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Connor skipped back over to them, and Nate took one of his hands while Ginger took the other. They went back to her truck, and she drove through the parking lot to the Chinese restaurant.
“Hey, Laura,” Nate said as he walked in.
“Oh, my favorite family.” She grinned at them and didn’t bother with menus. Nate wasn’t sure if that was a good thing or not. She led them to a table out of the way, and said, “I’ll send over Kiki.”
“Sounds good.” Nate helped Connor sit, and then he handed the boy his phone. “You can do the airplanes or the teddy bears.”
“Do you have that snake game?”
“Snake game?” Nate shook his head. “No, I deleted that one.”
“Why?”
“Because I couldn’t download something else I needed.”
Connor stabbed unhappily at the phone, and Nate had half a mind to take it from him and say he couldn’t use it at all. Instead, he turned his attention to Ginger, who sat across from him.
His heart pounded in his chest, getting louder and more violent with every passing second. He could propose here, and then Ginger would love this restaurant even more than she already did. But he couldn’t get the words out.
Kiki appeared at the end of the table and said, “Drinks?”
“Diet Coke,” Ginger said.
“Same,” Nate said. He didn’t particularly enjoy soda, but it would be better than the rose water they served here. “And he wants Sprite.”
“Sounds good. Do you know what you want?” She looked at the table. “You don’t have menus.”
“We don’t need them,” Ginger said. “I’ll have the pork fried rice and the teriyaki noodles.”
“Sweet and sour chicken,” Connor said. “Please.”
Nate grinned at him, glad he’d remembered his manners. “And I’ll have the steak and shrimp stir fry.”
“Be right back with the drinks.”
Connor was already absorbed back into the phone, and Nate didn’t have anything to distract him. He looked at Ginger and decided to just blurt out what was in his head.
“I love you, Ginger,” he said. “And I want to spend the rest of my life with you. Today, Connor and I looked at engagement rings, and we bought one for you. It’ll be here on Friday.”
Her eyes widened and her mouth dropped open. “You’re kidding.”
“I am not,” he said, ducking his head and smiling. “It’s really pretty, and I just know you’re going to love it.” He looked at her again. “What I’m wondering is if you lovemeenough to marry me?”
Tears filled her eyes, but she was already nodding. “Yes,” she said. “Yes, I love you, Nate.”
He got up and rounded the table, meeting her as she stood too. He kissed her, not caring about anyone or anything else in the restaurant. He cradled her face in both of his hands. “I love you so much,” he said. “Thank you for taking a chance on me.”
“I love you too,” she said, resting her cheek against his. “I love you and your big, beautiful, hopeful heart.” She kissed him again, and Nate hoped he could be the kind of man she wanted, needed, and deserved.
“Diet Coke,” the waitress said, and Ginger pulled away from him.
“Sorry,” she said, giggling as she sat down. “But we just got engaged!”
Kiki gasped, looking between the two of them. “Really?”
“Really,” Nate said. “The ring is coming from Amsterdam.”
“It is?” both women asked together, and Nate felt like he’d done a very good thing with his engagement ring choice.
