Page 77 of Mess With Me
He slid the ring on her finger and held it there. “Will you marry me?”
“Yes!” She grabbed his head and kissed him.
Her family was exclaiming and shifting around, but it all faded in the background. He stood and pulled Ally into his arms, his own eyes burning with tears, his chest filled to bursting with happiness. He loved her so damn much.
Someone put a hand on his back, and he glanced over his shoulder.
“Welcome to the family!” her mom exclaimed, and then it seemed everyone was hugging them and congratulating them all at once.
Her dad even brought out a bottle of champagne. “I’ve been saving this for a special occasion,” he said, handing it over to Ethan. “You do the honors.”
“Thanks,” Ethan said, taking the bottle. It opened with a pop and her whole family cheered.
Once they were all settled back at the table with the champagne, her dad made a toast. “To Ethan and Ally’s future happiness. I can see how happy Ally is and, though we’ve only known Ethan a short time, I can tell he’s a good man and will fit right in with our family. Congratulations, you two.” He lifted his glass. “To Ethan and Ally.” His voice choked at the end and the big man even leaked a tear.
Ethan quickly looked away to find Ally, her mom, and all of her sisters were quietly crying. Geez, it would be tough to be stoic around this family. They all clinked glasses and drank to that heartfelt toast.
And then Ally’s mom encouraged everyone to chime in with the best thing that happened to them all year, and damn if they didn’t all say the same thing. Every damn one of them said with a big smile: “Watching Ethan’s proposal.” By the time the third person said it, Ethan gave up the fight, his own eyes leaking. Ally rubbed his back and leaned her head on his shoulder.
Soon they were all digging into dessert, an assortment of homemade pies—pumpkin, pecan, and mince—with vanilla ice cream and whipped cream. Ethan had nearly finished his second helping of pumpkin pie when Ally’s mom surprised him.
“I have a question for Ethan and Ally,” she started, innocently enough. “Do you plan on having kids?”
Ethan gulped down his pie and glanced at Ally, her face flushed bright red. “Mom!”
“What?” her mom said, lifting a palm. “It’s just a question.”
Ally grabbed his hand and held it. “We just got engaged. Don’t put pressure on us.”
“What pressure?” her mom exclaimed. “No pressure.” She looked right at Ethan. “Just curious.”
“We haven’t even talked about it,” Ally said, glancing at him. “Let’s move along.”
Everyone got quiet.
Ally leaned close and whispered in his ear, “Sorry about that.”
He smiled and cradled her jaw, gazing into her eyes. “I don’t mind.” He wanted kids, but he understood that was a private conversation.
Ally met his eyes, seeming to be searching his expression. “Really?”
He kissed her. “Really.”
“See, he doesn’t mind,” her mom put in.
Ally looked to the ceiling. “Ergh.”
“We’ll get back to you on that,” Ethan told Ally’s mom.
Her mom must’ve read between the lines because she immediately beamed a smile at him, turned to Ally’s dad, who nodded once, and then conversation returned to normal.
The ring was a little big for Ally, but she assured him it could easily be sized down. He couldn’t wait to share their engagement with his family. Ally happily planned their wedding on the drive over to the Campbell house—something fun but still serious, “a little unconventional” was how she put it. Just like his bride. He readily agreed to anything and everything. Outdoors? Absolutely. Piñata? Why not. Cake buffet? Bring it on. Bride and groom dance with confetti cannons showering them with confetti? Uh, sure. The only thing he cared about was making it official. He didn’t bring up the kid conversation, not wanting to rush her since she was younger than him, and also because he wanted her to enjoy this whole engagement moment. But it was definitely on his mind.
The moment he stepped into the Campbell house, he stood in front of the TV, where all the guys were glued to the football game, and announced, “Ally and I are engaged.”
Ally held up her ring hand and beamed.
“Congratulations!” his dad said, and then everyone jumped in, congratulating them, the guys all pounding him on the back.
