Page 126 of Broken Skulls

“Do you hear that?” she whispers.

“Yeah.”

We’re both quiet.

“There,” I murmur, pointing to a big planter by the door.

She turns toward the sound at the same time a little head pokes out. “What is that?” she jumps back, startled.

Those motherfuckers.

I chuckle under my breath. Looks like my friends have planned a small surprise of their own.

“It looks like a puppy to me,” I say.

Her head pulls back. “A puppy? How did he get in here?”

Oh, I think I know.

The little thing bounces out from behind the planter, headed toward its intended target.

Immediately Elizabeth falls to her knees, cradling it to her chest. “Oh, you poor thing. Are you lost?” she asks it. Her fingers fumble over his collar, looking for a tag.

I stand frozen in place as my heart begins to race.

Shit.

What if she says no?

Seriously, what is the club thinking? I was just locked in my basement for crying out loud. This is not the time for a proposal, but I don’t know how to stop it.

Elizabeth reads the tag. Her thumb caresses over the words etched there. Is she trying to rub them away?

“Jacob, how did you do this?” she whispers, her eyes widening when she spots the ring also hanging from the dog’s neck.

I drop to my knee beside her, unbuckling his collar. “I had this planned before ...” I shake my head, wrapping the collar in my hand. God, how stupid was I to think she would marry me? “I had it planned before my father showed up and ruinedeverything.” My eyes fall closed, picturing her pinned against the wall by him.

Her hand reaches out and she touches my face, bringing me back to reality.

“Yes,” she says quietly.

“It wasn’t supposed to be like this …” I pause, my brows pulling together. “Wait. Did you just say yes?”

She blinks her beautiful brown eyes at me. “Yes.”

“Yes?”

It makes her laugh. “Yes. No matter how many times you ask, my answer is not going to change, Jacob.”

“Yes.” I jump to my feet. “She said yes!” I yell to the heavens.

When cheers break out outside the greenhouse, Elizabeth hops up with the puppy still in her arms. We stare at each other, listening to the commotion outside, and then we both break out in laughter.

“Looks like our family is here.” I slip the ring off the collar, dropping it in the palm of my hand. I hold it between us before slipping it over her slender finger. “Elizabeth, will you marry me?”

She stares at the stone in the ring, just now noticing it’s not new or perfect.

“My mother found this ring in an antique jewelry box she thrifted. I would catch her admiring it in the sun. She was wearing it when …” I can’t finish.

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