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She waved a quick goodbye and raced away as I put my arm around Riley’s shoulders, and we headed toward the back of the house.
We were almost to the back when I spun Riley around and took her face. “I love you.”
She froze for a second, then smiled. “I know, Ethan. Come on, let’s go see everyone.”
Before I let her pull me away, I kissed her deeply and then rested my forehead against hers.
“Hey! You two haven’t gotten enough of that since last night? Cut that crap out. That’s how you two got in trouble in the first place.” I laughed as I took Riley’s hand and grinned at Cara.
“Oh, you’re funny.” Riley slipped away from me the minute I let go of her hand while my family converged on me. After they were done, the Youngs were there, and a few other friends from the police force. It was good to see them, and it was weird knowing that I wouldn’t be working with them anymore—at least not directly. Even though I’d been with the county detectives for officially fourteen weeks, I’d barely started there before I left for training. It seemed surreal to be going there on Monday and not back to my old department.
It was a perfect afternoon. The weather was excellent for end of August, and everyone was in good spirits. Charlotte and Wes announced that they were expecting, and I noticed Roxy and Henley staring at each other with conspiratorial smiles. I had a feeling that they were going to be next to announce that.
The weirdest part about the whole afternoon was when I grabbed a beer out of the cooler and looked up to find Joe Newman there. He approached me, his hand out. “Ethan, congrats on your class. I know that things didn’t start out so well between us, but I hope we can start over.”
I shook his hand. “Thanks.” I glanced around to find Riley and saw her laughing with Charlotte and Roxy on the other side of the patio. “Who invited you?”
“I’m here as a guest to Carmen. I guess she didn’t tell you that we’ve started seeing each other.”
“My sister, Carmen?”
Joe chuckled. “Yeah, is that going to be a problem?”
I searched for Carmen; she was watching me, and I saw the nervous look in her eye. “You’re dating my sister now.” I nodded slowly.
He shifted on his feet as if he expected me to throw a punch. Instead, I laughed. “Sure, go for it.” I slapped him on the arm and walked past him, laughing.
I didn’t care who he dated as long as he was far away from Riley. Speaking of her, I made a beeline to her and put my arm around her shoulders. I was flying on a high, and I was ready to continue it.
“Hey! Can I get everyone’s attention?” I called out as I pulled Riley closer to my side.
“What are you doing?” Riley laughed as she stood beside me.
I smiled down at her and winked. “So, first, I want to thank you guys for coming today. This was a great surprise, and I’m jealous as hell of the tans that all of you have since I spent the entire summer locked in a room with twenty other people.”
“Yeah, you do look a little pasty there, Ethan,” Evan joked, and everyone laughed.
“Yeah, this is the first year your tan is better than mine,” I replied back to Evan in jest, and then I scanned the group. “I’m pretty sure that everybody is now aware that Riley and I are expecting a baby in another twenty-four weeks or so.”
A few whistles and yells filled the air, and I inhaled deeply and hesitated just a fraction of a second. Then I glanced at my father smiling at me, and I realized that I couldn’t waste a minute longer. I turned to Riley as I started to drop to my knee.
“Ethan?” she asked me as she cocked her head. “Ethan, what the hell are you doing?”
“Riley Young, you and I have had a roller coaster of a relationship since we were in high school, but I know without a doubt that I love you and would do anything for you or our child. I know that while you are probably freaking out right this minute, I also know that this is the right thing to do. In front of our families, especially in front of your family, I want everyone to see my pledge to you and to our child.”
“Ethan,” Riley said so softly that I doubted anyone else could hear it. Or maybe they could because my heart was hammering so loudly in my ears that I could be blocking out the sound.
“Riley, let me be right there with you through everything that you and our child go through. Let me give you everything that you deserve.” I licked my lips and inhaled slowly as I pulled a ring out of my pocket. “Riley Young, will you marry me?”
Riley stared down at me and then glanced at the ring. Her hand went to her mouth, and tears began to fill her eyes. I thought I had her there, thought that by announcing to everyone here how much I loved her, it would be enough.
But it wasn’t.
Riley stepped back, pulling her hand from mine as she shook her head back and forth slowly. She took a second step as her hand dropped to her side, and then she was turning and rushing away. Henley, who had been standing behind her, grabbed her, but she jerked out of his hold and began to run toward the front of the house.
I watched her go and then got off my knee as I stared at the ring. It had been a gamble, and one I had hoped would pay off. I thought that maybe if I did it in front of our families, she would have said yes so that she didn’t upset anyone. Obviously, I had been seriously wrong.
Cara and Candy came to my side, murmuring that it would be okay, and I saw Henley run after his sister.
