“Exactly. I love you. I wish that’s all that mattered.”
I give him a kiss and say, “I love you too.”
“Damian’s in love with my sister, isn’t he?”
“I think that’s pretty obvious. In fact, I’d say he’s wooing her.”
Aiden grins. “You really should always listen to me. I’m smart.”
“I don’t know about that, but you definitely were right about the wooing. Wanna hear something funny?”
“Of course.”
“When Dawson wanted us to get back together, I told him he’d have to woo me. He sent a text where he misspelled wooed. Forgot the e. So it just said he wanted to wood me. I got all mad at him, but it was kinda funny.”
“So can I woo you with my wood?” Aiden asks adorably.
“I think it’s the only kind of wooing you haven’t done yet.” I take his hand in mine. “Come on, let’s go congratulate Damian on his beautiful song.”
We wander over to the stage. Damian’s arm is wrapped around Peyton, whose dazzling grin is just like her brother’s. Definitely song-worthy.
“You helped me,” Damian says. “I was leaning toward this before our talk. There she was, just sitting on the beach.”
He points to me, so I sing, “Singing du wa ditty ditty dumb ditty do.”
He smiles. “Flipping her hair like she didn’t have a care.”
We all laugh.
He’s like, “I think maybe I should stop while I’m ahead.”
Mom and Tommy join us.
“Damn, you must have read my mind. I think all those things about my wife,” Tommy says.
Mom gushes, “I didn’t think it was a big deal we weren’t married, but I’ll admit: I like hearing you say that. And, Damian, you better record that song quick. You’ve got a hit on your hands.”
Glimpse of the future.
12:30am
Aiden pulls me off the dance floor and says, “Let’s go for a walk.”
I take his hand and follow him. He seems to be wandering aimlessly, but I get the feeling I’m being led somewhere.
“Isn’t it a gorgeous night?” he asks.
“It’s been the perfect night. Mom was so surprised he proposed, and everyone was so surprised by the wedding.” I spin around in the grass. “I’m so happy I got to be here with my family. And be with you.”
“I like your family. Your grandpa is a character.”
“Yeah, he is. I love him. So, where are we going?”
“For a walk,” he says cryptically.
A few minutes later, we’re standing in the gazebo where Mom and Tommy got married. Aiden flicks a switch and the ceiling lights up with hundreds of twinkle lights.
“Did you do this? The lights? They weren’t on here this afternoon.”
“I thought we could dance in private. It’s a lot prettier than my dorm.”
“I love your room. And the twinkle lights.”
“Before we dance, I have a present for you. Do you want it now?”
“I do.”
He stops and grins at me.
“What?”
“You just said I do. In a wedding gazebo. It gave me a glimpse of the future. Of our wedding.”
“Does the future ever scare you?” I ask him.
“Not as long as you’re in it with me.”
Knowing my future is uncertain, I don’t reply, but rather focus on the present, untying the ribbon and letting him open the lid.
Nestled in a little black velvet box is a beautiful ring. In the center is a green stone, surrounded by teeny diamonds. Radiating out from it are four silver filigree hearts forming a four-leaf clover, each leaf set with a marquis-shaped green stone. Around the edges of the hearts are more of the little diamonds and behind the clover is more silver, making it look like two clovers sitting on top of each other.
“It’s gorgeous,” I manage to mutter, overwhelmed by its delicate beauty. “I’ve never seen anything like it before.”
“It’s vintage,” he says, grinning.
“I love it,” I say as he slides it on my left ring finger.
“This isn’t your Christmas present. It’s a ring from me to you. I love you, Keatyn. I know the future scares you. I know that you can’t commit to anything, so I’m not asking you to. I just want you to always know, wherever you are, wherever we are, that I love you. And I want you to carry our luck with you.”
My eyes dart above me.
“What are you looking for?”
“I’m waiting for fireworks to go off, doves to flutter around us, or a romantic score to start playing.”
“Why?”
“Because this seems too perfect to be real.”
“Dance with me?”
“There’s no music,” I tease.
He pulls me into his arms. “There doesn’t have to be.”
I look into his eyes. “I love you, Aiden.”
“I love you too,” he says, as our lips meet.
We share a sweet kiss, then he says, “Did you really think I wouldn’t bring music?”
I laugh as he pulls his phone from his suit pocket. Kym hit the swag closet and dressed Aiden to perfection. He’s wearing a beautiful tan suit with a light brown pinstripe. A chocolate brown shirt. No tie. His own deep brown Armani lace-up dress shoes.