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As we near the clearing, I hear it.
The jingle of tags.
A bark.
I don’t have to catalog it this time since I hear it regularly, but my hand still tightens in Riggs’. I open my mouth to say something but close it again when we finally step into our clearing.
“What is this?” I whisper, looking around.
There are sunflowers everywhere.
Sunflowers and wildflowers with a small arch at one end. A man I don’t know is wearing a small smile, and I barely notice the photographer snapping shots as my eyes meet the guys, all dressed in shirts and light green ties. I almost laugh when I see how uncomfortable they look, but I can’t when Riggins answers.
“Our wedding,” he whispers. “The way it should have always been. In our place, under the stars.” I tip my head up to see a few stars out, the sky not all the way dark but getting there, now that summer is coming to its end.
Then, my husband gets down on one knee, holding up a ring to me.
A real ring, not the thin promise ring I’ve taken to wearing on my right hand after I dug it out of my jewelry box. A large round diamond in the center with smaller triangular ones surrounding it.
“A star for my star,” he whispers. My voice catches as the world crashes into me, as understanding hits.
“Are you proposing?” He just smiles.
“I can’t do it without you, Stell.”
“Do what?” I whisper.
“Anything. Life.” Giving him a small, soft smile, I shake my head. Not saying no to his unasked question but refuting his words.
“Youcando anything you want, Riggings. You’re you. You’re amazing.” It’s familiar, words we once exchanged in this clearing what feels like forever ago.
I wonder how those kids would feel seeing us standing here now.
“Fine,” he says, proving he remembers it the same as I do. “I don’t want to do it without you. Marry me, Stella. For real. Be mine forever.”
Words don’t work for the first time in my life, a cry hitching in my throat, and he keeps speaking.
“I won’t ever let you go. I’ll loosen my grip so you can breathe, so you can chase your dreams, but Stella, I’m never letting you go again. I’m honored I get forever to see how bright you burn.”
And there, under the stars, in the meadow, I first fell in love with Riggins Greene; I married my best friend.
Again.
