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Trevor wrinkles his nose. “Bob? For a dog?”
I nod, and he shakes his head. “You are the absolute worst at naming things. When we have children, you will not be in charge of that task.”
I blink. “You just said when we have children.”
“I did.”
“Not if, but when.”
He nods and smiles.
When we have children.
I smile back like a doofus.
Trevor’s eyes soften and he pulls me closer. “When,” he whispers across my lips.
Rhett pokes his head into our personal space. “Are you two going to stand here and gush over each other all night? Because the rest of us are hungry, and the birthday cake Mom made is calling my name.”
Mo sticks her head in the conversation as well, smiling sweetly. “Normally I’d slap him upside the head for interrupting such a tender moment, but he’s right. We’re all hungry, and since you’re the guest of honor, we can’t really start without you.”
“Then by all means…” I step out of Trevor’s arms and pull out a chair at the oversized table. “Let’s eat.”
An hour and a half later, the dirty dishes are piled up in the sink, the leftovers put away, and my belly is as full as my heart. Everyone has migrated to the back deck. Mom and Phil are sitting at the table with Vivian and Sawyer. Cooper, Mo, Tess, and Trevor have taken each other on in
an intense game of horse, Lincoln and Adley have disappeared to I don’t know where, and Rhett is standing beside me, taking it all in.
I don’t know what’s running through his head, but all I’m thinking about is how perfect all of this feels. I’ve managed to move on and forgive myself since the tutoring fire, and my memories of my father are warm and supportive—a source of courage for me now, not guilt. It was hard to overcome all that, and some days the fire still floats to the surface of my mind, but I try not to let those moments take over my life the way they once did. And they’ve begun to happen less often.
“I don’t think I’ve ever seen you this content.”
Smiling, I look up at Rhett. “I could same the same about you.”
He nods and looks out at Mo. “It’s her fault.”
Mo squares her feet up to the basketball hoop, raises the ball, and shoots. The basketball swirls around the rim before falling through the net. She raises her arms, dancing around Coop and Trevor like the champion she is while the men hassle her.
Rhett chuckles, and as I watch him watch her, I can’t help but wonder what he’s waiting on. I can’t help myself. I nudge him in the arm. “So when are you going to pop the question?”
Looking at me, Rhett frowns. “He told you, didn’t he?”
“Told me what?”
“Trevor. He told you I bought a ring.”
“What?”
Rhett puts a hand over my mouth and glances at the people around us. “Would you keep it down?”
I cringe. “Sorry.” I can’t keep the excitement at bay for long, and I dance around on my toes. “Tell me everything. What does it look like? How long have you had it? When are you going to ask her?”
“You’ll see it when I give it to her. I’ve had it for months. And I don’t have a freaking clue.”
“Months?”
He looks at me cautiously and nods.
“What are you waiting for?”
