Slamming the empty can down on the table, he looks back at me. I know my response grinded his nerves, if the annoyed look on his face is any indication. I wasn’t trying to be an asshole about it, just proving the point that we don’t always know what’s right in front of our face.
“Whatever you think you know, I ain’t chasin’ that girl around. Not anymore. That ship sailed.”
“Uh huh.” I laugh. “Do me a favor, when we look back on this conversation a year from now, we can both shake hands in agreement knowing we told the other so. Fair?”
“Whatever, man. I need another beer. You want one? You know, to work up the courage and all that.”
“Fuck off,” I retort, as he raises his hand in salute walking away.
My leg starts to shake. The nervous energy coursing through me heightened.
Three months ago, everything changed. Call me stupid, or perhaps if you ask Brannon maybe I just wised up. Either way, I know what it was like to lose Halle once when I mistakenly walked away. I told myself it was the right decision. I was clouded by the guilt of what happened to Gage, and I let it push her away.
I won’t make that mistake again. I made her a promise to spend every day working to earn her trust and showing her how much I love her. I fully intend to keep my promise.
Looking at the back door, I wait for her to come in. She texted me ten minutes ago telling me she and Kinsley had closed the salon and were on their way. Mason, Brea, Callum, and Ellie are all here already. Everyone knows the plan.
Everyone, except for Halle that is.
The ring in my pocket is starting to burn a hole through the denim. I’m so nervous and anxious to see her, to see her face, and get this over with already.
I just want to know she’s mine forever.
She left earlier this morning, she had an appointment to get to before she had to work. I feel like it’s been too long since I’ve seen her and I’m ready to just have her in my arms and to kiss her.
Fuck, Brannon is right, I’m glad I came to my senses.
It feels like ten minutes goes by, but for all I know it’s probably been more like two, when Halle bounds through the door. Her long blonde hair is curled over her shoulder and the denim jeans are hugging every curve of her body like they were made for her.
Damn, I swear this woman could bring me to my knees.
When her eyes find mine across the bar, I can’t help but grin when I see them light up. Her smile is so damn bright, it’s a wonder what I did to have her.
“Hey, baby.” I smile, reaching out for her hand and pulling her into my arms.
“Well, hello there, handsome.”
I don’t hesitate, I lean forward and press a kiss against her lips. Her hand wraps around the front of my shirt, I hold myself closer to her.
“I missed you.”
“You saw me this morning.” She giggles.
“So, that was nine hours ago. Too damn long.”
“What would you do without me?”
“I don’t know, but I don’t want to find out.”
“Good answer.” She smiles, pushing up on her toes to reach for another kiss. Wrapping my hands around her waist, I hold her close to me.
“You two need to get a room already!” Mason shouts from behind us.
Ignoring him, I pick her up by her waist and she wraps her legs around me, which earns us a laugh.
“I feel like we’re back in high school all over again,” Kinsley mutters from behind us.
We finally break away and I smile seeing the way Halle’s face lights up.
“You hear that?”
“I did.”
“We’re young and in love all over again.”
“Never stopped.”
Her face softens hearing that as I lower her back to the floor.
I look around at the group of my friends, all of them eagerly waiting for the moment that’s about to come. It’s ironic, really. The nerves that were once surging through me a few minutes ago are now gone, and a sense of calmness washes over me.
This is exactly where I was supposed to be, with these people, all along.
When my eyes fall on Kinsley’s, she nods her head toward me, encouraging me to get on with it already. She’s so happy, her excitement is bubbling beneath the surface.
“I want to thank you all for joining us here tonight,” I say, as Halle turns her head looking up at me.
“It’s no secret the past few years haven’t always been easy for me. For any of us. We’ve all been through our own fair share of hard times, but I know I couldn’t get through it without all of you.”
Pulling Halle around so she’s turning to face me, she smiles, squeezing my hand.
“Halle, I promised you I was never going to leave you again. I meant what I said. Coming home to you was the second-best thing I’ve done in my life.”
Leaning forward, I press a kiss against her lips. She reaches her hand out, holding her palm against my face as I pull back to look at her again.
“If it’s alright with you, I’d like to get on with making the best one.” Her brows furrow in question, just before I lower myself to my knee. Her eyes widen as tears fill her eyes.
“Don’t cry.” I smile, pressing a kiss against the back of her hand.
I hear the girls cry out, saying something about how sweet I am.
“Baby, I’ve been in love with you since the moment you first smarted off to me.” I pause, loving the sound of her laugh as I say that. “I want to spend every day of my life showing you just how much. Help me make the best damn decision I’ve ever made in my life and marry me. There’s not a damn person in this world I want to spend my life with but you. Will you be my wife?”
“Oh my God,” she cries, straddling my bended knee as she presses her lips against mine. I wrap my arms around her, holding her to me.
Tears flow down her face, mixing with our kisses.
“Baby, I told you not to cry. Why you cryin’?”
“You make me so damn happy.”
“Well, that’s good. I was starting to wonder what was wrong. You still haven’t given me an answer yet.”
She stands back up, laughing as she looks around our group of friends before looking back down at me.
“You want my answer, Graham Shaw?”
I nod my head, smiling.
“Yes, I’ll marry you. I want to be your wife and the mother of your children. It’s about time you made an honest woman out of me.”
It takes me a second to piece together what she’s trying to say, as gasps erupt from around us.
“Halle…” I say, stopping. My heart feels like it’s going to beat out of my chest now.
“Well, considering I’m pregnant with your child and all.”
My arms wrap around her, lifting her off the floor. When I finally set her down, I can’t stop kissing her. She jumps up and down excitedly, as I slip the diamond ring over her finger.
“I’m marrying the sexiest damn DILF in Arbor County!” Halle shouts, holding her hand in the air waving her ring at her friends.
“Yay!” Kinsley yells. She rushes over to hug us both, sighing in relief over how she’s glad she doesn’t have to keep it a secret anymore.
“It was only one day.”
“It felt like forever,” Kinsley sighs dramatically.