Page 40 of That Thing You Brew
Daniella and Penny chatted the entire way to the park. I tried to get comfortable as I listened to their upbeat and friendly conversation.
All was going well. Penny hadn’t stuttered or stumbled over her words once.
We pulled into the park, and I jumped out quickly to get the door for Penny. Taking her hand, I led her to my favorite spot overlooking Elliot Bay and the Central City. In the distance, Mount Rainier loomed large and powerful. The weather was unusually perfect.
Too warm for gloves, I thought.Good.
“What a stunning view.” Penny shielded her eyes with her hand and leaned into me. “The skyline, the Space Needle, the mountain. Gorgeous.”
“It’s even better at night,” I replied. “Tourists crowd this spot. The stars and ferries light up the water and sky. It’s like a scene from a fairy tale.”
“I’ll bet,” she agreed.
We stood there for a moment longer. My heart thudded in my chest as I mentally prepared for the next thing. It was important I do this right, because I only wanted to do it once. And I didn’t want our future selves disappointed when we looked back. Because I had every intention of growing old with my lucky Penny.
Clutching the little box in my pocket, I pulled it out, flicked it open, took two steps backward, glanced at Dani to make sure she was recording, and dropped to one knee.
“Pen?”
“Mmm? Where did you go—OH!” As she turned, her expression changed from dreamy bliss to wide-eyed surprise, and her hands flew up to cover her nose and mouth.
I couldn’t see her expression behind her hands. My throat constricted as I took her in, her long sandy-brown hair blowing in the gentle seaside breeze, framing her. Her green eyes shone like the precious gem I held out to her.
“Aspen Ethyl Palmer … You have been a bright light in my life since the day we met. It’s not the coffee I kept going back for—it was you. And I lied to myself for years thinking it was enough to stop in before games and sit and watch you play your harp on my days off. I know this is moving fast, but…” My eyes burned into hers. I wanted her to know that I meant every word I said, even the next three. “I love you, Penny. I’ve been falling for you for years, and I was so glad I finally got up the nerve to talk to you. And now … Now I want to marry you. I want us to be by each other’s sides, for the rest of our lives, and help each other fulfill our dreams.” Penny let her hands fall from her face, and I voiced my final plea. I dropped my gaze to her mouth, just briefly. I wanted her lips on mine. “Will you say yes, Penny? Will you honor me by letting me be your one person, your life partner, your husband?”
My question hung in the air for what seemed like ages. I held my breath.
“Yes … I … I—” She held out her hand, and I slid the ring on. “I…” With a frustrated huff, she grabbed a fistful of my hoodie, right over my heart, and tugged.
Before I could reach full height, her lips were on mine and my arms were around her. Was Daniella still filming?
I didn’t care.
Penny said yes!
CHAPTER12
Penny
Whoa.
Not whoa.Wow.
What was that?! Was it real?
It sure felt real, from the zing of shock to the pterodactyls in my stomach to the giant princess-cut emerald on my finger to that kiss-to-remember.
Which was still happening.
He said he loved you. You should say something.
But it was fake. This whole thing was for show.
Did it feel like it was for show? Why are you still kissing if it doesn’t mean anything?
Normally, I’d have pulled away by now, seeing as we were in a public place and his sister was here. But I had big hopes for us, expectations that we would work hard to make our marriage stand the test of time.
I wanted this to be my only proposal, and if Daniella was getting it on video, even better.
