“At your wedding, since it’s going to be a big to-do and since we’ll be there, would you, um…would you mind if I asked Jerica to marry me?”
“Holy fuck,” Eli muttered.
Bridget’s stomach clenched. She couldn’t tell if it was shock, excitement, or consternation. Bridget held her breath as she waited for some kind of answer.
“Are you serious?” Eli asked.
“When am I anything but serious?” Bridget deadpanned.
Eli pulled up in front of Bridget house, putting the truck in neutral as she turned to look Bridget over. “You’re serious.”
“Yes. I thought we’d established that.”
The grin that broke out on Eli’s face was enough of an answer for how she felt about the situation. “I thought you were just going to come out to the town that night. I didn’t think you were going to seal the deal! You haven’t been dating all that long.”
“I know.” Bridget twiddled her thumbs together as she stared at her house. “But it feels right.”
“Are you sure about this?”
“Absolutely.”
“Good, because I love Jerica. And my answer is yes. I have to talk to Sarah, but I don’t think she’ll mind. Really. Do you have a ring?”
Cold washed through Bridget, and she nodded.
“You bought a ring already? Damn, Bridge! When you move, you move fast.”
“I didn’t buy it.” At Eli’s confused look, Bridget continued, “I have Gram’s ring.”
“How did you manage to snag that over your sister?”
“Well, originally it went to Eddie, but his wife didn’t want it. So they offered it to my sister, and she didn’t want it, claiming it was too old, so mom gave it to me.”
Eli blew out a breath. “They are missing something with you, I swear. Let me ask Sarah, and I’ll let you know, but I’m pretty sure it’ll be a yes. How do you want to do it?”
“I was thinking at the reception.”
“We’ve got this.” Eli had that look in her face, the one that meant trouble. “Let me plan this. Trust me.”
“You helped me plan the first date, and that did not go well. What makes you think I trust you to plan this?”
Eli giggled. “It’s my wedding. I have to plan it, but I promise I’ll really just tell you when and hand the baton off to you and you can propose however you want.”
“Thanks. No Buddy this time?”
Eli groaned and closed her eyes. “Sarah loves that damn bull. He will make an appearance for the wedding, but I promise you I will sell him if he comes near your proposal.”
“Promises are hard to keep when you’re making them to me and not your soon-to-be wife.”
“I know, but…I won’t let him ruin this moment. I swear.”
“Good.”
Eli grinned again, then leaned over and captured Bridget in a hug. “I’m so happy for you.”
“Thanks, Eli. That means a lot.”
“I know it does. Now get out of my truck so I can go talk to Sarah. Oh, this is going to be a fun conversation.”