Page 203 of Need You To Choose Me

Levi’s head snaps up, surprise evident on his face. “What if she says no?”

Daniel rolls his eyes. “She won’t say no. Just ask her.”

“He’s right, you know.” I ruffle his hair. “As a matter of fact, we could ask her together.”

Pushing to my feet, I make my way to the tool closet. I open a drawer and pull out a little black box that I’ve been hiding inside for the last few months. It made the most sense since I knew that nobody would find it in there, and I’d been right. My throat feels tight, the weight of it feeling heavy on my palm.

And yet, it felt right.

That was the reason I bought it on impulse. I was in Austin for business, and I met with Andrew, who was in the city to meet with a few of his players. He was running late, so I was strolling downtown when I spotted the ring in the window, and I just knew I had to have it for when the time was right.

“Dad, what are you—Shit,is that…?”

I turn to face my son and flick open the box, the gems shining in the light. It felt perfect and so much like Savannah, so much like our family, and when I proposed to her, it would be to officially make her ours, and we’d become hers.

“An engagement ring. I had it for a while now, but…” I shrug. “What do you think?”

Levi peeks at the box. “It’s pretty.”

“She’ll love it,” Daniel agrees.

“I hope so.” I let out a nervous chuckle, brushing my sweaty palm against the side of my leg. “It felt symbolic somehow.”

Daniel nods slowly, his eyes still glued to the ring. “When will you do it?”

“I don’t know. I didn’t really think about it. I wanted to talk to you boys and see how you felt.”

Understanding flashes in Daniel’s eyes and a little bit of guilt, too. “Is this why you’ve been waiting? Because you thought it would upset us?”

I shake my head. “You’re not the only ones who need time. All these changes are a lot for everybody to take, including Savannah.”

“But you love her.”

“I do. She makes me the happiest I’ve been in a long time.”

“Okay, then.” Daniel nods and closes the lid. The softthumpechoed in the quiet garage. “Then let’s come up with a plan.”

SAVANNAH

“Admit it,” Becky says as the bell chimes, and the smell of freshly baked goods and coffee reaches my nostrils. “This was a fine idea.”

I roll my eyes at my best friend. “You were right.”

When Becky texted me this morning, suggesting we should have a girls’ day, I was reluctant to leave, but Blake insisted and reassured me they’d be fine on their own and that I should go.

We had lunch with Kate, after which she had to head back to work while Becky and I went to get our nails done. And Becky even insisted that we should stop at a boutique. I had to admit,it was nice to spend some time with my friends and just enjoy myself, but I was starting to miss my baby, and I couldn’t wait to get back home so I could squeeze her.

“Of course I was right.”

“What was she right about?” Jessica asks, smiling as Becky slips behind the counter and goes for the coffee machine.

“What am Inotright about?” Becky smirks.

Jessica and I exchange a knowing look. “So you’d like to think.”

“Did you guys have fun?”

“Yeah, it was nice to get pampered for a few hours, but now I feel wiped. You’d think I spent the day running errands instead.”

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