I slid my leg over his and felt his fingertips working their way through the knots in my hair. And for the first time in my life, I felt fulfilled. Whole. Excited for the day to come. I stroked my fingertips down the rings of his abs, watching as goosebumps trickled across his skin. I giggled at the sight and he reached down to kiss the top of my head. I felt him move closer to me. Wanting to be nearer at my side. I nuzzled into him and wrapped my arm around his waist, soaking up his warmth and reveling in our time together.
“You don’t feel you’re making the wrong decision?” I asked.
His fingertips stopped moving and I felt him crook his knuckle underneath my chin. He tilted my gaze up to his and I found his eyes. His stunning blue eyes that held so much stern truth in them. He bent down and captured my lips, and his kiss answered the question before he could. He cupped my cheek and hiked me up his body until my face was level with his. I felt heat rise up my spine. I felt his arm work me on top of his body. I straddled his thick form, his hands stroking the dip of my waist as our tongues collided.
And when I pulled back, my forehead fell against his and the most beautiful words ever graced my ears.
“You could never be a wrong decision, Andrea.”
TWENTY-EIGHT
Andrea
One Month Later
“Jessica!”
“Andrea!”
I ran into my friend’s arms and squeezed her.
“I want to see this thing. Let me see it now,” I said.
Jessica held out her hand and I finally got a glimpse at the massive rock on her finger.
“I cannot believe he proposed,” I said.
“Apparently, he bought the damn thing while we were in Vegas,” she said.
“Looks like Everett and I weren’t the only two people succumbing to the alcohol.”
She playfully swatted at me before I pulled her back in for another hug.
“I’m so happy for you,” I said.
“Come on, girls. We need to get going,” Lucas said.
Jessica rolled her eyes as she pulled away from me.
“He’s so impatient sometimes.”
“Andrea! You comin’!?” Everett exclaimed.
“Trust me, it must be a family thing,” I said, giggling.
“Cayden’s meeting us at the park in fifteen minutes. If we don’t get going, he’s going to think we bailed!” Lucas shouted.
“Hold your horses! We’re looking at this massive rock you put on Jessica’s finger!” I yelled.
“Then look at it in the car! We gotta go!” Everett said.
I linked my arm with Jessica and the two of us grabbed our things. Lucas and she had come over to my apartment to help Everett and I pack for the massive family picnic. The sun was shining and his parents put it together last-minute, and all of us were very excited about attending. Jessica called me a few nights ago screaming about the fact that Lucas had popped the question, and I couldn't wait to get the full story from her. We all had been so busy that we had hardly gotten together to do much of anything, much less swap engagement stories.
“Finally. Come on, you two. Let’s get in the car,” Lucas said.
“You look great, Andrea,” Everett said admiring my little sundress. Another item he bought for me. But I was getting more comfortable with him buying me gifts. It was his love language, I understood that better now.
He kissed the side of my head before Jessica and I slid into the convertible. Everett and Lucas rode in front while Jessica and I rode in back, and the summer wind whipped through our hair while we cruised down Main Street in Charleston. Nothing but blue skies, white wispy clouds, and the loves of our lives in front of us. The food we packed sat at our feet while Jessica clung to the three bottles of wine she and Lucas were contributing, and my eyes kept falling to the massive rock on her fingers.