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“I love you.”

“I love you, too.”

“I’ve loved you all my life, and I think it’s time that we made our love official to the entire world.” He handed over the little box he’d already opened for her. “If you put that ring on your finger, you’ll make me the luckiest man alive.”

Yet Joy didn’t put the ring on her finger. Not for several endless heartbeats. Instead, she simply stared at it until her eyes began to water.

Uh-oh. What did that mean?

“Ummm,” Aaron cleared his throat and glanced away from her to see Rocky still standing there. The kid was motioning with hand signals to him, and if Aaron was interpreting them right, the server was telling him to keep going. So, after swallowing, Aaron did. “You’re crying. I’m not sure what to make of that.”

Joy said nothing. Instead, she simply attacked him, nearly bowling him over.

“Yes,” she whispered into his ear. “Yes, yes, yes!”

“Yes?” Aaron questioned, not quite able to believe her answer.

“The lady said yes,” Rocky appeared right at their side, and with a gesture Aaron didn’t know the meaning of, suddenly everyserver in the place was surrounding their table to congratulate them. One of them even brought over a huge piece of cake to share.

“Our engagement dessert is always on the house,” she said.

With that, reality finally struck Aaron as he looked at Joy. “We’re engaged,” he said, hearing the awe in his own tone.

“Yes, we are.”

And standing, then tugging her to her feet as well, he dipped her like they were in some old movie before kissing her again. His bride to be. His childhood friend. The love of his life.