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For the first and only time in my life, I wake up knowing that by the time I head to sleep later, I’ll be an engaged man.
After last night, which was unexpected, hot as hell, and made me fall in love with Bex all over again, it’s hard to drag myself up and out for golf at the club with my father and brothers, but somehow I manage. When I’m dressed, I lean over to kiss Bex goodbye; she’s still buried under the covers.
“I’ll see you later,” I say. “Enjoy the spa.”
She mumbles out something I can’t hear. Hopefully she isn’t too sore. I fucked her hard last night. It felt incredible; she was impossibly tight and so sweet, a vixen turned princess in my arms. I can’t help but kiss her hair again. “I love you.”
“Love you,” she says, eyes still closed. “I’ll see you later.”
I bring the ring box along with me. Maybe pulling it out from time to time today will settle my nerves.
Our round of golf is, predictably, a disaster. It’s sort of hilarious, considering all four of us are or were athletes, but collectively, our golf game sucks. Dad curses up a storm at the 10th, 13th, and 17thholes, Cooper nearly throws his club into the brush, Sebastian gets his shoes soaking wet trying to fish for a ball in one of the ponds, and as for me? Halfway through, I give up and fill in random scores on our cards. By the time we make itback to the club and settle at a table, we’re all sweaty and cranky. The only saving graces are the nice breeze off the water and our cold beers.
Dad mops his forehead with a handkerchief as he squints at his card. “You gave me a thumbs up as the final score?”
“You showed admirable restraint for the first nine,” I say, grinning. “The back nine, I don’t know.”
“He gave me a smiley face,” Seb says as he wrings out his socks.
Dad shakes his head as he sighs. “They’ve asked me to play at the Pro-Am this year, and clearly, I should save myself the embarrassment.”
“Nah,” Cooper says around a swig of beer. “It’s fun even if you play horribly. A lot of NFL guys have been doing it.”
Dad gives Cooper a look. “Sure,” he says sarcastically. “A weekend watching Tony Romo charm everyone.”
“You could own the awfulness,” I offer.
“It’s depressing, how shit my game is.” Before he can go on, a pair of guys around his age walk over to the table. One of them is Bill Huxley, an old family friend. I remember going to dinner parties at his Nags Head mansion many times as a kid. The other guy I don’t recognize, but he waves at the table, so I wave back.
“So, itisthe Callahans,” Bill says. “Hi, boys.”
Dad stands, reaching out his hand for a shake. “Bill, Jordan. Nice to see you.”
While Dad is preoccupied by his conversation, Cooper leans over. “Wait, so you brought the ring with you?”
I take it out of my pocket, lifting the lid to admire it. It’s still pristine, the sapphires sparkling on either side of the diamond.“You know how expensive it was. I didn’t want to just leave it for anyone to find.”
“Sure,” Cooper says with a knowing look. “Is that why you’re staring at it, too?”
“Is it happening today?” Seb asks.
I shut the box, turning it over in my hands. “I think so. I almost did it last night, but it wasn’t the right time.”
Bill’s hand settles on my shoulder. “Your father just said you have a serious girlfriend.”
“Yeah.” I smile. “Her name’s Bex. We met last year, at McKee.”
“Pretty. Is that a ring I just saw?”
“He’s proposing soon,” Dad cuts in.
“Make sure she’s the right one, kid,” the other guy, Jordan, says. “Saves a lot of heartbreak.”
I hold up the ring box. “I’m sure.”
“Bex is wonderful,” Dad says, looking right at me as he speaks. “We’re all so thrilled for her to be part of the family.”
I swallow the lump in my throat. We really have come a long way since last winter. I’m relieved as I realize that all over again, because choosing between Bex and my relationship with my father would have been painful. I’m lucky I didn’t have to make that choice. “Thanks, Dad. I’m glad you think so.”
