"How do you know it's still safe, though?"
I kiss her forehead, then stride confidently across the bridge to the other side. I turn around, stopping in the middle and bouncing a few times. "Remember how I strolled across here carrying two cases of water? It’s a little springy, but it's solid."
Although I had envisioned doing this in the middle, I walk back closer to Sammie's side, stopping just four feet short of the end. “Just two steps, baby. Please? You can always jump back if you get scared."
I watch as she takes a slow breath, then walks out to meet me, following when I back up one more foot.
Then, in a move I've been practicing for a week, I lightly take her hands while slowly…very slowly…dropping to one knee.
At first, Sammie is gripping my hands and staring at me in disbelief. "Are you nuts? Be careful!" Then she catches the look in my eyes and gasps, tears already misting her eyes when I pull out a small black velvet box.
"My darling, beautiful Sammie. I've always wondered whether I would have my own life separate from my family. I've always craved simplicity and you’re the one that I crave simplicity with. Every time we cook together, watch a movie together, or take a long hike together, I know that you are the one for me."
I'm not sure whether that soft squeaking sound is coming from Sammie's throat or a nearby chipmunk, but I motor on.
"We already make a great team in life. At home. In our hearts. Now, I’m asking you to make it official. Sammie, will you do me the huge honor of marrying me?"
She's already nodding while sniffling through her tears.
"You really gotta say the word, baby."
"Yes," she chokes. "Of course it’s a yes."
I open the box and she bursts out laughing when she sees the pink plastic ring covered in hearts and glitter stars. I slip the stretchy ring on her finger, laughing with her. "Obviously this is a placeholder. Partly because I didn't want to drop it in the river. But also because I thought a proper lady would want to design a ring with me to ensure she gets exactly what she wants."
Her head shakes quickly as she grabs my wrist. "I don't need anything fancy. Honestly, I would marry you with this plastic ring and be happy to wear it forever."
I love that she isn’t kidding. She still protests every time I try to buy her something that isn’t completely necessary for the house. Still brings it up that for our one-month anniversary, Itook her out for pizza somewhere we wouldn’t be stared at…which happened to be in Italy.
Sammie shuffles back while I stand up carefully, waiting until we're safely back on land before I throw my arms around her. "That's one of the billions of reasons I love you to pieces, baby. Because I know you're absolutely serious."
I tip her chin up, catching her lips against mine before she can comment or laugh.
After a fiery, breathless kiss, I step back, admiring the gaudy pink ring on her hand. "Okay, I really would love it if you wore that for the next few weeks. But we have an appointment at a jeweler’s in Kingsville tomorrow. Tonight, we can check out websites and figure out what style you might like."
"Small," she says quickly. "Nothing that…"
"That would make people stare?" I chuckle.
Once word spread like wildfire through the town that I was dating someone, I also made a point of spreading the information that Sammie is shy and prefers not being stared at.
Everything instantly changed. Instead of people looking at us with question marks in their eyes, they simply came over to say hello. In just a few weeks, Sammie had met half the town and made plenty of friends. Everyone talks with her, not about her. They look at her withoutstaringather. It's a subtle difference that made her feel at home here right away.
"You don't think this is ridiculously fast?" she asks, looking up at me anxiously.
"Nope. I even asked Edward. Not for his permission or anything, because we’re not in the 1850’s, but I checked whether he thought asking you so fast would freak you out."
Sammie laughs. "Oh, I'm a bit freaked out. But in a good way."
"Good. That's what I was going for." I scoop her up in my arms and march to the truck, then set her on her feet. "So, howshould we celebrate? We could go to Jim’s patio, have some wine and pizza, flash that subtle ring around to anyone who’s interested…?”
She grabs my arm, grinning. "Do I have other options?"
"Yes, of course. We could share a bottle of wine at home by ourselves. There’s a lasagna in the freezer, or we could make pasta or something."
She giggles sweetly while waving the glittery plastic toward the sunset. "I'm feeling sparkly. Let's go out."
I grab my phone, dictating so she hears my message to Kai.
