Vince waits for me to come around the truck when I park in the driveway, then I help him inside. His movements feel… off. Not tense or locked up, like they usually are when he’s hurting.
Darren is gone when we get inside, and Vince tips his head toward the hall. “Mind helping me to the bedroom?”
“Sure.”
I guide Vince toward the bedroom, and that’s when I see it—clothes laid out neatly on the bed. A dark gray suit I haven’t worn in years, shoes polished to a shine, and a tie folded just so, like someone agonized over which one mattered most.
I stop walking. “What… what is this?”
Vince lets go of me, and his suddenly steady gait makes perfect sense now. He wasn’t in pain at all. He’d planned this.
He pulls a small dark box from his pocket.
My breath catches. “Vince…”
He smiles a little shyly. “I’d kneel if I could.”
He opens the box, and my world tilts when I see not one but two matching gold rings.
My hand flies to my mouth.
“I used to fear the future,” he says. “I used to wake up every day with a ball of dread in my chest, terrified that the worst was going to come too fast. But you changed that.” He reaches for my hand. “I don’t know what the future looks like, but I don’t need to anymore. You’ve taught me how to accept each day as it comes. To live it to its fullest.” He swallows hard. “I don’t know what my future looks like, Fletcher, but I do know that I want to spend every single day with you as your husband. Starting right now. Will you marry me?”
Somewhere through the sudden rush in my ears, I hear music and laughter nearby, though it’s muffled as if outside. My mind scrambles, trying to catch up. “Wait—now? As in… now-now?”
Vince smiles. It’s small and a little nervous, but it’s real. “Right now. I didn’t want to put this off any longer than we needed to, so everyone’s here. All you need to do is say yes.”
I stare at him. “Everyone…?”
He nods toward the large back window.
I move on instinct, crossing the room and pulling the curtain back. I gasp at the unexpected crowd.
There are dozens of people in my backyard, seated in white folding chairs facing the side of the yard where two large floral arrangements sit on pedestals. Flowers are tied to the back railing, and blue tulle ribbon has been woven around it.
I can scarcely breathe. Vince did this… for me?
My gaze scans the faces. People I know and love. Sarah. Ryan. The boys. Darren. Ace. Over half the work crew—Jose, Carlos, Del, Christian. Half of the bar staff is there too—Melody, Piper, Jordan. Even River and some others.
That’s when I realize Darren has been in on this. He’d distracted me all morning so they could set it all up.
Georgie is at the front, craning her neck every two seconds toward the back door. And standing at the front of a short walkway, near the flowerbed Georgie and Vince have been working so hard at, is Declan. He’s dressed in a black suit, red hair shining in the sun. His hands are clasped and eyes suspiciously shiny.
I turn back to Vince, stunned. “You planned all this?”
He shrugs one shoulder. “I had some help from a couple of eager teenagers, but yeah. We’ve been preparing for it for over a month.”
“Oh, my God, Vince.” I sputter a laugh. “I should’ve known. Georgie has never liked gardening.”
He chuckles.
I step toward him. “I can’t believe this.”
He kisses me. “I think we both knew this would happen someday. But, someday isn’t promised,” he whispers. “Only today is.” He wipes a tear from my cheek. “So, what do you say? Will you marry me?”
I don’t hesitate to kiss him. “Yes. Of course, yes.”
Vince hugs me tight, exhaling like he’s been holding his breath all day. “Let’s go get changed, then. I know you’d want to look nice for this.”
