He pulls a thin gold band out of the bag, holding it between his forefinger and thumb. It has two hands meeting in the middle around a small diamond. My eyebrows scrunch together.
He pulls our entwined hands to his lips, and gently kisses the back of mine. “This is a promise ring. We aren’t ready for marriage. I know that, and so do you. This ring is a promise. A promise to continue bettering myself, and always work my ass off to be the man you deserve. A promise that somewhere down the line, when we’re ready, I’ll ask you to be my wife. A promise that my heart will always be yours.”
I don’t say anything. I can’t. I don’t have any words to express the happiness swirling through my veins. This boy, noman, who I had no intention of falling for is by far the sweetest person I’ve ever known. My heart warms at the promises he’s making to me, and I want nothing more than to get off this ride and show him how much he means to me.
“Charleigh?” He asks when I still haven’t uttered a word. “You don’t have to accept it. It’s not going to change anything I’ve said.”
I grab the ring from his hand to put it on my finger, jostling our chair. Jake grips the bars, eyes wide until it stops swaying. “A simple okay would have been fine.”
Scooting closer, I throw my arms around him, burying my face in his neck. “I’d be crazy not to wear it after that kind of declaration. I love you, Jake.”
“I love you, too,” he mutters into my hair. He pulls back searching my eyes. Looking for any doubt hidden within them. He won’t see them. I have zero doubts when it comes to him.
He leans in, bringing his lips to mine. The moment so similar to our first kiss. Only this time, he initiated it. He pushed his fear of heights aside to make this special for me. A moment I’ll remember forever.
I break the kiss as the we start to descend. “Thank you. This,” I gesture around us, “means so much to me.”
He squeezes my hand and we’re enveloped in a comfortable silence. Happiness and love filling the air around us. I can’t wait to get off this ride and show Tonya, as weird as that may sound. But, I know she’ll be happy knowing Jake has someone to lean on.
We may be the most unconventional family unit known to man, but I wouldn’t trade them for the world. I wouldn’t have formed a friendship with Tonya or realized that I could have a career and love, if I hadn’t given Jake a chance. I look forward to everything our future may bring.