Page 65 of Something Reckless
ALBA
“ O h, Lincoln. There’s a seat next to Jules.” Monica wears a wolfish grin as she points out the only empty seat at our table.
Lincoln looks at Jules. Jules looks at Lincoln.
They both scowl.
“Uh, sorry. My, um, purse is sitting here,” Jules mumbles, pulling the chair closer to her side.
“Jules!” Laney hisses, poking her in the ribs.
“Don’t worry about it,” Lincoln grits through his teeth. “I’ll just go grab a chair from the main dining area.” He hustles out the door before anyone can tell him how ridiculous the two of them are being.
The dating app bungle from a few months ago has certainly made things awkward between my bestie and Easton’s oldest brother. But they’re going to have to get over it.
Mr. Tower and I are going stronger than ever. I don’t have a crystal ball, but I can see a lot of summer cookouts and Holiday dinners in our future for years to come. So Jules and Lincoln are going to need to figure it out eventually .
The thought of the longterm with Easton puts butterflies in my tummy. I don’t want to rush him but the idea of a happily-ever-after with him has been living rent-free in my head these days.
He’s been hinting at putting in an offer to outright buy the house on Marigold Peak.
I like the idea of him owning property here in Fairy Bush.
I like the idea of him, Jagger and me officially living together.
We’ve spent each and every night under the same roof since we worked things out.
But I still dream of making our living arrangements official.
But for tonight, I force myself to focus on the here and now.
Easton managed to get us all a private dining room at Le Trésor des Fées. It’s a slow Tuesday night so we got lucky. Now, we’re here together to celebrate the reading challenge win. Nothing could ruin this night. Not even Jules and Lincoln being bratty to each other.
Eventually, Lincoln comes back in with a chair, squeezing it between Cameron and Oliver. We all place our orders, and steaming plates of fried chicken, seafood and pasta arrive surprisingly quickly.
“So, have you guys decided yet what’s going to happen at the start of the hockey season?” Tammy asks, wearing a concerned look as she passes the hot sauce across the table to Rocco.
“We’ll be doing the long distance thing,” I say, trying not to sound disappointed. I’m not sure that I pull it off.
Easton jumps in quickly. “But only for one year. Two years maximum.”
“And what happens after that?” Laney asks, head tilted to the side.
Easton pulls in a breath. “Then I retire. ”
Surprised murmurs rise up around the room as the news settles.
“I’ve decided to give myself two more seasons, at most, to get the Championship Cup,” he explains. “If it doesn’t happen in that timeframe, it wasn’t meant to be.”
Easton has already had the discussion with his family. But this is the first time mentioning it to our group of friends.
Jagger speaks up proudly. “Easton wanted to quit this season because he didn’t want to be away from me and Mimi, but we convinced him to try again.”
“As much as we all want to be together all the time, it’s important that we each get to follow our dreams,” I say. “That way, there’s no ‘what if’s down the road, y’know?”
After Easton was so supportive in ensuring that I finally passed my realtor exam, it means more than ever to me that he gets to take a shot at his dreams, too.
So during the school year, Jagger and I will be heading to Sin Valley for the Saints’ home games, and Easton will travel back to Fairy Bush in his every free moment. Aside from that, we’ll rely on videocalls to get us through the year.
Easton releases a sigh. “It’s gonna be hard, but it’s not forever. We can survive it. Right?” His nervous eyes flit to me and then to Jagger.
We nod encouragingly. I squeeze his hand. “We will survive it,” I assure him. “Then, we’ll have the rest of our lives.”
Once we’re all done eating dinner and our plates have been cleared away, Easton whispers by my ear that he’s going to the front to settle the bill.
I get lost in conversation with Monica and Chloe until Jagger gets up from the far end of the table where he’s sitting with Cameron.
I watch him scamper across the room, coming to tuck himself into the seat that Easton vacated.
“Knock, knock,” he says, wearing the most brilliant smile with his eyes twinkling up at me.
I cup his adorable dimpled cheeks in my hands, my heart overflowing with love for him. “Who’s there?” I play along.
He’s extra giggly when he says, “Mary!”
I frown, trying to work out the joke in my head. “Mary who?” I ask.
Sucking in a sharp breath, Jagger points over my shoulder. All eyes in the room swing in the same direction and there’s a collective gasp.
I twist over my back and I find Easton.
He’s down on one knee.
He’s holding a great, big diamond in his hand, and he’s grinning at me.
“ Mary me,” the man of my dreams says simply.
I bolt to my feet, both hands slapped over my mouth to hold back my surprised scream.
“E-Easton…what are you doing?” I whisper, almost like I’m afraid to wake myself from this dream.
A wobbly smirk slants Easton’s perfect lips, but for a long moment, nothing comes out.
“Shit. I had a speech—I promise—but looking at you right now…” He gives his head a shake, as if trying to ward off the fog.
“Looking at your beautiful face, all I can think of is how excited I am to spend the rest of my life with you. Because Alba, there’s no one on this Earth like you.
I knew it back when I was 18, before I went off and discovered the world, and I still stand by it today.
You are the only woman like you. The only woman for me.
Don’t make me go another day without telling me once and for all that you’re mine. Be mine. Be my wife. ”
I blink, my jaw dropping open and practically rolling across the floor. Before my response can come, my eyes find Jagger’s, needing to know that he’s ready for this. He and I are a package deal, after all.
Seeming to read the question on my face, the little boy nods enthusiastically. “Easton already asked me, Mimi. I said yes. Say yes, too. Just say yes!”
The room dissolves into laughter.
I bring my eyes to the man kneeled before me. My Prince Charming. My very own dream come true.
I close my eyes, the past nine years of my life flashing through my mind. I had no idea that all the struggles I went through would lead me here . Madly in love with this amazing man who’s madly in love with me.
Tears streak down my cheeks as I start to rapidly bob my head.
Easton gives my hand a squeeze. “What do you say, Tiny Tiger? Will you marry me? I’ll spend my life giving you everything on your wishlist and so much more.”
A smile erupts across my face and finally, I just blurt out, “Yes! Yes, Easton. I’ll marry you!” Dropping to my own knees along with him, we fall into an embrace. “Yes, I’ll marry you. Give me forever, you big tower of a man.”
Our family and friends go wild, filling the room with shouts and cheers. I plant kisses all over Easton’s face and he plants kisses all over mine and we dissolve into laughter as we pull ourselves to our feet.
Jagger is the first to jump on us. Then our crew jumps on, too.
“I love you, Alba,” Easton manages to say in all the commotion. “So damn much.”
“I love you, too. Twenty four hours in a day is hardly enough to show you how much I love you.”