“Yeah,” Michael steps inside and sets his bag down. “I tagged along with my friend from basic training, Sargeant Carson."
"Bryan?" I ask.
"Yeah." Michael turns to Matt. "Hardest workout I've done in years. Your sister about ran me into the ground.”
“I must have. You never came back.”
Michael pushes the door closed and steps toward me. “I was at Fort Lewis on a temporary assignment. I left right after that, or I would have been back.”
“What brings you here now?”
"Actually, Matt showed your picture to the guys at Fort Bliss, and then held a lottery to see who got to go home with him.” His eyes dance, and a sprinkling of freckles stands out across his nose.
Matt leans against the door. “It was the picture from your prom. I told him not to be too disappointed, that you clean up okay, but normally you aren’t much to look at.”
“Thanks a lot, Matt.” I slug him in the shoulder.
“Actually, I was hoping to stay a couple of days before I go to Pullman to see my family,” Michael says.
“Pullman, huh? I’m going to WSU now,” I say.
“That’s what Matt said. My dad's a dean there."
Matt looks around as if he just noticed the house is empty. Where is everybody?”
“Mom is out delivering cookies, Tyler is snowboarding and Dad is still at work.”
“That’s why it smells so good in here,” Michael says. “Gingersnaps?”
“Yep. You guys want some?”
“Definitely,” Matt says. They leave their bags and follow me into the kitchen. I pour them a glass of milk and set out the plate of cookies.
Matt pauses between bites. “It's great to be home.”
“I know.” I sit down on the chair beside them. “I never imagined that I would miss this place so much.” I chew for a minute. "I'm surprised you didn't go straight to Kendra's."
"Oh, I'll get there soon enough. I had to drop Mike off, and I wanted to show you something before I go." A smile plays around the corners of his mouth, and I know he has some kind of secret. Usually, that means something I can't tell Mom and Dad.
"Something to show me?" I ask. Matt nods. I look at Michael. He raises his eyebrows, but he appears to be in on whatever Matt's secret is. It takes a second before I understand."You bought a ring!"
Instead of answering, Matthew goes to his bag, digs through it for a second, and comes back with a little black box. He flips it open. Inside is a white-gold ring with a princess-cut diamond. The wedding band has two smaller side diamonds. It's elegant and delicate and absolutely perfect.
“Oh, Matt,” I breathe, taking the box from him. “It's gorgeous.”
Michael grins. "Mike helped me pick it out. He knows way more about diamonds than I do."
"Are you getting engaged too?" I ask Michael.
Michael shakes his head. "Oh no, I just…I've bought jewelry for my mom and sisters before."
I look at Matt.Diamonds for a sister?Who is this guy?
Matt looks unsure. “Do you think she’ll like it?”
“She’ll love it.” I hand the ring back to him. “It's just pretty enough to cover your most obvious faults.”
“Thanks a lot.” Matthew studies the ring in his hand. He gets serious. “You really think she’ll say yes?”
