Chapter Eighteen #2
“Have you ever had to use it?”
“I haven’t, no. Daisy has. My brother should have, but he’d given his to Teagan because hers broke, and he was snatched by a rival club not long ago. It was a shit show.”
I gasped. “What happened?”
“I’ll fill you in while we drive to your surprise.”
“Wait, I thought this was my surprise.”
He grinned. “Not even close.”
After helping me pack up the pies, he carried them out to his truck, then he filled me in on Cash’s story and what Hatch and the club had done to rid Portland of the Spiders.
By the time we pulled into a parking space, I was nearly in tears. “Those monsters almost killed Razor?”
“Yeah, baby, but he’s okay.”
“Are they still breathing?”
“I’m not going to answer that.”
I wrinkled my nose. “That means, probably not, and I’m okay with it.”
“Waverly put him back together, honey.” He reached for my hand and linked his fingers with mine. “He’s all good. ”
I nodded with a sniff, trying to bring my emotions under control. “Razor’s such a good guy. I don’t know why anyone would want to hurt him.”
Archer rolled his eyes. “He’s a charmer, that’s for sure.”
“Why do you say it like that? Don’t you like him?”
“Razor’s fine,” he said. “He just can’t seem to do anything wrong in any of our ladies’ eyes, is all.”
“Is he a bad guy?”
“No, baby,” he said with a sigh. “He’s a fuckin’ saint, that’s what makes him so fuckin’ annoying. Come on, let’s go inside.”
That’s when I glanced up and noticed we were in front of Rondan’s Jewelers. I gasped. “What are we doing here?”
“We’re going to pick your engagement ring.”
“What?” I squeaked. “I’m a blubbery mess!”
“We can come back another day.”
I scowled at him and grabbed my purse off the truck floor. “Um, no, we cannot .”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes. Don’t you dare restart that truck, my guy,” I ordered. “I’ll just clean myself up.”
“Baby, you’re beautiful,” he countered. “You don’t need—”
“Hush,” I said. “I need to fix my face.”
“There’s nothing to fix.”
I reached over and settled a finger over his lips. “Which part of hush did you not understand?”
He chuckled. “As long as my objection has been noted for the record. ”
“Noted.” I smiled. “And I love you.”
“Love you too, baby.”
I did a quick refresh and then we headed inside.
Apparently Mr. Rondan wasn’t in today, so Paul was going to be helping us, and he had six rings set aside, all very pretty, but I was immediately drawn to one that was in the case, sitting to the right of his choices.
“That one is significantly less,” Paul said.
I glanced at Archer and bit my lip. “Is that okay?”
“Baby, get what you want.”
“May I try it, please?”
“Of course,” he said, and pulled out the ring. It was a white gold band with marquise diamond buds set in vine-like metalwork that wound toward prongs ready made for whichever stone we chose.
“This is so pretty,” I breathed out as I slid it on my finger.
“We have several diamonds we can pair with it. Do you like round, oval, pear? Or something else, perhaps?”
“I have no idea,” I said. “Oval or round, I think?”
“At least two carats,” Archer said.
“Archer,” I breathed out. “We don’t need—”
“Baby, hush,” he said, turning my words back on me.
I let out a quiet snort, then focused on the ring.
“If you set your hand down on the felt, I can place a diamond in the prongs and we can see what works best,” Paul said.
“Oh, look at that oval,” I breathed out when he set the oval into the setting. “That is stunning. ”
“I agree,” Paul said. “That is one point one two, a D color, VSI, and I think it looks lovely on your hand.”
“I love it,” I breathed out and smiled up at Archer. “What do you think?”
“I think it’s totally you and we’ll get it.”
“I can have it ready for you tomorrow.”
“Thanks,” Archer said, pulling out his wallet before turning to me. “Do you want to see if you can find a pair of earrings you like?”
“Honey, the ring’s enough.”
“Echo, go look for a pair of earrings. Something to wear with your dress.”
A saleswoman appeared out of thin air and guided me to a case with all manner of choices, but what had me sold was the pair that matched my ring. They were teardrop and looked like sweet little vines falling from my lobes. I loved them.
