Looking at him with the last light of the day glowing on his face, I thought I did. But did I? Really? I wasn’t sure I wanted anyone to be that much a part of Wagner’s life. I wasn’t sure that I wanted to put myself in a position to be that close to someone again. So I said, very truthfully, “I don’t know. Maybe one day?”
He nodded and winked at me. “Girl, I got nothin’ but time.”
We both laughed.
He sat down on the sand and patted for me to sit down beside him. “I knew from the first minute I saw you at the tennis court that I was going to be with you for the rest of my life. It was just this moment, and I knew that you were it for me.” Hegrinned at me. “And you haven’t made it easy, Gray. But I swore in that moment that I would do anything I had to do, that I would fight for you.”
I leaned my head on his shoulder, the waves crashing to the shore making me feel so content. He handed me a rectangular box. Not a tiny one, thank God.
I smiled delightedly. “And what is this?”
“Just a little something,” he said.
I tore into the paper, and when I opened it, there was a key with a gold circle around it. I picked up the bracelet first. It was a gold bangle that matched my others, with the most beautiful white opals, my birthstone, instead of diamonds or rubies.
I gasped. “How did you…?”
“Let’s just say I had to go pay Greg a visit to find out who made your other ones, and if you’ve ever questioned my love for you, there’s no need to continue to do so.” He paused and helped me slide the bracelet on my wrist. “I thought it might help you remember that you have to take care of yourself sometimes too.”
I kissed him. “It is perfect. I’ve never loved anything more.”
Then I raised my eyebrow and held up the key.
“You know those condos on the beach beside the Straits Club?” I nodded. “I bought us one.”
I didn’t want to ruin the moment, but there was no way I was going to move in with him.
“I just thought,” he continued, “that with Greg and Brooke right next door, you might need a break sometimes. This way, you’ll have a place to go when you need to escape.” I didn’t sayanything, so he kept talking. “I hope that you’ll marry me one day, and I figured we would live at your house, but in the meantime…”
I smiled at him. “There has never been a more thoughtful man. I love that you did this for me. It’s incredible.” Then I looked at him questioningly. “Are you growing pot in your basement?”
He laughed. “Let’s just say that I’ve been winning tournaments since I was eleven. My dad finally helped me invest some of my winnings.” He paused. “Speaking of, can we go to my parents’? They want to tell you happy birthday.”
I laughed at his enthusiasm. “Of course.” We were only a few houses away.
As I walked up the steps, feeling my way as the sun had all but set, I realized that the house looked dark. “I don’t think they’re home, sweetie.”
“Well, let’s just check.”
We were still holding hands as he opened the door and flicked on the lights.
It took me a minute to register that everyone I loved in the whole world was standing in that room shouting, “Surprise!” at me.
Wagner came running from the crowd, and I kissed him. He and Andrew high-fived. “Good work, little man,” Andrew said.
“Yeah, Mom,” Wagner said. “I was in charge of getting all the lights off and making everyone be quiet. Were you surprised?”
I looked at Andrew. “I have to say that everything about the last few hours has been a gigantic surprise. Yes.”
June came over and gave her son a huge hug and kiss, and Henry did the same for me. June held both of my cheeks in her hands as she said, “I told you he loved you.”
I eyed Price as he shook Andrew’s hand. “You got yourself a good one here,” Price said. He stood up very straight and added, “You know when she leavesmefor you, she’s in love.”
We all laughed, and Price said in a shout-whisper to Marcy, “I can’t say it enough: I wish he had been a little shorter or a little less good-looking.”
I kissed my dad—and his new “companion,” as he called her. Mary had brought him a casserole, and that was that. I took a deep breath and told myself that I was a big girl and that I wanted him to be happy. But my subconscious still whisperedhussywhen I looked her way.
She took my hand in both of hers and kissed my cheek. “Happy birthday, dear,” she said. She smelled like Thymes Goldleaf. I loved that scent and had decided that it would most certainly be my fragrance of choice in my grandmother years.
