Page 80 of Little Gray Dress

“Emi, I can’t even begin to describe how glad I am to see you standing here.” He lets out a small nervous laugh.

I feel frozen in the sand, watching him walk over and take both my hands in his. “My mom put Greta up to the whole pregnancy thing…”

“What?” The word squeaks out. “How…”

Jacks nods his head. “She saw something we didn’t, and decided to take matters into her own hands.”

“She is…” What is the word I’m looking for? Manipulative, conniving, sneaky…

“A genius,” Jack answers with a shy smile, interrupting my more corrupt response “She got you here.”

“So you know Greta isn’t pregnant?” I ask, before realizing that’s what he just said.

“I do.” His voice is quiet. “My mom threatened to out Greta and all her lies to her circle of friends if she didn’t agree to help fix what she ruined with us. They came up with this story to force us to finally face the feelings she knew we had for each other. I had no idea until this morning.”

“My God…” I think back to the last twenty-four hours and the turmoil that’s gone on between my head and my heart. She’s a genius… an evil one, but one none the less. “She blackmailed Greta?”

He nods. “Her intentions were good, but her execution was excruciating. I’ve never packed a bag faster after I found out. That’s when everything hit me. I was going to race back to you but I was suddenly reminded me of that last time I was here, with you. I figured if there was ever a way or a place to do this, it was here.”

I stare at Jack, mind racing, unable to speak. Is this what a stroke feels like? Ever a way to do what?

He pulls at his collar as if it’s too tight. “Emi, I am completely in love with you. I have been since the day I threw that Frisbee in your direction.”

His hands are shaking around mine. The butterflies in my chest are making breathing something I have to actually think about.

“Yesterday I really thought I’d lost you forever. Last night was the worst night of my entire life. I don’t want to go another second without you knowing exactly how I feel.” He drops one of my hands and reaches into his shirt pocket, pulling a small folded piece of paper out. He stares down at it, before shaking his head and shoving it back into his pocket.

“I’m just gonna to wing it.” He takes a deep breath, his gaze never leaving my own. “I know I screwed things up, but I want to make that up to you. Today would have been our two-year wedding anniversary…”

“Today?” I rack my brain unable to even think a full enough thought to figure out what day of the week it is, let alone what date it is.

“July the fifth.” He nods his head. “I’ve loved you for seven years and I’d like to add seventy more to that.” A nervous look crosses his face before he reaches into the pocket of his slacks and pulls out a tiny white box. “I knew the day I met you my life would never be the same. I knew when you spilled that beer on me the other day that I never got over you.” He kneels on one knee, my left hand still in his. “I know that every single person who loves us thinks we belong together. They begged to see your face when this finally happened.” He nods behind him.

I look up from him, and a small shaky laugh escapes my throat. His parents, our siblings, even Josh and Lily are all standing not far behind him, with looks of anticipation across each of their faces.

“Amelia rigged my plane troubles too… I should have known.” My voice cracks through the sudden rush of emotions.

I look back down at Jack through the tears threatening to escape with a single blink.

“I know that I need to marry you, right here, right now, if you’ll have me…”

“Holy shit…” I blurt it out before quickly covering my own mouth with my hand. I would have to curse in this exact moment. I squeeze his hand tight.

“Emi… If you say no…” The look on his face breaks my heart in a split second. “I’ll walk away and I’ll never look back.”

I wasn’t prepared for a proposal today, but the sudden fluttering in my chest is the same as the recent fluttering of my brain. I know exactly what my answer is.

“And if I say yes?” I ask, before biting my lip to hold back whatever my face is trying to do that might not match the excitement within.

“If you say yes,” he says slowly, as he pulls a brand new, beautiful, never-worn ring out of the box and slips it on my finger, “If you say yes, I promise every day will be the best day of your life.”

“Our life,” I correct him, watching a smile spread across his face.

“Our life,” he repeats, his eyes glistening over with his own emotions.

“WELL?!?!” Hannah screams from the sidelines. “IS THAT A YES? Because we found a preacher!”

“Of course she found a preacher…” I cry out, and take my own deep breath to force away the overwhelming anticipation that is trying to swallow me whole. “How is it possible that this was even more perfect than the first time?” I laugh and pull Jack up off the ground, stand on my tiptoes and kiss his lips.

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