Boyd
He was greeted by an ear-to-ear smile and a kiss to his cheek before she collected her bag from the floor. “I hope I got everything.”
“The only thing you need to bring is yourself.”
“Well and the dress, I can’t show up naked. That would be rather awkward.”
Ah, yes: the dress. He’d asked her to wear the blue one she’d sewn herself. “Just a little.” He took her bag, grateful that her presence calmed some of his nerves. “Do you still want to stop at Buc-ee's on the way?”
“If you don’t mind. I’ve been craving their pulled pork for a while.”
“Not at all.”
He began the long drive, absentmindedly stroking her thigh .
“Boyd?”
“Yes, my queen.”
“Is there something on your mind?”
Boyd flashed her an apologetic smile. “There is, I just don’t know how to address it.”
“Shoot. I don’t bite,” she encouraged, blanketing his hand with hers.
“Do your parents know you don’t want children?”
“I’ve mentioned it a few times. Mom always brushes it off and says there’s still time to decide.”
“But you are firm in your choice?”
“I am. I’ve actually spent years trying to have my tubes tied, but all the doctors refuse. Besides, it’s expensive. I have actually considered going off birth control because with your vasectomy, I don’t really need it.”
“Why haven’t you yet?”
“I’m afraid it’s going to be a shock to my system.” A little hesitant she added, “And I’m also terrified something will happen anyways.”
“I get checked regularly to make sure nothing’s reversed itself. I actually have an appointment coming up.”
“What would you do if I did get pregnant?”
“Quite honestly, I have no desire to start over, but I’d support whatever decision you made. I will love and support you and the baby if that is what you wish.”
“Would you be upset?”
“Probably, but never with you. We can take all the precautions we want, but sometimes these things just happen.”
“If I decided to terminate?”
He flipped his hand over, giving hers a squeeze. “Queenie, it’s your body and your decision. I will stand by your side no matter what.”
With a sigh of relief, Queenie let her head fall back. “I like that we can have these kinds of conversations.”
“I do too. I can’t stand ‘what if’ situations. It takes some of the pressure off.”
Queenie lifted his hand to her mouth, pressing a kiss to his knuckles. “It does.”
Once they’d loaded up on food and souvenirs at Buc-ee’s, Queenie happily dozed against the window.
He loved that the beach wasn’t too far away and with Queenie around, he knew they’d be spending more time in Galveston.
Once parked, he walked around the truck and scooped a drowsy Queenie into his arms.
“My knight in shining armour,” she murmured into his chest.
He carried her to bed and went to grab their bags, returning to find her undressing herself, lazily staring out the window. She was out like a light the second he covered them up with the blanket. He, on the other hand, had other things on his mind.
He was glad his mother came early the next morning to help with breakfast. She kept Queenie busy so she wouldn’t notice what a nervous wreck Boyd was.
Luka came early too, helping with some of the bigger decorations.
Soon, he was putting up the tent for shade on the beach with Luka eyeing him rather suspiciously.
“You okay, Dad?”
“I haven’t felt this nervous since holding you for the first time. ”
“Thanks for not dropping me.” Luka seemed to be in a good mood and Boyd was glad for it. It meant a lot that his son approved of his relationship.
“That was legit the worst fear I had. Until you started crawling and sticking your fingers everywhere.”
Another laugh that made his heart a little lighter. “I survived, didn’t I?”
“Mostly because of your grandmother.”
“Come on, take some credit!” And with a look back at the porch where Queenie tied balloons to the railing, Luka said, “You’ll do great.”
“Thanks.”
“Have you two looked at any apartments yet?”
“Yeah, I think we’re moving into the River Oaks condo.”
“The one you were leasing out?”
“That’s the one. The tenants are moving out and it’s in the perfect location.”
“Has she seen it?”
“Yes, and loved it. Not that I ever thought she would hate it. She loves the idea of a craft room for her sewing.”
Talking to Luka helped calm his nerves, but they flared up again once the guests started to arrive.
Maggie was basically glued to Queenie’s hip.
Landon and Laria were out on the beach the second they saw it with Jessica worriedly urging them to stay in shallow water.
Oliver arrived with Archie and Lee-Ann, with their kids immediately making friends with Jessica’s.
When Camila and Christopher walked in, Luka tensed beneath the hard stares. But Queenie’s father had promised not to make a scene and for the love of his daughter, he avoided Luka altogether.
Boyd stood by, enjoying the picture of their two lives coming together. As predicted, Camila and his mom were inseparable. He made sure Queenie finished her food before he retrieved the ring from its hiding spot.
“How are you feeling?”
Archie stepped into the room, closing the door behind him. “A bit sick if I’m honest, but good.”
“Are you still going to let her open the rest of her gifts first?”
“Yeah.”
“Do you remember the way Oliver taught you to kneel?”
“Yes.” He’d practised it religiously every second he could. Apparently doing it a certain way would look better for the pictures.
“I’ll gather everyone on the porch. Oliver said the lighting is better there.”
“Thank you.”
Archie gave him a wink and after collecting his thoughts and gathering his last nerve, Boyd followed him. Everyone feathered out on the porch with Queenie standing in front of the table that held her presents.
“Don’t hide in the back,” she scolded, reaching out for him. “Come here.”
“And here I thought this day was about you,” he teased.
He helped her unwrap the presents, it all being more a blur than anything. Before he knew it, he took her hand, the words he’d recited over and over suddenly feeling unworthy.
“Queenie, I have thought about your birthday present for quite some time. Nothing I could think of even came close to what you deserve.”
Her cheeks tinged pink and her eyes beamed up at him, her hand squeezing his tightly .
“There will never be anything I can buy to show you how much I care, adore, and love you.”
He fell to his knee, and Queenie’s jaw dropped. He pulled the ring from his pocket with a quivering hand.
“Luckily, there are two amazing women in our lives that helped me gift you something to prove that my heart belongs to you. Two rings combined in one to not only show you that my heart belongs to you, but to represent our two lives joining, never to be separated.”
Tears now crawled down her cheeks as her hand shook in his.
“Queenie, will you marry me?”
The noise Queenie emitted almost broke the sound barrier. “Yes!”
He barely got the ring onto Queenie’s finger before she bent down to give him a bruising kiss. Cupping her face, he rose to his full height, feeling like he could breathe for the first time in weeks.
There were cheers and laughter as he picked her up and swirled her around. “God, I love you.”
“I love you too.”
When he put Queenie back on her feet, they were immediately swarmed with congratulations. Boyd happily stood by his fiancée’s side, allowing her to show off her new ring.