Page 87 of Dibs
“Not bad.” He smiled.
Lori and Jamie continued to chat and Ken went looking for his son, while I continued to man the grill.
Once the burgers and hot dogs were ready, Chase joined me in the kitchen to grab the rest of the food, and we invited our guests to eat. After we both loaded up a plate, I found seats for us next to my mom.
Chase leaned over and said, “I’ve barely had a chance to talk to you all evening. Are you having fun?”
“I am.” I looked at the crowd sitting on the deck and the tables we’d set up on the sand below. We were surrounded by the people who meant the most to us. “It’s nice hanging out with everyone.”
“I’m glad they’re all here.”
I looked at him, wondering if he was going to elaborate, but he just smiled at me.
“Hey, Dad,” Dylan shouted, interrupting us. “Grandpa wants to take us fishing tomorrow. Can I take our poles and tackle box?”
“Oh yeah? That sounds like fun. You’ll have to grab everything from the garage before you leave tonight.”
“I will.” Dylan went sprinting back to my father who had been sitting on the sand with his grandsons.
“I can’t believe how big they’re getting,” my mom said, taking a sip of her wine. “They really seem to be doing well.”
I nodded. “They are.”
“Have you heard from Lisa?” She wrinkled her nose like she smelled something foul.
Yeah, Mom. I feel the same way about my ex.
“She messaged them once, but after Tyler told her he was gay and would only talk to her if she could accept that, she sent me a text telling me what a horrible example I’d been to our son and hasn’t tried to contact us since.”
Shortly after Tyler had come out to me, he asked if I would tell his grandparents for him. Knowing how his mom was, I figured he was worried about having more people he loved turn their back on him. He hadn’t needed to worry, as my parents told him just how proud of him they were.
“I’m surprised he told her, but I’m glad he did. If she can’t be accepting, then he can cut the toxic people out of his life. Besides, it looks like he has a ton of people who love and support him. Especially Chase”—she gave him an adoring look—“and even his ex, Jamie.”
I grinned. Some people may have found it odd how involved Jamie was in our lives, but it worked for us. I considered her family and loved how much she cared for my children.
“Yeah, things have a way of working out exactly as they should. I don’t think the kids and I have ever been this happy.”
* * *
The sun had seta while ago, and the sky was dark. We were set to have a perfect view of the fireworks show over the ocean. I tuned our radio to the station that was supposed to play accompanying music for the display, which had a countdown informing us the show was to start in three minutes.
Chase stepped to the edge of the deck and asked for everyone’s attention. “I just wanted to thank you all for being here. Gage and I are so grateful for each of you. And having you here makes what I’m about to do that much more special.”
My brow furrowed as I watched him make his way toward where I was standing. Once he stood in front of me, he grabbed my hands and looked directly into my eyes.
“When I retired last year, I thought I’d be living a quiet life with my kids. I never considered the possibility of finding someone and falling in love. Then, after seventeen years, you came back into my life in the most unexpected way. You are the most amazing man I know, and you make me a better person in every way.” He dropped to one knee and pulled something out of his pocket. I didn’t see what it was—although I could guess—because I was lost in his eyes. “Will you marry me?”
There wasn’t an ounce of doubt in my mind that Chase Matthewson was the man I was supposed to spend the rest of my life with, so without hesitation, I lowered myself down in front of him and pressed my lips to his. When I pulled back slightly, I answered with the only word I could. “Yes.”
Everyone clapped as we stood, and Chase placed the platinum ring embedded with an emerald-cut diamond on my finger.
“I love you,” I said against his warm lips.
“I love you too.”
We leaned in and kissed just as the first firework exploded over the water.
EPILOGUE
