Page 132 of Waiting For Fate

“Because you trust Taylor not to have it on the front page of the newspaper by tomorrow morning?” She lets out a loud, beautiful laugh.

“A newspaper?” I tickle her sides as payback for mocking my outdated quip.

“You know what I mean.” I bury my face in her neck and begin kissing her there repeatedly as she giggles.

“Fair enough. We could try to call her?”

“Let’s do it.” She pulls her phone back out and dials her mom via FaceTime. It rings twice before the line connects and Loretta comes into view.

“Hey, Mom.” Leah smiles so big it’s hard to miss the fact that she’s sitting on information.

“Hey, Sweetheart, is everything okay?” She adjusts her glasses as the lamp on the end table next to her lights up the screen.

“Yeah, everything is fine. Sawyer and I took a little spontaneous trip to the place he wanted to bring me last month.” She turns the camera around and shows her the lighthouse, turning it slowly towards Lake Superior as her mom squints to take it all in.

“Wow, it’s lovely there!”

“Isn’t it? He sure has an eye for beautiful things, doesn’t he?” She turns the camera to me and places her hand on my chest much like she did with the photo she sent to the group chat.

“Yes, he sure—OH! OH MY GOODNESS! HE DID IT? HE PROPOSED?!” The line fills with emotional excitement and Leah turns the camera back around, putting us both into frame as she continues flaunting her ring to her mother.

“He did!” Their smiles are identical as they look at one another.

“Congratulations baby girl! Sawyer, you did good sweetheart,” she says, giving me an encouraging wink.

“Thank you, Loretta, I’m glad you approve.”

“You two have a fun night celebrating.” She gives Leah a knowing look and I can’t help but chuckle when Leah’s face turns bright red.

“Mom!” Loretta rolls her eyes playfully at her daughter.

“I love you, sweet girl. When will y’all be back home?”

“We fly out in the morning so I’m back in time for my game,” I answer, knowing Leah doesn’t know that yet.

“See you both tomorrow.”

“Bye Mom, I love you.”

The line goes dead, and Leah lets out a sigh.

“Your parents next?” I groan, wishing we were a thousand thread counts deep into celebrating our engagement. “Really? If you thought Taylor would tell my mom, what makes you think she hasn’t already called yours.”

“I really hate when you’re right.” I lean down and kiss her, hoping it’ll sway her enough to change her mind.

It does not.

“Make the call, Moose.”

“Fine, but as soon as we hang up this phone, I am taking you back to the hotel,” I lean down and nip at her neck. “And I plan on keeping busy until our plane takes off in the morning.”

“Call them faster,” she breathes, and I smirk knowing I’ve gotten her worked up.

“Sawyer?” My mom says when the line connects.

“Who else would it be, Ma?” I tease as she turns the light on in the kitchen.

“Well, smart ass, you’ve never FaceTimed me at this ungodly hour before, I just wanted to make sure it was you. Are you okay?” When she slides her glasses on and sees Leah her face lights up a little more. “Leah! Hi sweetheart. What a pleasant surprise.”

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