Chapter Twenty-Seven
Chapter Twenty-Six
JESSA
I only went to the car to get some sunscreen. Ethan said it was in the front pocket, but it wasn’t there, so I went through the other pockets. When I found the ring box, I stared at it in shock. I knew I probably shouldn’t open it, and I wasn’t going to … but then I did. The sun glinted off the diamond, and I swallowed back emotion. I’d never been much of a jewelry person, but this was the most perfect ring I’d ever seen, and I really wanted to put it on my finger. Scratch that, I really wanted Ethan to put it on my finger.
We had talked a little about marriage but in a very vague, someday kind of way. I was happy with how things were going, and I hadn’t expected a proposal just yet. Especially since he had recently quit his job to work with me at my company, which was less than he was making before, and we’d talked about how he wanted to keep building up his savings for the future. He had plans to renovate their house someday. And he still needed a new car after getting his mom’s running again, only to have it conk out once more. So, to see a diamond ring surprised me.
I don’t know what made me do it, but I took the box and slipped it into my pocket. Maybe it was all the times my brothers played pranks on me over the years, but I thought it would be funny to see the look on Ethan’s face when he went to get the ring and it wasn’t there. He was an April Fools Day baby, after all, and he deserved it for all his lame attempts to prank me on that day this year.
The look on his face when he thought it went down with the backpack broke my heart. And all I kept thinking when it sank to the bottom of the lake was how glad I was that I’d taken that ring, or it would’ve been stuck down there too.
Ethan’s eyes were wide with shock when I showed him the ring on my finger. “What?” He grabbed hold of my hand and looked from the ring to my face and back and forth a couple more times. “When? How?”
“Well, I assume it’s an engagement ring. I found it when I went to get the sunscreen. And I put it in my pocket to mess with you.”
He pulled me in for a hug and kissed my cheek once, twice, three times. “I should be so mad at you for spoiling the surprise, but you have no idea how happy I am right now.” He took my hand again and gazed down at the ring. “I thought I lost you forever.”
I pursed my lips. “You’re talking to the ring?”
He raised it to his lips and kissed the stone, and I yanked my hand away, which made him chuckle.
“That’s on the wrong hand,” he pointed out.
“I know.” I gave him a coy smile. “I figured you’d want to put it where it belonged.”
The corner of his mouth lifted into my favorite Ethan smile—the one that always made me want to kiss him—and he stood and held out his hands to help me up.
My heart beat in my ears as steady as a drum as I faced him and looked into his eyes. I never expected to feel so nervous at this moment.
He squeezed my hands. “So many times I thought about what I’d say when we got to this place. And honestly, when we came out here today, I wasn’t sure what I’d say. But then you inspired me.”
“Did I?”
He took a deep breath in and let it out. “Jessa, I want your kisses every day for the rest of my life. When we wake up in the morning, in the middle of the day just because we feel like it, and before we fall asleep every night. I want them when we’re happy and when we’re sad. And especially after we’ve been fighting.” He gave me another crooked smile. Make-up kisses were always the hottest.
“Kissing you will always be one of the most important things I do in life. And that’s what I want. A life with you. I want you for the rest of my days, Jessalyn Landry.”
Ethan removed the ring from my right hand and got down on one knee, which led to hoots and hollers from the beach.
We both cracked up laughing and then he looked up at me with the ring extended and love in his eyes.
“Will you marry me?”
I gave him my best nonchalant smile and shrugged my shoulders. “I think I can put up with you for a lifetime.”
He slid the ring onto my finger and was on his feet with his lips on mine in two seconds.
We stood on the shoreline, holding each other, kissing, and laughing at the commotion coming from across the lake, and maybe for the first time in my life, I felt truly giddy. This was the most romantic moment of my life, and I imagined this was how Ellie felt on a daily basis when it came to all things lovey-dovey.
“So, they all knew?” I asked.
“Of course, they did.” He wrapped his arm around my lower back and turned us to face the beach.
“Figures.” I rested my head against his shoulder. “But I’m not mad about it.”
I thought he’d be smiling when I looked over, but he was wearing a frown. “What’s wrong?”
“We were supposed to be eating dinner together out here. I packed the perfect picnic complete with champagne to toast to our engagement, and it all floated away.”
I reached up and turned his head so he’d look at me. “I don’t need all that. I just need you.”
He grinned as he leaned over and placed a gentle kiss on my lips. “You’re so sweet.”
“I think you’re the only one who would describe me that way.” Our breaths mingled as we brushed our lips gently together, leaving me feeling heady. “Besides, you’re the sweet one,” I whispered.
“That is my last name.” He kissed the tip of my nose and smiled. “And soon it will be yours.”
I’d never been on board with changing my name if I got married. But with Ethan, there was no question. Still, I had to keep him guessing.
“What if I want you to change your last name to Landry instead?” I asked him with a smirk.
He gave me a funny look. “Are you being serious?”
I shrugged. “Maybe. It’s not unheard of.”
He tightened his arms around me as if taking possession. “I want you to have my last name.”
That was all he had to say to set my heart aflutter.
“Don’t you want that too?” His tone was filled with disappointment, and I had to put him out of his misery.
“Ethan, I would change my name in a heartbeat. I want everyone to know I’m yours.”
The crooked smile was back. “Good answer.”
With his arms holding me so closely, I felt surrounded by his love, protected from anything that might come our way, and ready to spend my life with this man.
He leaned in again, and I waited eagerly for his perfect lips to touch mine. Each kiss from Ethan felt like a gift after the meaningless affection I’d received in the past.
Just as I was about to get what I wanted, loud thuds sounded, followed by sprinkles of light erupting in the sky above.
“Ethan, this is too much. Fireworks are expensive.”
“It was all Luke. He owed us for that whole dare business.”
I stood in Ethan’s arms and watched the fireworks, thinking about Luke and the dare and everything that happened last summer. And then an idea came to me, and I chuckled to myself.
“What’s funny?” he asked.
I gave him a sly smile as I slowly walked backward toward the water. “I dare you to race me across the lake.”
He shook his head in amusement. “No dares. They only cause trouble.”
“Afraid you’ll get another cramp in your leg, and I’ll have to rescue you again?” I made air quotes when I said rescue .
“It’s getting a little dark for a swim.”
“Aww, look who’s afraid of a little night swimming.” I peeled off my shirt, and my skin heated as his gaze traveled down over my swimsuit top and across my bare stomach.
“I’m not afraid.” He stumbled over his words. “But somebody has to bring the boat back.”
“Excuses, excuses.” I took my shorts off, tossed them at his face, and ran into the lake. The cool water felt refreshing as I dove under.
When I came up, Ethan was shirtless and running toward me, which I rather enjoyed. He splashed me as he moved closer, and I returned the favor. And then he was beside me, exactly where I wanted him, his hands gliding over the skin at my waist, snaking around my back, drawing me close. I let my fingertips explore the smooth planes of his back and the curves of his shoulders as his lips found mine. The sparkling lights in the sky and the idea of racing across the lake were long forgotten as we got lost in each other for a while.
Much later, when we were back on the other side of the lake, we sat around a fire with our friends, listening to the sounds of frogs and crickets and crackling logs under the starry night sky. We celebrated our engagement and the two babies who would soon be part of our little group, and I’d never felt happier in my life.
Once in a while, the firelight reflecting off my ring caught my attention, and I would stare at it, not quite believing it was real. I was engaged. I never thought I’d find this kind of happiness, especially not with Ethan, but sometimes life surprises you. And Ethan was my greatest surprise.