“You’re no slouch, yourself.” He stepped back and took my hand. “You’ve been a light for me, leading me forward and showing me what’s truly important. You inspired me to keep going when everything felt hopeless. By achieving your dreams, you showed me how I could achieve mine.”
He pulled a box out of his pocket and got on one knee.
I broke into a broad grin.
“Alyssa,” he said, taking my hand, “will you marry me?”
He opened the box. Inside lay a silver ring with a polished red-black stone.
This was…weird. Even for an archaeology Ph.D., this was weird.
Then I realized. “Wait! Is this from one of the paving stones?”
“The very same!” He started laughing as he slipped the ring onto my hand. “I had a jeweler cut it apart, polish it, and set it—and because I realize that’s lame, we also have an appointment to pick out an engagement ring together.”
I flung my arms around him. “This is perfect! I don’t know that I want anything else.”
Chip snickered. “Yeah, no. You deserve a real ring.”
I said, “A ring of truth?” and he snorted a laugh.
Chip’s parents approached, applauding. “Congratulations!” Chip’s dad said. “Have you set a date, yet?”
Chip gave an embarrassed smile. “Actually, she hasn’t said yes…?”
I covered my mouth with my hands. “Oh, no! Yes! Yes, I’ll marry you!” I buried my face in his chest. “I’m so sorry! I didn’t mean to mess up your proposal.”
“The whole relationship started out as a mistake.” He smiled as he looked into my eyes. “It feels better this way. More like us.”
“You’re right.” I tightened my arms around him. “I called you to repair a walkway, and instead you built a path to my dreams.”
