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He did, and his gaze lit on her before falling on the large, colorful gift next to him, its obvious shape giving away its contents.
“What did you do?”
“Open it.”
He tore at the paper, finally reaching the black case underneath. He looked at her and shook his head. “You shouldn't have done this.”
She raised her eyebrows. “Done what? You don't know what's in there.”
He laughed. “I think I have a pretty good idea.” He unlocked the case and opened it, and when he realized exactly which guitar he was looking at, his eyes widened. “Lizzy, this–this is the guitar from that shop, isn't it?”
She nodded and smiled, and he carefully lifted it from the case, holding it out in front of him and gliding his fingers along the neck, before laying it across his lap to look at the beautiful red cedar body. They’d wandered into the small music shop in Oak Bluffs back in December, and he’d eyed the guitar for a long moment before picking it up and playing some chords.
“I can't believe you did this.” He knew how much it cost; he’d looked at the tag when they were in the shop that day.
“I wanted you to have it. And it was made right here on the island. I think that's pretty cool.”
He smiled. “It’s very cool. It's incredible.” He placed the guitar back into its case, before crawling up the bed toward her and placing his hands on either side of her ribs, holding himself over her. “You'reincredible. Thank you so much.”
“You’re welcome,” she said against his lips. “Are you going to play for me?”
“How about I playforyou after I playwithyou?” he murmured from somewhere in the vicinity of her collarbone.
“Mmm, that's nice,” she said as he slid lower, “but I really want to hear you sing.”
Sighing dramatically, he lifted his head and kissed her. “Okay.”
He sat at the end of the bed again, and spent a few minutes tuning the guitar to his liking. After getting used to the feel of it, he began to play a song by an artist she loved, and after a few moments, he added his voice and serenaded her as best he could, while the sun cast the last rays of its light through the bedroom windows.
He was so caught up in playing and singing, he didn’t notice she was on the verge of tears until he finished.
“Hey,” he said, placing the guitar into its case and moving up beside her. “Why the tears? Come on, love.”
She sniffled and stared up at him. “I’m just happy. Being here, with you… I love you so much.”
“I love you too.” He kissed her cheeks, wiping her tears away with his thumbs…and he knew it was time. He’d purchased a ring in Boston nearly a month ago, and had carried it just about everywhere with him. It was tucked inside the drawer of his nightstand, and the moment washere… Until he was pulled from his thoughts by her whispered words.
“I want to marry you.”
He sat back, unsure if he’d heard her correctly. “What?”
“I–I want to marry you. I want to spend the rest of my life with you, and I want–I want the rest of my life to start now. I don't want to wait anymore.” She took a shaky breath. “Will you marry me?”
He knew the slack-jawed, wide-eyed expression on his face conveyed his surprise. “You're–you’re proposing to me?”
She nodded and swiped at her cheeks. “Yes, I–I guess I am.”
He gave a short, incredulous laugh. “I can't believe it.”
“Why–why can't you believe it?” She sniffled again. “I'm serious, you know.”
He held her face and kissed her softly.She proposed. It made him want to laugh and cry at the same time. He wasfinallyready to ask her, and she’d beat him to it.
“Are you going to answer me?” she asked quietly, and he saw that she looked slightly anxious, her beautiful green eyes wet with more tears.
He kissed her again and felt her entire body quiver, whether with nerves or excitement, he didn't know. He released her and silently turned toward the nightstand, opened the drawer to pull out the ring box, then turned to her with it in his hand, holding it between them.
She looked down at the box, then back at him with wide eyes. Without saying a word he opened it, and after staring at the ring for a moment, her eyes traveled back to his face, and he cleared his throat.
