Page 133 of Hidden Ascent

The group cheered, and Isla reached her hand down to help Ryan up. “Size does make a difference, but mostly it’s about skill. Who’s next?”

Ryan returned to his friends and received slaps on the back and jabs to his side for his effort.

“If I hear any of you guys giving him a hard time,” Isla said to the group, “I’ll take you out. You know I can.”

They laughed, and someone called out. “Jay should have a turn.”

Jay put his hands up. “No way. You’ve seen what she can do.”

“You chicken?” Isla said with a wink and the group erupted in shouts for him to stand up for himself.

When he approached Isla, they whooped.

“Jay here has the muscles and the skills,” Isla said. “All I have to rely on are my skills.”

“I still think she could take me.” Jay said to the crowd before pushing his tongue into his cheek as he sized up Isla.

“Only cause you wouldn’t want to hurt her,” someone yelled.

“That’s partly true, but she’s got some good moves. However…there is one move that I think could take her out instantly without threat of a grievous injury.”

“What move?” Isla cocked her head to the side. “It must be good.”

“It’s called the knee-bend.”

“Never heard of it.”

“That’s because it’s old school.”

“Okay then, show me.”

The kids closed in when Jay nodded his agreement. “You stand here, like this.” He turned her slightly, and she lifted her hands in defense. “You don’t need to do that.”

“Why not?”

“’Cause there’s no defense against this move.”

“That’s ridiculous.” She dropped her arms. “You’ve got a move that I won’t be able to guard against?”

“Yes.”

“This I’ve gotta see.”

He reached into his pocket as he dropped to the ground on his knee. “I get down like this, then ask you if you’ll marry me.” He opened a small black box to reveal a square solitaire diamond ring.

She stared at it and blinked. “Is this serious?”

“Of course it is.”

She looked at the kids who’d moved closer but remained completely silent except for a couple of squeaks from the girls.

“I never expected to meet anyone like you in my life,” Jay said. “I want to be with you forever. Marry me.”

A laugh slipped from her throat, but it choked on the tears that filled her eyes. “There’s no one else I want to be with. Of course I’ll marry you.”

“Yeah?”

“Yes.”

The kids clapped. Their celebratory shouts were like fireworks to celebrate as Jay put the ring on to Isla’s finger. She wrapped her arms around him, and he lifted her off the ground, swinging her around before setting her back down.

She put a hand on his cheek. “I’m sorry to do this to you.”

“What?” His brow collapsed in concern.

Slipping her hand around the back of his neck, she pulled him into a kiss and the group erupted again.

When she leaned back, she said, “You’re just going to have to suffer the consequences.”

He smiled. “These are consequences worth sacrificing for.” He yanked her close again and kissed her, waving away the cat-calls as they both savored the moment of a decision that would change the rest of their lives.