Jared shrugs. “I vote continue making out on sacred ground.”
I grin. “Seconded. Motion passed,” I chime in, laughing as Jared plants a noisy, playful kiss on my lips again, eliciting an exasperated sigh from my mother and a naughty chuckle from my nanna.
Later, the party is in full swing. We’ve eaten and had the speeches, and I’ve even had a couple of dances. When a high-pitched tinging gets my attention, I glance around. A waitress is tapping a knife on a glass.
“Single ladies, it’s time for the bride to throw the bouquet!” the waitress announces. A ripple of excited chatter erupts, and my eyes widen. “If you could make your way outside of the marquee.”
I look back at Jared and grin smugly. I’m so having that bouquet.
He raises one eyebrow and slowly shakes his head. “No.”
“Oh, yeah, it’s happening. I’m getting it,” I tell him. I bend down and unbuckle my shoes, taking them off and passing them to him. “Hold these. I don’t need any distractions.”
He laughs, and I spring from my chair and follow the crowd outside, feeling the grass tickle my toes. There are about ten ladies grouped together in the middle. Heather is standing in front of them with her bouquet in her hand, squinting through the low evening sun. When she spots me, she grins and waggles her eyebrows at me.
“You’d better aim straight,” I tell her as I walk past to join the group.
“I got you, boo,” she replies, winking at me.
I position myself off to one side of the group, stretching my arms above my head and rolling my shoulders to loosen them. I eye the group, sussing out my competition.
That bouquet is going down!
When I look over at Jared, his eyes are narrowed at me, and he raises his hand, using two fingers to point to his eyes and then flicking them at me—the universal sign for I’m watching you. I chuckle and blow him a kiss as I limber up my knees too.
“Ready, ladies?” Heather calls, turning her back on us. She takes one last look over her shoulder before launching her bouquet in a perfect arc towards my face.
I squeal, reaching for it, picturing myself catching it. My insides are already fizzing with excitement, so when someone darts to the left, elbowing me, grabbing for it too, I’m too shocked to even see it coming. The girl stands on my foot, and we both land a hand on it at the same time. Heather’s cousin’s face is twisted in concentration and determination as she shoves and bumps me, trying to wrench it from my steely grip. We wrestle over it for a couple of seconds, and then I suddenly feel the flowers slip through my fingertips. My eyes widen in indignation. I grunt in disappointment as they’re ripped away from me, and she holds them above her head in triumph.
People clap and cheer for her, and I want to kill her.
That was mine. What an absolute bitch. I’ve never liked her.
When she turns back to me and gives me a smug grin, I force a smile even though I know it doesn’t reach my eyes.
I hope you get chicken pox on your arsehole!
Heather shrugs and raises her hands in a wasn’t meant to be gesture, and I simmer with jealousy inside. Now that the spectacle is over, the crowd starts heading back inside the marquee again, eager for more of the free wine and canapés.
Jared strides towards me, shaking his head in mock disappointment, his eyes twinkling with amusement. “Oh well. You gave it a good go.”
“Bloody muggle stole it right from my hands,” I grumble under my breath.
He chuckles and steps close to me, gripping my waist and pulling me against him. I sigh and put my hands on his chest to steady myself on the uneven ground. Under my palm, I can feel his heart beating. I sigh, letting the annoyance of the bouquet go; it isn’t important. What is important is that little thump-thump under my palm. It is the most precious thing in the world.
“I can’t believe you let her take it. You had that in the bag,” he teases.
I glare over at her back as she walks into the marquee, grinning proudly and waving her flowers around like a trophy.
Jared shrugs. “You had one job, Amy.”
I grip his lapel and press myself closer to him, breathing him in. “I’ll get the next one.”
He purses his lips and nods. “Okay. But what am I supposed to do with this in the meantime?”
He removes one hand from my waist and holds it up to his chest. My eyes flick over it. On the tip of one finger, a beautiful gold ring, inset with a pink diamond, glints and sparkles in the sunshine. It’s absolutely gorgeous.
My whole body jerks as I gasp in shock. I stare at it, my eyes filling with tears. “Oh my God. Are you serious?” I whisper.
He shrugs. “Well, I was. But you didn’t catch it, so …”
“You’d better give it to me!” Where my hands are gripping his lapel, I give him a little stern shake.
He chuckles, his eyes glittering with amusement.
I realise what I’ve just done and shake my head, smoothing down his suit. “Sorry, sorry, my excitement got the better of me for a second there.”
“He’s gonna do it!” Nanna hisses from off to the side. “It’s happening. Jeez Louise, I might actually soil myself; I’m so excited.”
“Shh, Mum!” my own mother hisses.
I chuckle, and Jared and I both look to the side, seeing my mother, Nanna, Heather, and Tim all standing there, watching. They must have stayed behind because they knew this was going to happen. They’re all grinning from ear to ear. My mum is crying. My nanna is waving her hand in a get on with it gesture. Heather gives me two thumbs-up, her face glowing with pleasure.
Jared turns back to me and smiles. “No pressure. Okay, well, here goes.” He pulls back and gets down on one knee, firmly holding my left hand in his.
Before he can open his mouth, my excitement peaks again. “Yes, I’ll marry you!” I squeal, bouncing on the spot.
The group laughs off to the side, and Jared beams up at me. “I didn’t ask you yet.”
“Sorry, sorry. Go ahead. I’m in full control again now.” I press my lips together and try to breathe, smoothing my dress down with my free hand, trying to prepare myself for it.
This is it. He’s going to propose. I’ve dreamed of this moment for months. While wedding planning with Heather, I secretly made all my own wedding decisions and stored them for one day in case Jared ever decided to pop the question.
Jared’s eyes sparkle with amusement as he looks up at me, his thumb brushing over my knuckles. “Amy,” he begins.
I chew my lip as a squeal escapes.
“From the second I met you, you’ve brought colour into my life. Before that day, I hadn’t even realised that everything was just a mundane shade of grey. I love you so much. I promise I will always have your back, always support you, always be your biggest fan, and never complain if I turn up home and you’ve adopted a dog.”
He grins, and I chuckle.
“I’m in awe of you every day. You truly do amaze me. You’re weird and wonderful and just perfect. Every night, I go to sleep, thinking how lucky I am to have you. Every morning, I wake up with you and fall just a little bit deeper down that rabbit hole when you smile at me. I want to spend the rest of my life making you smile as much as you are right now.”