33. Chapter Thirty-Three #2
"This style is particularly popular." Rebecca points to this massive solitaire. "A little over three carats, excellent clarity, platinum band."
It's gorgeous. The kind of ring that would definitely be beautiful on Sarah.
But Sarah's cleaning kennels. Doing home visits. Leading dogs on walks. That gorgeous setting with the inlaid diamonds on the band would be dirty and dull all the time.
I’m not giving her something that will be dirty and dull.
"It's beautiful," I say. "But she works with dogs. All day. I don't want her worrying about it."
Rebecca doesn't miss a beat. "Something more practical, then." She pulls another tray. "Here’s a simple setting and the center stone is just about two and a half carats. Same clarity. But I think this will be better for daily wear."
She hands me a ring with a more traditional band. But instead of the usual setting for the stone, the prongs curl around instead of just holding it.
I hold it up. It reflects back rainbow and light.
That's the one.
I don't know how I know. I just do.
"That's it," Brett says quietly.
"Yeah?"
"Look at your face, Sunshine. You lit up."
Did I?
The twist in the band is subtle. Not too much. And the way the prongs hold the stone looks protective.
Like everything Sarah deserves.
"But wait." I hesitate. "She really is with dogs all day. What if she can't wear it to work? What if—"
"Hold up." Liam sits forward, and for the first time since his text this morning, he's serious. "Get her a necklace too."
We all turn to look at him.
"What?"
"A necklace. Something she can wear when she's working. Give her options. Something she can wear every single day without worrying."
I stare at him.
That's... Actually, that’s fucking brilliant.
"Crash," Brett says. "That might be the smartest thing you've ever said."
"I have my moments."
I turn to Rebecca. "Necklaces. Show me necklaces. Diamond. Something that will complement her engagement ring."
"Of course." Another case appears. Delicate chains. Pendants. "This one is popular — one and a half carat diamond with a delicate halo. The halo makes it more visible without adding weight."
She holds it up. It catches the light perfectly. Just like the ring.
This is something Sarah could wear every day at the rescue. Something that she'd never have to take off.
"Perfect. I’ll take both. The ring and the necklace."
"Excellent choices."
"Wait—" Liam starts. “You need to start thinking about push presents too. Don’t girls expect those now? You’re not done.”
"Crash," Graham says firmly. "He just bought backup jewelry. The necklace. I think he’s done enough for one day."
"Oh. Right." Liam sits back. "Good. I'm just trying to help."
"You actually did," I tell him. "The necklace idea was smart."
He beams like I just told him Aiden was passing the C over to him.
Rebecca's trying not to smile. "Would you like to see wedding bands?"
I shake my head. "She should pick that. When she's ready."
"Very thoughtful."
Tyler's bouncing. "But she is going to say yes, right?"
"Yeah." No hesitation. "She's going to say yes."
She wore my jersey in front of twelve thousand people. She's living with me. Carrying my baby. She kissed me at The Oasis and told me she loves me.
Rebecca disappears with paperwork. I sit back, suddenly exhausted.
My leg won't stop bouncing.
"You good, Kev?" Brett asks.
"Yeah. Just... It's real now. Those boxes. That's Sarah's ring."
"You found the perfect ring for her," he says. "You came with me to buy Paige’s ring. Now I get to be here for yours."
He gives me a very bro-hug, and I hug him right back. Brett’s been there with me since I lost Cameron. He’s my brother.
All the guys here are. I’m grateful these are the people I get to do life with. Even though they let Liam plan way too many events lately.
Rebecca returns with two small black velvet boxes. My heart kicks up.
"Paying today?"
I hand over my card. Don't even look at the total, because this is the promise for our future and it’s worth every penny. This card paid for our ultrasound and now it’s paying for her ring. I’m never switching credit card companies.
Tyler leans over while Rebecca's processing the transaction. "When are you proposing?"
"Today."
The room goes quiet.
"Today?" Liam repeats. "Like today today?"
"I told her last night after the game that I was buying a ring and asking her properly. I'm doing both. Today." I look at them. "I keep my promises."
"Alright," Aiden says as we're driving away from B. Barton in his Range Rover. We have the SUV stuffed full with seven hockey players and I’m stuck in the third row with Brett, who is leaving his car behind to ride with all of us to grab a bite to eat. This is ridiculous. "Where’s lunch?"
"I don’t care," I say. "But I can’t be gone that long. Sarah gets back from the rescue around five-thirty."
"So, you've got time," Brett points out, in the vaguest way possible.
"Time for what?"
Liam turns around from the front seat. "Sunshine, how are you proposing?"
"I don't know yet. I'll figure it out when—"
"Does Ranger have a nice collar?" Tyler asks.
I blink. "What?"
"Ranger. Does he have a nice collar? Because if you're proposing to Sarah, Ranger should probably be involved somehow. He's part of your family."
"He's got a collar. It's fine."
"But is it proposal-worthy?" Graham asks.
"I don't know what proposal-worthy means for a dog collar."
"You just bought Sarah a ring and a necklace," Liam points out. "Momo’s right. Can't leave out the fur child. Ranger needs jewelry too."
I never thought I’d see the day, but something non-hockey related that Tyler and Liam have cooked up together actually makes sense.
"Super PawMart's not too far," Brett says. "We could swing by on the way to lunch."
"You guys don't have to—"
"Stop it, Sunshine," Aiden interrupts. "We want to. This matters to you. So it matters to us."
The Range Rover goes quiet for the first time since we all piled in here.
"Okay," I say. "Yeah. Let's go get Ranger some jewelry."
A few minutes later, we're greeted by a six-foot-tall poster of Ranger as the automatic doors to Super PawMart open.
"Oh man," Tyler says, already pulling out his phone.
"Don't—" I start.
"Dude, your dog is huge." He's taking pictures of the poster. "This is incredible. Stand next to it."
"I'm not standing next to—"
"You absolutely are," Liam says. "For scale. This is important."
"How is this important?"
"Because," Graham says, steering me toward the poster, "your dog is six feet tall and that’s like a meme waiting to happen. I just don’t know what for. But I’ll come up with something."
They position me next to Giant Ranger. I look over at my dog's massive face. I’m six-foot-two. We’re basically at eye-level.
"This is ridiculous," I say.
"Smile, Sunshine!" Tyler's taking multiple shots. "Perfect. Lindy's gonna love this."
We came in for a collar, not to turn my dog into a Kardashian. "Why am I friends with you people?"
"Because we're stupid," Aiden says. "And we show up. You couldn't get rid of us even if you tried."
Tyler's already typing, grinning. "Posted. Hashtag Team Bonding. Hashtag Mandatory Optional Practice."
He pockets his phone. "Now let's go find your famous dog a fancy collar."
Once inside, it’s quickly evident that Super PawMart has too many choices available.
"This one?" Liam holds up basic black.
"Too plain," Tyler says.
"This?" Josh points to bright pink with rhinestones.
"That's for a very different kind of dog," Graham observes.
I'm scanning the display when I see the sports team section.
And there they are. Austin Stampede collars. Navy leather, burnt orange stitching, team logo embroidered.
"Guys." I grab one off the hook. "Look."
Brett grins. "That's it."
"Ranger's literally the team's brand ambassador," Aiden says. "Of course he needs Stampede gear."
I turn it over in my hands. It’s made of real leather and has solid brass hardware.
I feel about the same about this collar as I did in B. Barton when Rebecca showed me Sarah’s ring.
"This is the one."