Page 45 of Asher's Answer
It’s go time.
When I first planned this moment, I thought I’d be nervous. But, looking at Ash, seeing the way he fits so perfectly into my life and my world, I’m settled and confident. This is a formality and a confirmation of what we mean to each other. He’s not going to reject me, not after everything we’ve been through together already.
Nudging him to sit up, I reach into my jacket pocket and pull out the ring box I’d stuffed in there earlier. As I hold it out in front of him, I’m dimly aware of the sounds around us stopping, the chatter and laughter from our friends turning to stunned silence, the clink of cutlery cut off.
“Wha…Charlie?” Ash’s hazel eyes are wide with surprise, but there’s excitement and joy and love simmering beneath the expression. While I would have happily proposed to him in his little space, I find relief in him coming back out of it to meet me as his partner again.
I had a whole speech prepared. Words about how much he means to me. The story of us consolidated into thirty seconds of justification for this moment. But I don’t say any of it. I don’t have to. He knows it all and then some. What I do say is, “Little lamb, will you marry me?” and it’s enough.
Asher squeals and shouts a very emphatic, “Yes!” before he slams his lips to mine, and our friends hoot and holler. They start congratulating us as I slide the simple platinum band onto Ash’s ring finger, and he holds it up with pride.
“Mom’s going to kill you for not inviting them for this,” Josh laughs from his spot between Max and Matt.
I roll my eyes. “If we could get away with eloping, I’d do that, too.”
Holding his beer bottle up in the air in a salute, Josh tilts it forward and nods. “Fair. I just hope you realize what you’re setting yourself up for.”
I know he means Mom’s enthusiasm for wedding planning (Maisy’s dramatic ordeal still makes me shudder), but my brain goes elsewhere. Pinning Ash with a soft smile, I say, “A lifetime of happiness, I hope.”
The guys cheer again and glasses clink, but Ash and I disappear into our own little bubble for a moment.
He kisses my lips tenderly before he pulls back, those plump lips curving upwards in a gentle smile that mirrors mine. His hazel eyes are so full of love and assurance as he replies, “A lifetime of happiness for sure.”
The End.
