I laugh, shaking my head. “Guess you're right about that.”
I open the box, revealing my great-grandmother's sapphire ring—deep blue like the water she swims in, like the eyes that undid me from day one.
She gasps at the sight of it.
“Mia Bonney,” I say, voice thick. “You are chaos and peace in one impossible package. Olympic legend, conjurer of filthy poems, breaker of egos, woman of wit and wildfire. You’re the smartest pain in my ass, the fiercest heart I’ve ever known, my compass when I didn’t know I was lost and the love of my life.” I swallow hard, the weight of the moment pressing against my ribs.
“You knocked the air clean outta my lungs the second I saw you. You’ve taken over my heart ever since. You taught me how to feel again. You made me believe there’s life after loss. You’re not just beautiful, Mia. You’re the whole damn sunrise. My home. My horizon.”
“So here I am, broken-in cowboy boots and all… asking the only woman who’s ever made me want forever…”
I let out a breath, slow and steady.
“…Will you marry me?”
She stares at me, lips parted, breath caught somewhere between a sob and a laugh, and then—
“Yes!” she says, voice cracking as the tears spill over. “A thousand times yes, you ridiculous, romantic man!”
My hands shake as I slide the ring onto her finger—dirt-streaked and trembling, a perfect mess just like us. It glints in the light like it knew it belonged to her all along.
And when she throws her arms around me, knocking me flat into the grass and laughing through her tears, I know—
There’ll never be a moment in my life better than this one.
Unless it’s the next one.
Or the one after that.
As long as they’re with her.
We stay like that for a while—sprawled on the grass, arms locked around each other, hearts louder than words. Like the world just fell away, and this moment is the only thing that exists.
Her lips find mine in a kiss that tastes of salt and promises, her tears mixing with mine. It’s not graceful. Not polished or planned. But it’sours—and I’ve never wanted anything more than this messy, beautiful girl holding onto me like I’m her anchor.
And hell if she isn’t mine.
I pull her in closer, just to feel her heartbeat against mine. The weight of her in my arms. The steadiness I never knew I craved.
I used to think love was a weakness. Something that softened a man. Tied him down. Made him forget who he was.
But Mia? She made meremember. She made me better. Stronger. And now—now—she’s mine to fight for, not just fall for.
***
The main house erupts in chaos when we walk in hand-in-hand, Mia's ring catching the light like a beacon. Mom spots it first, her shriek bringing everyone running from various corners of the property.
“He finally did it!” she announces to the room at large, pulling Mia into a bone-crushing hug. “Welcome to the family, officially!”
Dad appears from his study, glass of whiskey already in hand. “Well, well! My emotionally constipated son finally pulled his head out of his ass long enough to propose!”
“Eric!” Mama admonishes, but she's laughing too.
“What? It's a compliment!” Dad slaps me on the back hard enough to dislodge a twig still stuck in my hair. “Did he do it right, Mia? Down on one knee and everything?”
“More like down a whole hill,” Mia replies with a wink. “Your son has an adorable flair for the dramatic.”
“That's my boy!” Dad raises his glass. “To Grant and Mia! May their marriage be like good horseshit—messy but helping beautiful things grow!”
