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“Looks like the guys are back from work and everyone is here,” I said to Alley. That was odd, Gyth hadn’t texted me or called to say he had made it over. I felt like I was in the Twilight Zone because that isn’t like him at all. Happy to get to see him and spend time with everyone, I tried to stop myself from overthinking it and got out of the car.
As Alley and I reached the door, it was pulled open and Jurnee was there. “Hey, come on in,” she said, in a high-pitched voice that was a bit overkill. Things just kept getting more bizarre by the minute.
When we walked in, it was like a ghost town in the house, not a single person was in sight. “Where is everyone?” I asked her.
“Oh, they are in the backyard, let's head out there.” I looked over at Alley with my eyebrows raised in question, but she just shrugged and followed Jurnee toward the back of the house, so I padded along behind them, all the while thinking I smelled bacon.
What the heck was that about?
When I walked out and onto the back deck, I stopped dead in my tracks. Braxton and Jurnee’s place was always amazing, but there were extra twinkle lights put up around the yard, a fire blazing in their fire pit, a couple of tables with cute vases filled with flowers, and a long table full of food.
But it was the sound floating through the breeze on the gorgeous May night, that had my heart almost thumping right out of my chest. Gyth stood down on the grass, his back toward the flowing river, guitar in hand, as he serenaded me.
His low, growly, country twang ofYou Make It Easy, by Jason Aldeansent goosebumps all over every inch of my skin and I shivered. My man could sing and when he sang for me, it was hard to describe the way it made me feel because I felt so many things.
Singing about how I make it easy and how he swore God made me for him. Hearing the lyrics about how I was his Sunshine when that was what he had always called me, and his better half, I wondered what all this was about.
Then Kace was there, holding out his hand to help me down the stairs. I took hold, letting him lead me to Gyth, as he kept playing and singing, watching me intently the whole way. Coming to stand right in front of him, it was then that I noticed everyone else swarm around us. My besties, the kids, Landon, Kace, and Braxton. Even Gemma and Jurnee’s parents were there.
What in the world?
Wait, where was Ash? She had gone with Gyth that morning to work, but I didn’t see her anywhere. Suddenly the music stopped as the song ended and Gyth said, “Look at me, Sunshine.”
Butterflies took flight in my belly, fluttering all around when his demand hit my ears in that deep tone that was all Gyth. Doing as he said, I focused on my guy, his eyes looking deep into mine. Setting his guitar down to the side of him, he stood, grabbing one of my hands and pulling me even closer to him.
“Hi,” he said.
“Hey,” I whispered back. “What—” I started, but he put a finger on my lips stopping me from saying another word.
Letting his hand fall away from my face, he dropped to one knee, my left hand still cupped in his. Everything I had ever wanted with him flashed before my eyes and hope bloomed in my belly.
I think all my dreams are coming true.
“Sunshine, I love you. Will you build a life with me and be my wife? It can be whatever you want it to look like, because as long as you are in it, then it is everything I want it to be. You make everything right in my world. So you have to marry me.”
Tears ran down my face. It was just like him to say the sweetest thing and then tell me what I have to do. I loved this man with all that I was, so the answer was easy.
“Yes,” I said, breathlessly. “I will marry you.”
Gyth brought his other hand to his mouth and with his fingers, let out a loud whistle. The next thing I knew, everyone parted like the Red Sea and when I turned to look at what they were all staring at, I saw Ash walking toward us, a band of red roses around her neck. Reaching us, she stopped and I noticed a black velvet box dangling from the collar.
“Good girl,” Gyth told her, patting her head. Letting my hand go, he took the box off and popped open the top.
More tears fell and I gasped. It was the most beautiful ring I had ever seen. As he slipped it on me, I took in the pear-shaped, halo-style, vintage ring. It was set in white gold, with a band with tiny diamonds all around it, that hugged my finger perfectly. It was dusk and the final rays of sunlight bounced off it and I smiled at the perfection he had picked out.
I looked back at Gyth and his eyes shimmered with love, compassion, and forever. “I love you,” he told me as he stood up and dragged me into his arms, kissing me right there in front of everyone we cared about. That is when I heard Embry giggle, and I wondered how she managed to stay so quiet during the whole thing.
We broke apart and everyone rushed us to say congratulations. Hugs were exchanged until Kace’s voice boomed out. “Another one bites the dust,” he sang.
Braxton, who was right beside him, smacked him upside the head.
“Hey, be nice, at least I brought a gift,” Kace said as he stepped forward and handed a box to Gyth and me.
I was afraid to look. And I had been right to be afraid, but also it was the funniest damn thing.
Both of us popped open the top of our boxes at the same time, taking in the contents of our present and then looking at each other's gift. In the package was a pile of underwear. A big stash of them, like everyone had joked about when we last got together at Braxton and Jurnee’s.
“What is it?” Embry asked. Oh Lord, I was not explaining this, no way.
