Page 108 of For the Record

“Okay, so what you’re going to do is take this road down, past the barn, where you’ll see our guest quarters.Yours will be the second from the bottom.If you have any trouble, circle back.”He smiles before stepping back from my truck.

I roll out from the main house, heading down the road, past the barn.True to his word, cabins appear on the left and right.Beside mine is Tate’s car.She came in a couple days early to help Callie with...whatever wedding stuff you do before the actual wedding.

The night before she left, her excitement for her sister was unmatched.How happy she was that they had found each other.I mostly just nodded.Then, in true Tate form, she said, “Do you think you’ll ever get married?”I remember stopping mid-chew, feeling like the whole restaurant was waiting on my answer.

“Yeah, I think one day.”I looked up at her over the bread basket.“What about you?Do you want to get married?”I asked just as our waitress walked up.She looked at me and then at Tate, face swollen in excitement.

“Oh, Mylanta!Levi Johnson and Tate McGregor getting engaged in my restaurant!Tate, you have to say yes!”

It took me a second to catch up, but when I did I leaned forward towards the waitress, saying, “Oh, no, I think you’re mis...”

“YES!Yes, I would love to marry you!”

I was so surprised and confused.I looked back at Tate, fear rising in my chest.She didn’t?I didn’t?What was happening?That’s when I caught the tiniest of winks from her.My mouth split into a grin.

“You will?”I asked, and she nodded frantically, coming to a stand and walking over to my side of the table.I met her as she wasted no time latching herself around my neck and pressing a kiss to my lips.The entire main room of Louie’s Italian Restaurant clapped and whistled.That night, after I dropped Tate off at her place, I laid in bed staring at the ceiling fan.It’s no secret that I love Tate.She’s my best friend.The person I call when I’m happy, sad, or mad.She calls me out when I need it and has never left my side, even when I probably deserved to get the boot.She saved me from myself.I would be lucky to marry a girl like Tate.

I pull in next to her car, smiling like a fool because this weekend I’m going to make what happened at the restaurant real.My hand slides to my front pocket where a Skoal can presses a big circle into my jeans.I haven’t picked up chewing, but thought it was more stealthy than that fuzzy box my mama tried to get me to carry the ring in.It was my great-memaw’s ring, and now it’s going to be Tate’s...hopefully.

The front door of the cabin flies open and out comes Tate wearing a rainbow bucket hat and a denim dress.She smiles up at me at the truck’s window and I’m undone.I was going to wait for a moment, somewhere with a nice big tree and views of the Rocky Mountains, but I don’t see myself making it past that porch without this ring on her finger.I climb out, taking a big steady breath as I round the truck.She’s got her hands in her hair, weaving the long strands into a braid.

“It got hot,” she says.

“That you are.”

She laughs, raising one brow.“What?”

But as soon as both my feet step onto the small porch, I pull the can from my pocket and get down on one knee.

“Tate...”I start.

“Since when do you chew tobacco?”

“I don’t.Just shh so I can finish.”

Her lips twist, unsure, but I start again anyways.

“Tate, you wear too many colors, say inside things outside, and always think the best of everyone you meet...even me.When I was at my worst, you loved me anyways.You constantly challenge me to be a better man, and I could never even begin to express my gratitude for you, but one thing I know for sure is I don’t ever want to lose you again.”I flip open half the lid, pulling out the thin gold band with a chip of a diamond before holding it up to her.“Will you marry me?”

She’s nodding wildly, hands cupping her mouth as tears roll from either side.I stand, grabbing her left hand and slipping the ring on.It’s a perfect fit.

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