Page 101 of Staying for You

“Oh, stop. It’s not like you didn’t know exactly what was in there,” I tease.

“Owen. Stop being such a meanie!”

“Meanie? What are we, five?”

“Owen!” She’s getting angry now and I kind of love it.

I grin and open up the box and she gasps again.

“See, this is the perfect time to gasp. Because you haven’t seen what was inside yet.”

She reaches out a finger and touches the vintage ring that’s nestled in the velvet. I know she’s never seen it because I just picked it up this morning. I first saw it about a month ago when I wasn’t even looking for one but the second I laid eyes on this ring, I knew it was perfect for her.

“It was my great, great grandmother’s on my mother’s side.”

Her eyes fly up to mine when I continue to explain the story behind the ring. “She wore it when she migrated here from Greece. The center stone was lost, unfortunately, so that’s new. But the ring itself, the setting and all the smaller diamonds in the band are from her.”

“When did you…”

“When we were visiting last month for my mom’s birthday.”

“Really?”

“Yeah. Mom asked me if I planned to marry you and I let her know that was the plan. She made me follow her to her room and showed me the ring. Said that it was always in the plan for me to have it when I found the right woman to give it to. I even have a letter from my great, great grandmother for us to read together. I haven’t looked at it yet. Mom had to have it translated because it was in Greek.

“The next day when you thought Dad and I were off doing “guy things” which is weird because you never even asked what that meant — we brought the ring to town and had the jeweler take a look. I picked out a new diamond, told them your ring size and then it was shipped here today.”

“That’s why you had to go to town?”

“That’s why.”

“How’d you know my ring size?”

“Gretchen. She’s a wealth of information when it comes to you.”

She giggles and nods.

“Camilla Moore. I love you so much. You’ve humbled me and shown me what it means to be with the one who’s meant to be yours. I can’t imagine a life without you in it. You’re the most loving, caring, kind, and beautiful woman I’ve ever known. Would you do me the honor of becoming my wife? Will you, Cami, marry me?”

“Uh huh,” she says, nodding and crying. Tears are flowing down her cheeks and her hand is trembling as she reaches it out, presenting me with her finger.

“I’m sorry you’re not the first one to put a ring on my finger.”

I slide it on and kiss her knuckle before standing. “Don’t be sorry. He brought you to me.”

Then I frame her face and kiss her.

“Just in case you weren’t sure by my muttering earlier. That’s a yes. A big, ginormous hell yes, I’ll marry you.”

I lift her up, carry her to our bed and realize that we didn’t need a fire on the beach for the perfect proposal. Her not wearing pants made it pretty damn perfect, too.

* * *

“Yo!Owen, bud! What’s up with the fire on the beach? You guys okay?” Sawyer’s voice yells through the door. We’re lying in bed together, drifting off to sleep after having sex. Twice. That’s right, back to back after proposal sex and we’re now exhausted.

Cami starts giggling as she sits up, using the sheet to cover up. Her hair is a mess, like usual after we’ve just finished having sex, and my diamond is shining on her finger.

“Hang tight, Sawyer! I’ll be right there.”

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