Page 121 of Taking the Pitch
“You know what, on second thought. Never mind, I’ve heard you sing,” I tease.
He bumps me with his shoulder. “Keep it up and I won’t give you your present,” he warns.
I lift an eyebrow at him. “I thought the tattoo was my present.”
Judd snorts. “You can have more than one present.”
“Judd, the tattoo was more than enough.”
“Just blow out your candle and make a wish.”
I close my eyes, trying to think of what to wish for. If I’m being honest, there’s not much more I could ask for. I have the most amazing friends in the world. A successful career doing something I love. A service animal who is worth his weight in gold. And last but not least, a boyfriend who I’m building a life with. The only thing that could make any of this better was if my parents were here to witness it, but I know they’re watching and knowing my mom, she had something to do with Judd andI finding each other. Taking a deep breath, I send them a thanks instead of making a wish and blow out my candle.
When I open my eyes, Judd is in front of me. Down on one knee. With the ring I picked out at the jeweler’s yesterday.
I gasp, my hands flying to my mouth and my eyes instantly filling with tears. “Judd, what, what are you doing?” I ask, my voice coming out in a squeaky whisper.
“I’m asking the love of my life if she would do me the honor of becoming my wife.”
“But isn’t it too soon? What are people going to say? What are your parents going to say?” I ask, dropping my hands from my mouth.
Judd grabs both my hands in his, the one that’s not holding the ring box. “I don’t care what anyone thinks. My parents love you. And if we’ve learned anything in the last few months, it’s that life is short. We’re building a home, a life together. The only thing that’s missing is me being able to call you my wife. I know the cemetery isn’t an ideal place for a proposal, but it’s the only way I knew how to have your parents involved, since they can’t be with us.”
I shake my head, tears streaming down my face from his words. “It’s perfect Judd. Everything is perfect.”
“Almost,” he says, clearing his throat. “Amelia Marie Morgan, will you please make me the happiest man on earth and marry me?”
“Yes,” I choke out, launching myself into his arms. “A million times, yes.”
He slides the ring onto my finger, exactly where it belongs.
CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT
judd
Amelia hasn’t stopped staringat the ring on her hand since we left the cemetery. She wanted to video call Hazel and Charlie as soon as we got back to the Jeep, but I convinced her to wait until we got home. I didn’t want her catching on that they were already at our place, setting up for Amelia’s surprise birthday/our engagement party.
“I can’t believe you put all of this together, even getting the girls to trick me into picking out my own ring.”
I grin. “Not going to lie. I thought you might get suspicious when they took you into the jewelry store.”
“I probably would have if I had been sober, but thanks to Hazel and her break-up with Jason, I was tipsy enough to not give it a second thought.”
Amelia told me all about what happened between Hazel and her shitty ex-boyfriend when she came home last night. I messaged Hazel later, telling her she didn’t have to help set up for the engagement party if she didn’t feel up to it. She messaged me back, saying she wasn’t going to let Jason’s wandering dick get in the way of celebrating me and Amelia.
“What do you think your parents are going to say?” she asks, picking at her nails.
I lay a hand over hers. “They’re going to be extremely happy for us. They already think of you as family. This,” I say, holding up her hand with my ring on it, “just makes it official.”
She blows a breath through her lips. “You’re right. Are we going to tell them tomorrow at Sunday dinner?”
I smile, knowing it’s going to be sooner than that. “Whatever you want, Shortcake.”
Once we park, Amelia takes Bruno out to do his business while I grab the bag Charlie made. I meet her back at the elevator and we ride up together.
Amelia leans back against the elevator wall, letting out a contented sigh. “This has been the craziest, best day I’ve ever had.”
I tower over her in the elevator, bracing an arm above her head and tucking a strand of her hair behind her ear with the other. “And to think, you hated me only a few short months ago.”
