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My breath caught as Rhett’s arms wrapped around my waist, his front pressed against my back. I sighed and hoped that this feeling of utter contentment never went away.
“Where’s Brendan?” I asked.
“He’s with my sisters.”
I glanced over toward the small plastic slide, his little squeals of delight echoing through the yard. A smile tugged at my lips as his three “aunts” chased and tickled him while he continued to laugh.
After we had finished eating, everyone sat around the table chatting.
“Rhett, why don’t you entertain us with a song? You haven’t done that in a while,” Miranda said from next to me. “You brought your guitar like I asked you to, didn’t you?”
Rhett smirked. “I did. I guess I can play a few.” Rhett stood up from the other side of me and made his way into the house, returning a few minutes later with a kitchen stool and his guitar. He positioned himself on my right, a few feet away. Miranda and I both turned our chairs slightly so we could watch him.
He played two popular upbeat songs—“Chicken Fried,” one of my all-time favorites, was one of them—before he started on the third.
I recognized it but couldn’t remember the title. It talked about how some things just go together, like driving with an arm dangling out the window. Or a mug of coffee while watching the sunrise. I smiled when the lyrics implied how two people can go better together.
I could feel my cheeks flush. I’d always hated to be the center of attention. This was no different. I laughed out loud when he sang about how my lipstick had stained all his coffee mugs, because he teased me about that constantly.
I’d only heard this song a handful of times. But I must not have paid attention to the lyrics because when he sang about how my first name should go together with his last name, his eyes locked on mine, and he had a cocky smile plastered on his face.
My heart started to race as my mind swirled. My gaze shot across the table to where Ashley was seated, her eyebrows raised slightly. I stole a look at Miranda next. A lone tear escaped down her cheek.
I turned back to Rhett as he finished the song and put the guitar down. My head was spinning. Maybe there was a bigger reason my dad was here.
Is Rhett going to…?
I didn’t need to finish that train of thought, because in the next instant, Rhett was in front of me, getting down on one knee.
I gasped, and my hand flew to my mouth. My stomach flipped, and I had to remind myself to breathe.
“Bella, you’ve been my best friend my entire life and the only girl I’ve ever truly loved. I want to marry you and spend the rest of my life treasuring you and the life we have together. I want to be a father to Brendan and give him more siblings. I want our home filled with love, messes, and chaos.”
I laughed, even though my eyes were filling with tears. He opened a little black box that held my mom’s engagement ring. And the tears fell steadily now. My mom’s ring. I hadn’t seen it in ten years. I always dreamed of wearing it one day, and the fact that Rhett remembered meant everything to me.
“Bella?” His tone had a nervous edge to it.
Crap. Did he say something?
“Yeah?”
He chuckled. “Do I need to repeat the question?”
“Um. Maybe?”
A few chuckles sounded around us, and I bit my lip as I stared into Rhett’s eyes.
He shook his head. “Life will never be boring with you, will it?”
“Nope. Probably not.”
He chuckled again. “Good. Now, before I have a heart attack, will you tell me you’ll marry me?”
I nodded. “Yes, of course I’ll marry you!”
He slipped the ring on my finger and stood, bringing me with him. His arms were tight around my waist, and he lifted me slightly off my feet, bringing our lips together in a slow, tender kiss. I could vaguely make out the clapping and whistles from our family.
“Get a room!” Ashley shouted.
