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“It came out well,” I say. “Shiloh made it.”
“Yeah? Now I love it more.”
“She’s talented,” I say. The woodwork design on yours is incredible.”
“Woodwork?” Holden frowns, examining the silver ring on his finger. “The designs on this ring are water.”
“I thought it looked like the lines inside a tree.”
“That’s because there isn’t an egotistical bone in your body. These are the currents of a river.”
God, he’s right. The flowing lines are a current, going around and around, never breaking or going still.
“My River,” Holden says and bends down to kiss me again. Then settles his chin back onto his hands, a strange look on his face.
“What are you thinking about?” I ask.
“You,” he says. “Me. How I want me to be with you.”
I chuckle. “You are with me. Always.”
“I mean in the literal sense. As in, right now.”
Then he’s pulling himself off the cement and stripping off his shoes and socks. His jacket and shirt.
“What are you doing?” I ask, my heart jumping in my chest.
“Maybe something stupid,” he says, and now he’s naked but for his underwear. “But we got engaged tonight. Because you were brave. I’m feeling a little brave too.”
Holy shit.
I’ve wanted this for him for so long. It was why I insisted on a house with a pool. I hoped someday he’d want to try, and I damn well wanted to be there when he did. I just had no idea it would be so soon.
Holden sits on the edge of the pool, his legs in the water. His face is still but he’s gripping the edge so tightly, his knuckles have gone white.
“Holden…”
“Come closer, please.”
I surge forward, my hands on his calves, letting him know I’m there. “What do you need?”
He smiles gratefully, then it fades into a look of determination. And courage.
With a short inhale of breath, he pushes himself off the edge and into the water. He gasps as the water comes up to his chest. It’s five feet deep, and he stands a foot above, the water flowing around his neck and collarbones. Instinctively, I put my arms around him.
“You okay?” I ask gruffly. I’m so proud of him, I could cry, but this is his moment and I pull myself together.
He nods quickly. “Don’t let go.”
“I never will.”
The water slips cool and smoothly between our chests. His feet are firmly planted with mine, his back to the wall. I hold him close and feel his heart beat against my own. We stay there until they become indistinguishable.
I check in again. “You good?”
“I’m fine. This is silly.”
“It’s not. You’re so fucking brave.”