“I’ll wrap these up for you,” she said, and made her way to the register.
“Ready?” Archer asked, sliding an arm around me.
I nodded, leaning into him, overwhelmed by his generosity.
“Thanks, Paul,” Archer said as Paul handed me the bag with the earrings in it.
Archer then led me out to the truck.
“Baby, you’re quiet, you okay?” Archer asked as we drove.
“Overwhelmed.”
“In a good way, or do we need to reschedule tonight? ”
“In a good way, honey,” I rushed to assure him. “I have never been comfortable with compliments or being spoiled. I think it’s left over from he who shall not be named. But I know with you, I can trust you fully, so I’m just processing and trying to remind myself this isn’t going to end.”
Archer pulled the truck over to the side of road.
“What are you doing?” I squeaked.
“I’m gonna get your mind right before we walk into Floyd’s home.”
I rolled my eyes as I faced him. “Oh, really?”
“Really.”
“Your parents are waiting on us, you know?”
“They’ll understand.” He took my hand and lifted it to his lips, kissing my palm. “You are perfect, Echo, just the way you are, and I love you. More than I thought I could love another human being. I cannot wait to spend my life with you, and make babies—”
“You want babies?”
“A lot of them, if you’re up for it.”
I grinned. “Thousands.”
“I don’t know that your body can handle thousands.” Archer laughed. “How about start with one and go from there?”
I nodded. “Okay.”
Archer’s phone rang and I saw Dani’s name pop up on his screen.
“Shit, we’re late,” I bit out.
“Hi, Mom, we’re almost there.”
“Everything okay?” she asked.
“Yeah. We stopped off at Rondan’s,” Archer said .
Dani let out a quiet squeal. “Oh my god, did you get it?”
“No, they have to put the diamond in it. It’ll be ready tomorrow.”
“Well, we’re ready whenever you get here.”
“Five minutes,” he promised, and hung up, focusing on me again. “You need to process some more?”
“No, I’m good.”
“Love you.”
I sighed. “I love you way, way more.”
“I highly fuckin’ doubt that,” he said, and started the truck.
I grinned, my heart lighter than it had been in years as Archer drove us to Floyd’s.
Pulling up to the curb, Archer opened my door and waited for me to climb out of the cab. “You go in, baby. I’ll grab the stuff.”
I made my way to the door and rang the doorbell, and by the time Floyd answered, Archer was behind me with the cooler of pies.
“It’s my two favorite people,” he announced. “Come on in.”
We walked in to find Dani, Hatch, and Maisie in the living room and I grinned, hugging them. “Well, this is a party.”
“Floyd extended the invitation to us, and we couldn’t say no,” Maisie said.
“No way,” I agreed. “Dinner with Floyd is a treat.”
“Where’s Dad?” Archer asked Dani.
“He ran out for a few, he’ll be back any minute,” she said, pulling a roast out of the oven .
Maisie was making the mashed potatoes, so I stepped into the kitchen and started unpacking the cooler.
Booker walked in a few minutes later and handed something to Archer.
“What’s this?” he asked.
“Open it.”
“No fuckin’ way,” he breathed out. “How’d you make that happen?”
“I didn’t,” Booker said. “Your mom made a call.”
“What’s going on?” I asked.
Archer held his hand out to me. “Come here, baby.”
I made my way to him, and he got down on one knee.
“What are you doing?” I squeaked.
“Will you marry me?” He pulled out a ring box and opened it.
I let out a gasp. “Oh my god, that is not the diamond I looked at.”
This one was at least double the carat weight, if not more.
“I know, I switched it while you picked your earrings.”
“Green flag,” I rasped.
He grinned. “So, what do you say?”
I nodded. “Yes, absolutely.”
He slid the ring on my finger, then stood, wrapping his arms around me and lifting me off my feet.
The group surrounded us and of course, everyone wanted to see the ring and for the rest of the evening it was a celebration of happiness to come .
As we ate dinner, I slid my hand into Archer’s and squeezed.
I couldn’t wait for our next chapter together.