Page 61 of Savannah Sweethearts

A picnic lunch sat in the trunk and a velvet box sat uncomfortably in my pocket. I’m shocked Piper can’t tell my palms are sweating. Or maybe she can and she’s just being nice. I’m terrified—too terrified to say anything. I’m glad we’re at the “comfortable silence” stage of our relationship.

We arrive on the island and trek out to the beach. The picnic basket is heavy and bulky in my arms, but it’s not weighing me down as much as the box in my pocket. I’ve mucked up too much in Piper’s life already to risk anything happening to ruin today.

Maggie carries the blanket behind Piper, who has a pitcher of lemonade and a box of tres leches in her hands. She’s wearing a pair of peach colored shorts and a royal blue top, her hair is falling on her shoulders in soft waves. She looks like perfection. Who am I kidding? She is perfection.

“Does this look good?” Piper points to an open spot on the beach. It’s October, but there are still people dotting the sand and soaking up the warm rays of Indian Summer. The spot has a great backdrop of the Tybee Lighthouse, which is exactly what I wanted.

“Looks good.” I shrug. Acting casual isn’t exactly my strong suit, but I try.

Maggie spreads the blanket and plops down. I sit, the slim box is hard and heavy against my thigh and I shift it so Piper won’t notice. We both kick off our shoes.

Piper sits and primly removes her sandals. “Grab the plates, Mags, and I’ll start serving up lunch. I’m starved.”

I know she’ll hate me if she ends up with lettuce between her teeth for pictures, so I stop her before she can grab the basket. “Wait!” I clear my throat. “Wait, I wanted you to see something first.” I stand back up.

Piper eyes me suspiciously. “See what?” We know Tybee well enough that there’s not much unique to see.

I want to roll my eyes but I don’t. “Mags, will you take a picture of us in front of the lighthouse?”

Maggie lights up. “Sure.” She loves to take pictures.

I hand her my phone and set it to video. “It’s doing a video, just let it record, okay?”

“Okay.”

When Piper stands, we back up so the lighthouse is at our backs. We’re facing the beach and I feel like my heart is going to literally burst from my chest like it might in a horror movie.

“Ali, whatever is in your pocket is poking out.” Maggie makes a face.

Piper furrows her brow and looks to the square shape in my back pocket. “If Maggie has your phone, what’s that?”

It’s now or never. I gulp.

I get down on one knee in the sand and take the box from my pocket. A shell stabs me in the shin, but I power through. I will not ruin this moment. “Piper, I know we’ve had our share of cuts and edits over the years, but I want to make this a permanent production. I love you so much. Marry me?”

The box is open and I’m staring up at the woman I love. Piper puts a hand up to her mouth as shock registers on her face. “Oh my gosh, Alonso, yes! A million times, yes.”

I knew she would agree, yet I’m still blown away. I know the smile on my face stretches from ear to ear and my heart is thudding harder than a production of Stomp. She actually accepted my proposal. I don’t think I’ll ever come down from this high.

With a shaky hand, I pull the antique diamond and emerald ring from the box and slide it onto her left hand. It had been my abuela’s ring and know she’s smiling on us from heaven as I give it to Piper.

Piper crashes onto me to hug me and we topple over into the sand. But I don’t care because Piper Campbell said yes.

There’s sand embedded in my hair now, and I’m pretty sure my shin is bleeding—but this is the happiest I have ever been in my life.

Recording forgotten, Maggie jumps up and down. “We are getting married!”

“You have to be my maid of honor, Maggie.” Piper adds Maggie into our hug. This is one of the reasons I love her so much.

“I love you, Piper.” I kiss her to the point that Maggie disengages from the hug and tells us we’re gross.

“I love you, too.” She nuzzles in close to me. “I never would have thought it at the beginning of the year, but Alonso, you make me the happiest woman alive.”

Who would have thought that I, Alonso Ortiz, the last man standing, would find himself blissfully engaged to a woman like Piper Campbell?

?

Amaya

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