Chapter 32 #2
She glances over at me, and it’s like no one else in the goddamn room exists. We hold a silent conversation, and I see the sparkle in her eye, the one I said I’d never miss again after the first time we saw one another in the park.
She glares back at him.
“Yes,” she states. “I am. But that’s none of your goddamn business.”
“Liar.” He seethes.
“You have the audacity to call me a liar after everything you put me through? You’re a cheating bastard!”
She’s angry. I’ve never seen her this mad. Lexi takes a step forward and whispers something in his ear before returning to my side. He looks like she slapped the shit out of him, and I give her a smirk, curious as to what she said.
My grandfather once said that a person shouldn’t fight with violence, but with words, because it’s the only weapon that can cut so deep. Lexi proved that for me.
Quiet chatter fills the space and I glance around, knowing this is getting out of hand. The last thing either of us needs is this spreading around town or to the gossip columns.
The crowd parts, and Remi stands in front of Beau, her birthday crown on her head and hands on her tiny waist. Cash follows behind her, and so do Harrison and Beckett. She’s brought her own personal army.
“You won’t be ruining my birthday, Beau. Please leave.”
Beau’s mouth falls open like he wants to say something, but Lexi stunned him silent.
“Out you go,” Beckett says, putting his hand on Beau’s shoulder. Harrison grabs his other one, and they lead him outside.
I take Lexi’s hand and we walk outside. There were too many eyes on her, and I could see that she was lost in her head.
We’re on the opposite side of the barn, the one that faces the open land. Without the music playing, we can hear every word Beau says to the Valentine brothers.
Lexi sits on the ground with her back resting against the barn wall and leans her head on her knees. I place my hand on her back as they argue with one another.
Harrison raises his voice. “She’s moved on. She’s fucking happy . Sometimes, you win, and sometimes, you lose. You lost, Beau. Should’ve married her when you had the chance and not been a cheating cunt.”
I’ll have to tell him thank you for that later.
“She doesn’t love him,” Beau tries to reason.
“She doesn’t love you either,” Beckett says. “Now, leave.”
“I dated an idiot,” Lexi whispers, shaking her head.
“Leave,” Beckett yells, and I can hear how agitated he is. “I’m gonna call the sheriff. I didn’t want any trouble tonight from anyone. And here you are, fucking up my beer-pong record!”
I hold back my laughter.
More mumbles fill the space, an engine cranks, and gravel kicks up. Five minutes later, the microphone comes on, and it sounds like Harrison has it shoved halfway down his throat.
“Sorry about that, ladies and gentlemen; I thought we said pricks weren’t invited! Let the good times roll,” he says.
Everyone laughs, then the music continues like nothing happened.
“Are you okay?” I finally ask, rubbing her back.
She sits up and turns to me. “You know, for months, I asked myself how I’d react if Beau confronted me. I replayed the scenario a few times and didn’t know how I’d feel when I saw him again. But … when I looked at him, it was like staring at a blank page. There was nothing there.”
“I’ve been there. It’s freeing. And awkward.”
“It is,” she says. “I told him I’ve never had to fake it with you and that you give the best orgasms I’ve ever had.”
A howl of laughter releases from me. “I was curious, but wasn’t going to ask.”
“Nothing I said to him was a lie.” Her eyes soften.
I think back to her saying she was falling in love with me. Could that even be possible? I hope it is.
She crawls onto my lap and I hold her. I want to stay like this for a lifetime.
“Lexi,” I whisper “There’s no other woman I want to do this with. I can’t imagine my life without you in it, and while it scares the fuck out of me, I’m ready.”
She smiles and kisses me. “This will be the adventure of a lifetime.”
“ Guaranteed .”
I think Lexi needs more time to realize the kind of life we can have together, but time is something we’re running out of. I hate the invisible clock that’s hanging over us, but I wonder if we’d have taken the risk without it. There’s no way of knowing.
She studies me. “I think I want our ceremony to be intimate—our special moment.”
I smile and tuck loose strands of hair behind her ear, studying every feature so I can draw this moment later. “And what about the vows?”
“Still written,” she says. “Convince me you’re worth staying with forever.”
“That sounds like a challenge,” I tell her, enjoying the idea of telling her exactly how I feel.
She laughs against my mouth. “I don’t think you’ll have a problem.”
“Honeymoon preference?”
“Surprise me,” she says. “You’re the only person on the planet who can, apparently.”
“Oh, almost forgot.” I dig into my pocket and pull out the black velvet box with the Calloway Diamonds logo.
“Please marry me. You really do make me a better man, and I’d be honored to call you my wife,” I say when I open it.
An audible gasp whispers through the still night air between us. “Easton, I—I didn’t expect this.”
“My fiancée needs a ring,” I mutter close to her, where only she can hear. “I designed every detail specifically for you.”
She gives me her left hand and I kiss every single knuckle before sliding the pink emerald-shaped diamond onto her finger.
She covers her mouth, staring down at it. “This is too much.”
“Not for my fiancée ,” I say, moving her hair from her face.
Lexi grabs my cheeks and softly paints her lips against mine. I wrap my arms around her, our tongues twisting together, and my body is on fire.
“You’ll be my wife,” I whisper, and it’s an admission.
“I like the thought of it,” she says.
Movement happens in my peripheral vision as two people come around the barn. The girl pushes the guy against the wall and her hands run through his hair. They’re desperate. Greedy.
“Remi? Cash?” Lexi says on my lap with swollen lips.
They turn to us with eyes wide.
“You didn’t see us,” Remi says, walking away.
Cash shrugs and shakes his head, then follows her.
Lexi turns to me, smiling. “She’s always had a thing for him.”
It makes me wonder if anyone else knows about them. I meet her eyes. “Do you want to get out of here?”
“Yes,” she says, standing.
“Would you like to tell everyone goodbye?”
She smiles at me. “Nah, we’ll visit again.”
“Anytime you want.”
Lexi grabs my hand and we take the trail that leads back to the B & B.
“So, before we get married, I’d like you to meet my parents,” I say.
She stops walking. “I just got super nervous.”
“Billie already likes you, so you’ll do fine. She has never approved of anyone I was into.”
“Really?” She laughs.
“Only you .” I smile. “Are you free tomorrow?”
“You know I am.”
“Great. I have a dinner planned for us. It will be a big family get-together.”
She lets out a ragged breath and I wrap my arm around her.
“They’ll love you,” I say, kissing her hair.
“How can you be so sure?”
“Because everyone else already does.”
“Everyone?” she insinuates with hooded eyes.
“ Everyone ,” I confirm, knowing she understands I’m included.