“Reid,” I mumbled, shocked. “What is that?”
He flipped it open. Inside was a ring. It was the sort of thing I dreamed about, saw on TV, but never thought I’d have.
I took a step back, my mouth hanging open.
“Come on, Becca. I’ve loved you for as long as I can remember. I want to marry you.”
“Holy fuck, Reid,” I said, tears coming to my eyes. I tried to fight them back but it was impossible.
I had always dreamed of this moment. But even my wildest fantasies paled in comparison to the real thing. Reid was grinning massively, his whole body slightly sweaty and ripped, and he looked perfect leaning up against the truck. I couldn’t imagine him down on one knee, and he didn’t even bother. That wasn’t his style.
My heart was pounding in my chest. I never thought he was the marriage type. It never even crossed my mind. I always assumed we’d have to live in secret together, maybe one day go somewhere nobody knew us.
“What do you say?” he asked.
“Yes,” I said, throwing myself at him. “Hell yes.”
He laughed and kissed me as I kissed him back and cried, heavy happy tears of joy, all the horror and the anxiety of the last few months suddenly washed away.
I wanted him. I had always wanted him, even when I fought myself to stay away. But he was the only man I could ever see myself with, even back when we were little kids meeting for the first time.
I was Reid’s. I was always going to be his.
He moved away and slipped the ring onto my finger. I was shocked at how well it fit.
“Where’d you even get this?”
“Used the winnings from my last two competitions, plus some savings.”
“And it fits.” I held it up and looked at it.
“Used one of your other rings for that.”
“Reid. This is perfect.”
“I love you, Becca.”
“I love you too.”
We kissed again, bodies pressed together. Finally, after a deep, passionate kiss, we moved apart.
“I had to do that before we left,” he said. “Wouldn’t have felt right getting engaged anywhere but Ridgewood.”
“This is perfect.” And I meant it.
He moved away. “Come on. Let’s go try to break this to our parents.”
I shook my head. “Tomorrow. Let’s just enjoy this for today.”
He looked at me for a second. “Okay. How about we hike out to the van and consummate this thing.”
I laughed. “You only consummate the marriage.”
“I’m going to consummate whatever I want as often as I want. You’re mine now.”
“Okay. I’m not arguing.”
He laughed and kissed me again and then got into the driver’s seat. I climbed into the passenger seat. He started the engine and pulled out.
We drove down the long highway, back toward our house. But it wasn’t going to be our house much longer. We’d have our own place, a clean and comfortable place, where we’d have our own life together.
A life outside of Ridgewood and everything that had happened.
I put my hand over his on the gearshift. He smiled at me.
I watched as the woods flowed by, the love of my life sitting next to me, bringing us closer to the future.