She and Mr. McQueen got the table and the speaker set up and then rushed back and pulled open the barn doors. Lily-Grace realized what was happening then. The only reason her best friend would ditch her parents on Christmas Day and put on literal fancy pants.
“Oh, fuck,” she muttered to herself. “This negro is gonna propose to me.” She took a deep breath and made sure to unlock her knees. The last thing she needed was to faint before Jesse was able to pop the question.
Out came Sam first, riding Majesty, his white cowboy hat in perfect contrast to the horse’s beautiful black coat. They carefully made their way to where Lily-Grace was standing. Then Sam leaned down and held out a fresh long-stemmed red rose.
“Lily-Grace Leroux.”
“Yes, Sam.”
“Will you accept this rose, on behalf of my brother Jesse?”
“Of course I will.” Sam handed her the rose and turned Majesty, who just barely missed whipping Lily-Grace in the face with her tail as they trotted off.
Next came Zach and Steve. They approached, and then in the most Zach-like way ever, Steve made a dramatic show of getting on his horsey knees right in front of her. Lily-Grace didn’t know whether to laugh or roll her eyes.
“Miss LeRoux.”
“Zach.”
“I had a whole speech planned, but Jesse told me to hurry the hell up. Would you accept this rose on behalf of my amazing brother, Jesse?”
“Absolutely,” she said, taking the rose.
Zach clicked his teeth and Steve popped up, but made sure to plant one of his trademark horse kisses on her cheek before they trotted to the side to join Sam.
Senior came out next, riding DJ Clip Clop. No fancy tricks, but Lily-Grace was overwhelmed by the serious but sincere expression on his face when he handed her the next rose.
“As the kids say, no spoilers, but if your answer is yes, Junior’s mother and I would be overjoyed to consider you and your father a part of our family, us a part of yours.”
“I think I better say yes then.” She smiled back at him as she took the rose.
Next came her father, walking with her horse Margot Thee Stallion’s reins in his hands. The deal for Monty had fallen through, but a few weeks later Jesse had tracked down the most stunning blue roan mare. She was the best riding companion Lily-Grace could ask for, and currently on her best behavior as she picked her away across the grass beside her father.
“Oh hell.” The tears came then, happy tears of course, but they spontaneously spilled over her cheeks as they got closer. Her dad had been her whole world for so long, just the two of them, and she was so happy he was there to experience this moment with her. He brought Margot to a stop, then handed Lily-Grace another rose.
“I know you don’t need my blessing—”
“Of course, I do. You know I wouldn’t be standing here if you thought he was no good.”
“Well then, I don’t think you could have picked a better man. You should see him back there now. Sweating bullets because all he wants is to spend the rest of his life with you.”
“The feeling’s mutual.”
“I love you, LilyBug.”
“Love you too, Dad.”
He handed her the rose, then moved just to the side to keep a grip on Margot’s reins.
A moment later, from where she stood she could hear the opening notes to Luther’s “Here and Now,” the song that was playing when they shared their first proper slow dance. She let out another shaky breath, then dabbed her eyes. Thank God for a good setting spray.
Bam Bam came strolling out of the barn with Jesse high astride his back. She could see his intense dark eyes and that handsome face under his black Stetson and thought she might faint after all.
“Jaysus!” she called out. “My man looks good in the saddle.”
Jesse smiled for just a second before it faltered, as their family and friends laughed at her little outburst. She could tell he was concentrating so hard on not falling off the horse. She realized as he got closer there was something in this lap. He made his way over to her and Lily-Grace couldn’t stop herself from out-and-out weeping. He’d worked on his fear, for her, and was now confidently riding a horse. Even without all the fanfare and the question that, she was sure, was to come, she couldn’t have been more proud of him.
He stopped Bam Bam just a few feet away, then carefully swung his leg over, those thick thighs looking amazing in his jeans, before he carefully slid to the ground. He was still clutching the bundle that had been in his lap, now close to his chest. He closed the distance between them and it was like everything fell away—the music, their families and friends and various horses. It was just the two of them.
