Lawson chuckled, the sound skating over my skin. “I want every second with you, and I want to live it to the fullest.”
That pressure built behind my eyes. “Me, too. I’ll never take a moment for granted.”
He slipped a hand into his pocket and pulled out something I couldn’t see. “My grandmother gave me a ring once. I never knew why I didn’t give it to Melody; it just didn’t feel right. But I know now. Because it was always meant for you.”
My breath hitched as my heart rate sped up.
Lawson slipped a band onto my finger. The metal was warm from being so close to his body. I stared down at the breathtaking ring. A stunning round diamond glittered up at me, set in a delicate rose gold band with flowers woven into the metal.
My gaze snapped to his.
“Marry me, Hallie.”
My mouth curved even as tears spilled over and tracked down my cheeks. “That doesn’t sound like a question.”
“Say yes anyway.”
“Yes,” I breathed.
Lawson bent, his lips taking mine.
“We brought you a sandwich from the deli down the street. It’s better than this awful cafeteria—oh! She’s awake! Em, she’s awake,” Adrian all but cheered as he stepped into the room, his husband behind him.
Emerson’s eyes filled. “I can see that. And she’s making out with her hunk of a man already.”
“Our girl has her priorities in order,” Adrian said with a grin, tears shining in his eyes.
And then they were running to my side, peppering me with questions and gentle hugs.
Adrian gripped my hand and held it up to the light. “Um, Em…I think our girl has some news.”
Emerson’s tears fell now as he glanced at Lawson. “You move quick.”
“Not going to miss another second with her.”
My heart clenched, but there was no pain, only the kind of joy that left an ache behind. Therealkind.
Adrian squeezed my hand and grinned. “We are going to have the most fun planning a wedding!”
I smiled back, knowing he was right. And we could all use some happiness.
I glanced at Lawson. “Where are Charlie, Drew, and Luke?”
A shadow passed over his eyes. “You’ve been in and out for over three days.”
My eyes widened. “Three days?”
He nodded. “They wanted to stay, but I finally got Mom to get them back to the hotel. They refused to go back to Cedar Ridge.”
Fresh pain washed through me, knowing how scared they must’ve been. “Where am I?”
“Seattle,” Lawson explained. “They airlifted you here, and the family met us.”
“Seattle?”
Lawson took my hand again. “It was touch and go for a while. You lost a lot of blood, and there was damage to one of your kidneys. They had to remove it, but the surgeon has assured us that you’ll make a full recovery.”
I stared down at my torso. No wonder it had been throbbing since I awoke. “But everything else? I’m okay?”
