“Thank you so much,” the young girl said as she quickly high tailed it out of the office.
Jennifer glanced back to me and said, “You’re more than welcome to head on back there, Gray.”
With a salute of my hand, I stood and headed back to Meagan’s office. I slowly opened the door only to see her standing at the window, staring out. Quietly walking up to her, I wrapped my arms around her and pulled her to me.
“Hey,” I softly said as she continued to look out the window.
“I don’t understand why kids are so cruel to each other.”
I pressed my lips to the back of her head and closed my eyes. “Is everything okay?”
Meagan shook her head. “No.”
“Anything I can do to help?”
Turning to look at me, Meagan worried her lip. “That girl was a girlfriend of one the kids I council. She’s worried about him. He’s doing things to try to fit in and changing because he is so afraid if he doesn’t, they’ll bully him again.” Meagan looked away and shook her head. “She said she is going to break up with him if things don’t change.”
I placed my hands on her arms as she looked into my eyes. “Grayson, I’m so scared if she walks away from that boy, he’ll give up on everything and what if I can’t . . . if I can’t . . . save him?”
My hands cupped her face as I forced her to look at me. “Meg, all you can do is help guide these kids. You can’t save every single one of them.”
A tear rolled down her face as she whispered, “I have to.” I knew her experience with bullying was what was behind the driving force for her to want to help each and everyone of those kids.
I blew out a deep breath and reached for her purse. “Come on, let’s go grab a beer and a greasy pizza. My treat for my beautiful fiancée.”
Her lip twitched at the mention of fiancée and I could see the smile trying to appear. “We have one stop to make first though. Can you leave for the day?”
Quickly wiping her tears away, Meagan nodded her head and smiled big. “Yeah. I can work on my case notes tonight in front of the fire.”
“That’s my girl,” I said as I grabbed her coat while she gathered up a few files and put them in her briefcase. She reached for her purse and headed out the door and to the reception area.
“Jennifer, will you let Melissa know I’m going to be heading out early? If she needs me for anything, I’ll have my phone with me.”
The receptionist gave a smile as she said goodbye to us while I grabbed Meagan’s hand and led her down the street.
The temperature had warmed up enough that she didn’t need her coat.
“Where are we going?” Meagan asked as I rounded the corner and made my way to the little shop I’d been passing for the last few months.
Stopping outside the jewelry store, I turned to Meagan and grinned. “I need to put a ring on it, baby.”
Meagan’s eyes widened in shock as she slowly smiled. “A ring?”
Tugging her into the store, I laughed and said, “Yep. A ring.”
I’d catch heat for this when Derrick found out, but I didn’t give two shits. I wanted to see Meagan smile and more than anything, I wanted to see a ring on her finger.
Meagan
MY HEAD WAS spinning as I stared down at all the engagement rings.
My heart felt as if it was fluttering about in my chest. Is this really happening to me?
“So? Is there one you like?”
My lip was going to be bruised and swollen by the time I picked out a ring. “Um,” was all I could respond with as Grayson stood there with a goofy grin on his face.
The moment our eyes caught, I couldn’t help but smile. “I can’t pick,” I said with a giggle.
With a smile that melted my panties, Grayson said, “Close your eyes.”
Snapping my eyes shut, I held my breath.
Grayson’s hot breath near my ear caused me to jump. “Breathe, baby.”
Letting out the breath I was holding, it felt good to take a moment after all the stress from work the last few weeks.
My entire body came to life as Grayson took my hand in his.
“Open your eyes, Meg.”
Slowly opening my eyes, I took in a shaky breath as I looked at Grayson down on one knee. A beautiful princess-cut diamond was in his hand as he cleared his throat. “Meagan, will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?”
Everything about this moment was perfect. It felt spontaneous and real. It was Grayson reacting to his feelings, and that was more romantic to me than if he had planned some elaborate proposal.
Nodding my head, a sob escaped from my lips as I whispered, “Yes.”
Grayson slipped the ring onto my finger and stood. His arms twisted around me as he lifted me up while pressing his lips to mine. The entire store erupted into cheers as we got lost in our kiss.
Grayson set me down and gently wiped my tears from my face. “I love you, Meg. More than you’ll ever know.”
“I love you too. So very much.”
“Dare I say that was the most romantic thing I’ve ever seen!” the saleslady said as she clapped her hands in front of us.