Gemma and Chloe exchanged glances in the front seats.
“It won’t be a setup,” Chloe explained. “More like, a calculated introduction. If you like him, go for it. If not, don’t worry about it.”
“He could be really sweet,” Gemma added, sweeping the hair out of Laurie’s face. “Come on, what’s the worst that could happen?”
Laurie twisted her coral colored lips into a doubtful frown, her green eyes blinking twice before she tilted her head to the side and glanced at her friends. “Alright, I give up. Bring him on. I probably won’t like him anyway.”
“That’s the truth,” Chloe said with a laugh. “I’ve never met a pickier girl.”
“She’s not picky.” Gemma wrapped her arms around both the girls. “She just knows what she wants.”
“Hmmm…” Chloe shrugged and gave Laurie a squeeze. “I don’t blame you there. I certainly know what I want.”
They paused for a moment outside the gazebo, watching the men get into their cars. Chloe’s eyes shown as she watched Jordan pull the collar of his winter coat up closer to his skin. The last year had been the very best of her life. It was hard to believe twelve months had already come and gone.
After he’d surprised her with that performance of her play in the park, they’d hardly spent a moment apart. Even with his job commuting back and forth for the Vikings, they’d built their relationship into something beautiful. She couldn’t imagine falling for anyone else. Jordan was her man - the only man for her.
She let a chill pass through her as she scanned over her guy, every line of his face burned in her memory, every plane of his muscles. Those big, strong hands that gripped onto hers so fiercely. The smile that didn’t apologize for the happiness he felt. And all the little scars and history that made him into the man he was today. She loved it all. And it certainly wasn’t the cold that was causing her to shiver.
“Do you really think he’s going to pick out a ring?” she asked, looking across the middle console for assurance.
“Definitely,” Gemma and Laurie rang out together.
If he asked, it certainly wasn’t a secret what her answer would be. She’d known almost exactly a year ago, this time. If Jordan Davis asked her to marry her, she’d scream yes at the top of her lungs, until the whole world knew it. There was no doubt in her mind. They were meant to be together.
Love certainly wasn’t the straight and clear path she’d always imagined it to be - but as it turned out, love was definitely worth the struggle.