Page 108 of Home Town Knight
“You and half the town. We hear that everywhere we go.” Everyone but us had seemed to have faith that Owen and I would end up together. Perhaps we should’ve listened sooner. But we’d needed that time apart to know for sure that this was right.
I glanced at the windows into the backyard. “Is River coming tonight?”
“He couldn’t make it. Said he had something urgent to deal with.”
I nodded, disappointed. I hadn’t seen or heard from River since our awkward conversation almost a week ago. I knew he’d been home because I was nosy like that. He hadn’t responded to my texts offering a friendly ear if he needed to chat.
But Owen had said River would talk when, and if, he was ready. I’d just have to be patient.
A couple of hours later, the backyard was filled with people, music, laughter. I already knew half the guests, and Owen had introduced me to the others. Keira was here with her little sister, who was a good friend of Vivian’s. I chatted awhile with Marco, the bartender at the Hartley Saloon and River’s landlord.
Then I spotted another familiar face whom I hadn’t expected to see.
“Lynx!” I gave him a hug. Though I preferred to think of him as Cole. To me,Lynxwas a bit too superhuman for everyday use. “Couldn’t stay away, huh? Hartley is sticky like that.”
He laughed. “So I hear. This is just a visit. Aiden told me it was going to be important, so I didn’t want to miss it.”
“Oh?” I asked.
But he zipped his lips and pointed at his friend. “I think the show’s about to start.”
Aiden clapped his hands to get everyone’s attention. “Dessert’s been provided by Scarlett’s Sweet Shop. I’m not that into candy, but I hear it’s good.” A pause for a mixture of cheers for Scarlett, and boos for Aiden’s supposed lack of a sweet tooth. “But there’s something else I need to do before we break out the chocolate. Should only take a second.”
He got down on one knee, pulling a ring from his jeans pocket.
Jessi gasped and set her beer aside, while everyone else went quiet, beaming as they watched.
“Jessi, you’re the best thing that’s ever happened to me. I’m thankful every day that you welcomed me into your life. I thought about taking you to Paris to do this, but I realized that it would be better at home in Hartley, with our family around us. Because this is all we really need.” A small smile flickered on his lips. “I love you more than life itself, and I’d like you to be my wife. Will you marry me?”
Tears streamed down Jessi's cheeks faster than she could wipe them away. “That was very well said. I think I will.”
Aiden stood and put the ring on her finger.
I stretched my arm around Owen’s waist, and he draped his around my shoulder, pressing a kiss to my temple. “I love you,” he whispered. I wondered if he was thinking the same thing I was.That could be us someday.I could see myself walking down the aisle, Owen waiting for me at the end of it.
We’d only just gotten started. But we had our whole lives ahead of us to figure it out. This was our adventure, and we’d get to enjoy it one day at a time.
