
She glared at him and continued. “But Silas and Lemon went and picked a ring out together before we even knew they were getting married. And then Holden wanted to have some hideous monstrosity made for Christy.” She huffed. “Who puts sapphires on an engagement ring?” She shook her head like she was clearing it. “Anyway, we thought Ashton might like to give it to you.”
“Plus,” Ford added. “Ash is broke and it’s a free ring.”
Ashton bristled and I swear I could hear his teeth grinding.
“Well.” I held it up to let the light hit the diamond. “I think it’s perfect. And I’m so happy I get to wear it every day for the rest of my life. No one is getting this thing off of me. They can literally pry it off my cold, dead hand.”
