"Among a few things," I admit with a giggle.
"That's not all, though," he says, face finally going somber.
"What do you mean?" I ask.
He throws me a sidelong look. "I think you'll need a robe first."
"For?"
His eyebrows leap. "Can't tell you yet."
My smile goes sassy. "And if I refuse?"
Next second, he's tickling my armpit and I'm busting out with dismayed giggles. "Fine, fine - OK!"
Once I've got on the teal oriental robe he bought me on our trip to Japan, and he's got on his robe too, he takes me by the arm.
"Do I get to find out where you're taking me?" I ask with an amused smile.
He looks half-amused, half-intense. What could it be? "Not yet."
He leads me down the stairs, over to the back door. Over the deck and...
Holy... shit.
This is not the backyard I saw only hours ago when we were directing the movers where to put our stuff and later, when he barbecued our first meal as a family at our new home. No, now, lit up by strings of lights, its thousand square feet is filled with rose petals.
I wheel around to gape at Landon. "Landon... what? When did you have time to do this?"
"Nolan owed me one," he explains with a grin, getting down on one knee.
He gets out a tiny felt box, and all I can seem to do is gape at him.
What the actual hell? This can't be happening, can it?
"Kyra," he says.
"Landon," I say.
Part of me is expecting to wake up. Isn't this another one of those shimmering bubbles destined to be popped?
"I've wanted to do this since the second month I knew you," Landon's saying, voice low, gaze steady on me. "I've had this ring since college. That was part of what made me freak out and ruin everything, knowing that I was so young and so sure of you that I bought a fucking ring." He grimaces, gives his head a little shake as he opens the lid. "But I made the mistake of losing you once - there's no way in hell I'll be doing that again. I want to spend the rest of my life with you."
Inside is a gorgeous ring - carved silver hearts with a diamond surrounded by rubies, my birthstone, the one I always loved when I was younger. He remembered. He did this. He's doing this.
This isn't a fragile bubble - this is as real as the daughter we share together.
"Kyra," he says, "will you be my wife?"
Whoa.
Holy...
Whoa.
A startled giggle falls out of me.
And yet Landon's face is tensed, expectant... oh yeah, expecting a response, you dummy.
"Yes," I blurt out. "God, yes!"
We embrace.
"There's something I have to tell you too," I say as we separate.
"Something that can top this?" he jokes, as he slides the ring onto my finger.
Perfect fit. Even in the somber light, it's gorgeous.
"I'll leave that for you to decide," I reply, patting my belly.
The smile on Landon's face as his eyes light up is so sweet it's almost heartbreaking. "No."
I'm grinning myself as I pat my belly again. "Yes. Madison's going to have a little sister."
Landon kneels to give my belly a kiss. "Two little girls. Aren't I the luckiest man alive." He rises to give me a kiss. "I love you."
"And I love you." I kiss him back.
And all I can seem to think is: what's better than being married to the love of your life?
Raising a family with him.
~The End~