Page 136 of Don't Go Faking My Heart

"Hot dang," she whispers before our mouths meet again.

"I think I should go. Super happy for y'all," Lou says.

"Go Rusty!" Parker yells from the balcony.

Ash puts her hands to my cheeks and laughs.

"I love the way your laugh feels in my mouth," I say, keeping her bottom lip in between my teeth.

"How are you so freaking good at these lines?" Ash says, kissing me and tugging her lip out. "Seriously, do you write them in a notebook or do they just come to you?"

I grit my teeth playfully.

"They just come to me. But I've been planning this for a while." I put my hand in my pocket and pull out the package I've carried with me for weeks. The outside is wet, but it’s what’s inside that counts.

I drop to one knee.

Ash's eyes almost bug out of her head. "Uh, Rusty? What are you doing?"

I take Ash's left hand in mine and tuck my other hand—the one holding the package—behind my back.

"I love you, and nothing has ever been more real than how I feel for you. I want the whole world to know we belong together." I bring my other hand forward and show it to her.

Her apprehension turns to absolute joy. "Is that?—"

"A Ring Pop?" I ask. I pop the bag and pull the red jewel-shaped candy ring out of the bag. "Ashley Jane, you are the love of my life and the rainbow after my storm. Will you do me the great honor of being my absolutely not fake, very real girlfriend?"

She laughs at the sky. "YES!"

I jump to my feet, wrap her in my arms, and swing her around.

"She said yes!" Sonny yells from the house.

Seconds later, all our friends rush us.

Ash licks the Ring Pop and holds it up to me. "Want a taste?"

"Not even a little."

"Oh, whatever. You'll kiss it off my lips later and make some insanely swoony comment about how much better it tastes on me."

"No, I won't. In fact, I’d prefer you brush your teeth before you kiss me again."

She lifts her eyebrows. Her glasses are askew, and the look is absolutely breathtaking. "You wanna bet?" she asks in a throaty voice, leaning toward me.

"Maybe just some gum." I stare at her lips as they stretch into a smile.

"Uh huh," she says, so close I can smell the candy on her.

Not bad.

We kiss again.

Not bad at all.

CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX

ASH

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