Page 39 of Unruly: How to Fail at Fake Dating
But my favorite part is the memorial iron plaque at the cornerstone. I pull Rowdy aside to show it to him.
“Who did this?” Rowdy asks when he sees the plaque dedicated to his granddad.
Pete negotiated a deal with the Rogers family to get Rowdy’s granddad’s land back. On the spot where his granddad’s farmhouse once stood, the education center has been built.
“A little bird told somebody who told somebody else that this might be a nice tribute to your family,” I say.
Rowdy shakes his head and plants a kiss on my lips.
“I love you so much, baby girl.”
“I love you too, Rowdy.”
“I got a question for you.”
“Shut up and kiss me again,” I say.
He laughs. “It’s kind of important.”
I finally realize what’s going on when he pulls away and gets down on one knee. In his hand is a small blue box. He opens it, and inside is a simple but beautiful gold band inlaid with amethyst. My favorite stone.
“Will you marry me, Riley?”
I don’t know if what I’m doing is laughing or crying, but somehow I’m able to get the words out as I’m shaking.
“Yes, Rowdy. Of course I’ll marry you.”
Rowdy hoots, then picks me up and spins me around so wildly that he stumbles. I shriek as we hit the ground and tumble about ten feet downhill, stopped short of falling into the creek by the brush.
When we make our way back to the party, looking bedraggled, everyone crowds around us with concern.
“What in the hell happened to you two?” Ari asks.
Foster comments, “Looks like someone chose the bear.”
“We’re engaged!” Rowdy shouts, holding my hand up like he’s the referee and I’m a boxing champion.
“Finally did something right,” Foster grumbles, even though he’s coming over to give us both a hug.
“Zip it, you,” Ari says, nudging Foster in the ribs.
I haven’t quite figured out how he landed my sister Ari, but his sarcasm has lost some of its bitterness ever since they got together.
“Will you be my maid of honor?” I ask her.
“Of course I will!”
Likewise, Foster agrees to be our best man. Maddie tells me in no uncertain terms that she wants to help with the aesthetics, and that’s it.
By the end of the night, Ari, Maddie, and I have a majority of the wedding mapped out while Foster, Rowdy, and Pete celebrate at the bar with several rounds.
Rowdy finds me later, and my stomach flutters when he catches my eye from across the room. He still does that thing where he looks a little bit lost, but then his whole vibe changes when he sees me. He beams and makes a beeline, like he’d lost his tether to the world.
“There you are,” he says, handing me a fruity drink and a snack.
“Here I am,” I say.
“Thank god, I thought you’d changed your mind and ditched me,” he jokes.
“Never. Thanks for looking for me,” I say.
He presses his forehead to mine. “Always.”
THE END
