Page 80 of Embers in the Outfield

“What do you mean? What did you want?” Kennedy picks up the menu and looks it over again. Her brows come together with a concerned look, and then she looks at me.

“You love steak. Get that,” she says, then looks around to make sure we haven’t gained an audience at my outburst.

“Steak won’t do for me tonight. I think I need something bigger.”

“Bigger than a steak?” I can see she wants to protest further at my childish ways right now.

I get out of my seat, not looking behind me, and bump into the server who was coming by to assist another table.

Everything in his hands comes tumbling down, but luckily, just menus flying through the air and hitting the floor.

Right then, I get on my hands and knees, hoping to veer this embarrassing moment away from me.

All I hear above me is how sorry Kennedy is for my outburst, and from her tone, I can tell she’s incredibly embarrassed. She’s apologizing while I’m gathering things in my hands. I hand the menus to her, and she places them on the table in front of her.

Once she grabs all the menus that fell, she moves her body to face the table once again, and that’s when she stops and looks down at her place setting. She’s focused on the contraption infront of her, confusion on her features. I take this opportunity to move into position and get down on one knee.

“Um, where the hell did this come from?” She keeps looking down at the item she never thought she’d see again.

She keeps her eyes on the crocheted dick that Aunt Kay made for Samara when things start to fall into place. She swings her gaze back toward me and realizes my position. She gasps, bringing her hands up and burying her face in them.

Her eyes are filling with tears, and it’s a good sign because at least she has clued in that this isn’t a joke.

“Kennedy, I think we both remember how things went down when we first met. You and I weren’t on the same page, and we continued to live our lives parallel to one another but never seeing the world together. A year ago, something shifted, and we finally took the leap to explore what it could be like to build a life in the same orbit together.

“It took some of us longer than others to truly appreciate what we had.” She chuckles at that part. “But, no matter what direction I turn my head, all paths lead to you. I love you beyond myself. I’ll always look to you for guidance, for comfort, and for leading me in the right direction. Please be my wife. Will you marry me?”

She’s been nodding her head from the moment I started my speech, but the minute I stop what I’m saying, she’s leaping toward me and screaming a resounding “Yes!”

The entire restaurant starts to clap and yell their congratulations. She pulls my face toward her and kisses me, letting us relish in this moment together.

We disconnect, and it’s only then she realizes Sam and Ashton are recording everything. She starts to laugh, and then the tears start streaming down once again when she looks beyond our best friends to find my brother, mother, her uncleand aunt, our friends, and some of the guys from the firehouse hooting and hollering their congratulations.

She brings her eyes back to meet mine, and she smiles and takes me into another hug.

She brings her lips to my ear and tells me, “You are the dream to pull me out of my nightmares, River. And as much as I love you, we’re burning that purse.”

I laugh and squeeze her tighter, telling her I love her too.

“Before you burn it, maybe look inside at least.” I bring my lips to plant a soft kiss on her lips while confusion consumes her features again.

Before greeting our family and friends who have made their way into the restaurant, she opens the little clasp and pulls out the note along with the ring I left inside:

Unlike the destiny of this purse, I want forever with you…

The End

Clay

“So you test dog foods?”To be completely honest, I had no idea that was a thing.

“Um, yeah,” she says in between bites of her dinner. “I’m a dog food tester. Cool, huh?” She beams a smile my way.

Odette is pretty and definitely someone I feel attracted to, but that might be it. We lack similar interests, to say the least. Her profile on the app said she worked with animals, but apparently, she’s not a dog-walker or a veterinarian. Never in my wildest dreams did I guess dog food tester.

“How does one get into that line of work?” I can’t help being fascinated with this profession of hers.

“Well, it was sort of random. I was working at a local pet shop back home, and one of the reps came in, and we got to talking. Before you know it, I’m signing up to try it out and haven’t looked back since.” She holds so much pride in her voice as she speaks. I have to hold back a laugh.

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