Page 133 of Her Goal
Relief rolls through me like a warm wave, then I remember that I left the black diamond engagement ring at my house.
“I’ll be back in fifteen minutes. Twenty max.” I thumb over my shoulder toward my truck.
“I’ll come with you. This will go on for hours and we’ll all be together again tomorrow.”
I wonder if all the noise Leah says that’s in her head is more often quite literally the cacophony of her family. While I already know I’m going to enjoy spending time with them, I’ll also provide her with a quiet sanctuary in our home.
When we’re in the truck, I say, “Yep. You definitely had the wrong brother.”
“What makes you say that?”
“Do you remember how loud his band was?”
She laughs and it keeps coming as we recap the evening on the way to my house. Our house.
When I pull into the driveway, I say, “Next time we come here, it’ll be as newlyweds.”
“You don’t have to carry me over the threshold.”
“Why not?”
She shrugs. “I’m a bit unwieldy.”
I get out of the truck, open the passenger side door, take her into my arms, and spin her around, showcasing just how wieldyI can be. She laughs into the night and then goes silent when she spots something on my back stoop.
“What’s Howie doing there?”
“The hockey gnome gives me the creeps, so he lives outside.”
“Shh. The Badaszeks might hear.”
“I’m going to give it back.”
Eyes wide, she shakes her head vigorously.
“It’s the right thing to do.”
“No, the right thing to do is sneak over there right now and quietly deposit it in the dead of night when they’ll be none the wiser.”
“They have security cameras.”
“Then we dress entirely in black and go over there after midnight.”
This time I chuckle. “Okay, cat burglar. You realize that we have my brother to blame.”
“You’re right. We do.” The corner of her lip lifts into a sly and slightly defiant smile.
“What’s that look?”
She innocently shrugs. “It’s late. Tomorrow is a big day. Where’s that ring?”
We go inside and I grab the velvet box from my room. It would feel strange to just give it to her. Under the soft lantern on the porch and amid the rustling of the maple leaves, I drop to my knee and propose again.
She giggles and says the one simple word that I desperately wanted to hear. “Yes.”
We’re both shaking slightly as I slide the ring onto her finger. She grips my hand, not letting go as she admires the dark stone set against all the sparkle.
“It’s beautiful.” I wrap her in my arms so her back is against my chest. Kissing her temple, I add, “So are you.”
