Page 171 of Smoke and Glitter

He doesn't announce anything. He walks straight across the room toward me, and conversation begins dying around us without anyone being asked.

"Autumn."

I put my glass on the table.

Sam stops in front of me and takes my hand.

"I asked Summer if I could do this here because these are our people."

My throat tightens.

His eyes stay on mine.

"And because there was a night at that school fundraiser when I sat four seats away from you in a room full of them and let you wonder whether you were different to me."

My fingers tighten around his.

"You shouldn't have had to wonder." His thumb moves once over my knuckles. "I'm not doing that again."

Then he gets down on one knee in the middle of Summer and Colt's living room.

Every bit of air leaves my lungs.

Sam reaches into his pocket and opens the ring box.

"I love you. You're it for me, Autumn. Every version I've got." His voice roughens, but he doesn't look away. "Marry me."

I have spent most of my adult life very pleased with my ability not to cry in front of people. So much for that.

"Fuck, yes."

The laugh that leaves him is half relief.

I squeeze his hand. "Yes, Sam. I'm marrying you."

The room detonates.

Summer starts crying from the armchair while Colt throws one fist into the air like somebody just won a championship. Marisol covers her mouth with both hands, Jake laughs beside me, Bex is clapping loudly, and Lucia starts asking to see the ring before Sam has even gotten back to his feet.

I make the mistake of looking at Jake.

His eyes are wet.

"Oh, fuck you."

That makes him laugh harder. "Love you too, Hayes."

Sam stands, still holding my hand.

"Can I put this on you before everybody takes over?"

I look around at the people already moving toward us. "You might want to hurry."

He slides the ring onto my finger.

It fits perfectly.

The emerald-cut center stone catches the light first, framed by the halo of diamonds in the setting and the diamonds set into the platinum band. It's bright without being ridiculous, and the setting sits low enough that I won't catch it on everything I own.