Chapter 53
CHAPTER FIFTY-THREE
“You’re being … cagey.” Harlow looks up at me as I open the front door and take her hand, tugging her inside the house.
“I’m never cagey.”
“False. You’re being that right now. What’s wrong?”
Oh, shit, I’m giving off the wrong vibes if she thinks something is wrong.
“Nothing is wrong, I promise. I just want to show you something and have been waiting for you to get here.”
“Yeah, that much was clear when you were pacing on your porch as I pulled up.” She squeezes my hand, and I can’t deny that I am anything but calm and collected right now.
But I’ve never asked such an important question in my entire life.
I lead Harlow through the house and onto the back porch but turn her slightly so she can’t see the basketball court—yet.
“Seriously, Ryan, what’s wrong?”
I shake my head as I pull her into my arms. Sliding one hand up along her jaw, I tilt her head back a bit as she leans into my touch. “Nothing is wrong, nothing at all. The energy you’re picking up on is just nerves, and I’m doing a wonderful job hiding it from my brilliant girlfriend.”
I clear my throat and decide it’s time to take the leap.
“I only wish I had known who you were before last fall.”
“What do you mean?” She’s still scanning my face, and I know she’s trying to figure out what I’m nervous about.
“Because when you came into my life, you changed everything. You were in proximity to my life without being in my life, and now that you are firmly at the center of everything, I want to keep it that way.”
“Yeah, I agree. It’s been great. We may have had a slow start because of me trying to keep things quiet with my job, but I’ve been really happy. I am really happy, Ryan.”
“Great. But let’s see if I can’t increase the joy just a little more.”
She wiggles her eyebrows at me. “Here or in the bedroom?”
I throw my head back and laugh at her playfulness.
“I promise, we will do plenty of that later on, but right now, I need to show you something.” I take her hand, lead her down the steps, and walk toward the basketball court.
The evening sun set over an hour ago, and there is a hum of music from my outdoor speakers echoing into my backyard and the fields around my house.
The basketball court lights are off but there's a soft glow in the center of the Cavalry logo. As we get closer, Harlow can see the tealights illuminating the space that spell out the word forever.
She audibly gasps the moment she makes the word out, whirling around to look at me, but I was ready.
I’m down on one knee and ready for my girl—ready for our forever.
“From the moment you bumped into me at my sister’s house, you have dominated my thoughts, my heart, and quite honestly changed my life in ways that are better than I could have ever imagined.
You are not only an incredibly kind and thoughtful person, you are my favorite person to be with.
You have my entire heart, and if you want it, you can have my last name, my devotion, and all that I am for the rest of my life. ”
She swipes at tears running down her face as I continue.
“Harlow Gisela, you are leaps and bounds out of my league, but if you give me the chance, I will spend the rest of my life showing you how amazing I think you are and loving you to the best of my ability.” I reach into my pocket and pull out the small velvet box, before opening it and revealing the stunning two carat round diamond, surrounded by a halo of smaller diamonds, with additional diamonds set in a white gold pavé style band.
“Will you make me the happiest and luckiest man in the entire world and be my wife? Will you marry me, Lo?”
Her hands cover her face before she answers, and for a brief moment, I hold my breath, not sure if I rushed this.
But then her hands move away from her face and she damn near yells. “Yes! Yes! A thousand times, yes!” She bends down and grabs my face, pulling me in for a kiss before leaning back and laughing.
“I should have waited until I get back from the conference in Chicago, but even another few days felt like too long, and I wasn’t patient enough.”
“I know, I’m going to miss you, but this definitely is a nice distraction! Although I really hate that you have to leave tomorrow, even if it’s just for a few days.”
“You can still come out to Forrest Falls and stay here while I’m gone. I want you to make yourself at home in our house.”
Her eyes widen at that. “Our house?”
“Yeah, Lo. My home is wherever you are, so if you’re here, this is our home.”
“I will … consider it. But seriously, I thought something was legitimately wrong, Ryan Callahan! You scared me.” She playfully hits my chest, but I take the opportunity to grab her left hand.
I guide it down, and with my other hand, I slide the engagement ring where it belongs for the rest of our days.
She leans into me with a gasp as she stares at her hand. “It’s so pretty, Ryan. Like, it’s a perfect fit. How did you know my ring size?”
I lean over and kiss her forehead before I meet her gaze with a grin and tilt my head toward the house, making Harlow look back to my porch where my family is pressed up against the windows.
I throw my head back in laughter before sliding my arm around Harlow while I wave them out with my other hand.
“Did it fit? Did she say yes? Is it happening?” Eloise yells as she runs across the backyard to us. “I helped!”
“You had children help, huh?” Harlow asks with a smug grin.
“I had children play dress up with you, so we could know what size of ring fit, to be exact.”
She drops her mouth in shock. “I didn’t even guess! Eloise was so sweet when she wanted to play princesses at their house last month!”
“I did good, huh, Uncle Ryan?” Eloise asks as I reach up to give her a high five.
“You did awesome, kiddo.”
Eloise beams with delight as the rest of my family descends on us, and we officially kick off our engagement party on the monstrosity basketball court in my backyard.
“See? You needed this more than you know,” Jack jokes and pulls me in for a congratulatory half hug as I won’t let go of Harlow.
“Oh, you had this all planned when you snuck this in here, did you?”
“Not this specifically, but I knew good things would come.” He looks wistfully over at Tinsley, who is gushing over Harlow’s ring.
“I think we could use more good things, right?” I ask.
“Absolutely, brother. And this? You two? It’s a very good thing.”
I couldn’t agree more.