Page 89 of Pippin & Nacho

He returned a moment later and set the rings on the counter. “I don’t have this particular one in that size, but I have these, and they’re similar.”

I lifted the one that looked just like the other one, except it was all black. “That’s actually pretty cool.”

“Sam will love it, I’m sure,” Isaiah said.

“How much?” I asked the salesperson.

“Forty-three dollars.”

I nodded. “I’ll take it.”

Fuck, my hands were literally sweating and trembling when we stepped into the diner. There were several tables pushed together to fit all of us. I hadn’t told anyone why I’d arranged this other than to show up to celebrate a surprise. I’d even invited Blaze and Cueball because Sam said he felt they belonged to our family now after they helped him when my betrayal had hurt him.

Shit, what I’d done to him still hurt. Thank fuck he forgave me.

I fingered the ring in my jeans pocket as we walked toward the table, looking like everyone had arrived. Even Stix’s mom and his sister Nova were there.

“It’s going to be great,” Isaiah whispered in my ear.

I smiled up at him. “I hope so.”

“Looks like you gotta good family here, Nate.”

My heart beat a little faster, and my body grew warm from the love of the people who had come. “I really do.”

Nova suddenly rushed at me, and I lifted her in the air. She may have been Stix’s little sister, but she belonged to all of us. Her long brown hair was in pigtails, and she had dark eyes like Stix. She really was the sweetest thing.

“Hi, Nacho!”

“What’s up, little munchkin?”

I tickled her, making her giggle before I set her down, and she ran back to her mother.

After I introduced Isaiah to everyone, we all sat down, and Sam saved me a seat next to him. He smiled at me and leaned in to kiss me.

“Hey,” he said.

“Hey, back.”

“So, are you going to tell us what’s going on and why we’re all gathered here? I mean, even your dad is here, so something must be up.”

I nodded as my stomach turned, feeling queasy. I shouldn’t have been nervous, but this was a big step in our lives. What if he said no? It could happen. It's not that he didn’t want to be with me, but he may not be ready.

Not wanting to embarrass Sam in front of everyone, and why I didn’t say anything about this to our crew other than to Stix and Isaiah, I leaned in to whisper my question to him.

“Sam…”

His brows furrowed, knowing something was off. “What’s wrong, Star?” he whispered back.

“Nothing… Just a little nervous.”

“About?”

“Us… Sam, you’re my life. You're like one of my lungs, keeping me breathing and alive. As I’ve said, you’ve given me purpose and a family that I’d never had. You're mine forever, or so I hope.”

He leaned over and kissed me again. “Always, Nate. We’re in this life together forever.”

“Good, because… uhm…” I reached into my pocket and slipped the ring into his palm. “Because I want to marry you if you want to. We don’t need to rush this or anything. I just want to make you a promise.”

---