“I’m so proud of you,” he whispered.
“Damn, Grace. You’re amazing. It’s completely her loss,” Rosie added.
When Noah pulled back, started to turn toward the back of the yard, Grace grabbed his hand, looked at Josh.
“As much as I’m probably going to need therapy for that little drama, we have other things happening and I still need a few minutes.” She widened her eyes in Josh’s direction.
“Right. Noah, let’s get you settled in Grace’s house with a beer until she texts you.”
He looked at the three of them funny. “What’s going on?”
“Dude. Trust me when I say it’ll be worth the wait to find out.”
Nerves danced in her belly as Grace made the final touches. She still couldn’t believe all of the things that had happened. She knew she wasn’t over the hurt of her mom, just like he wasn’t over the malice of his father. But right now, all that mattered was them and the life they were going to build. He loved her. She loved him. They were a team. Each other’s person. He hadn’t gone down on one knee, but she had no doubt he would, no doubt she’d say yes. It wouldn’t always be easy, they’d fight, make up, outside forces would try to tear them down, but they’d weather those storms and stand strong together. He’d laid his heart on the line for her, and now it was her turn to do the same.
Grace
Come outside to your backyard.
Noah
Should I be dressed?
Grace
LOL I’d rather you didn’t show your goods to the entire beach so, yeah.
Noah
Fair enough. Need anything?
Grace
Just you. Always you.
The back door opened, and Noah came out onto the porch. He stood on the deck in shorts and a T-shirt, his feet bare, and surveyed everything Josh and Rosie had helped her pull together in record time. Should she have told him to put on abathing suit? The gesture was supposed to be more symbolic than anything.
His gaze moved over the canopied tent that covered the rectangular blow-up pool. Candles flickered in the light breeze, set up on a bistro set she’d picked up for the back porch. Three fully-stocked coolers rested beside the pool. Towels lay over the back of the chairs.
Grace walked forward, meeting him at the bottom of the stairs.
“You got me a pool,” he said, his lips twitching.
“It’s where this all started, right? You wanted a pool.”
He nodded, taking her hand and walking forward. He dipped a hand inside. “It’s freezing,” he said around a laugh.
“We don’t have to get in,” she said.
“Oh, we’re getting in. Those curtains close,” he said.
She’d tied them open so they had the view of the setting sun over the water behind them, but maybe his idea was better. There was nothing she’d rather look at than Noah. They worked quietly, each of them taking two sides, pulling the strings so the massive canopy curtains closed around them. Seagulls squawked in the distance, laughter drifted faintly from people enjoying the beach. But inside the curtains, it was just them.
Noah glanced at the pool. “Maybe I didn’t think this all the way through. That water is pretty cold.”
Grace laughed. It didn’t matter if they went in. She kissed him, pulled him to the bistro set. “Sit down. There’s more.”
She opened two of the coolers, delighted to see Noah’s jaw drop.
