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I see the light in her eyes dim, but I hope what I’m about to say makes them shine again. “We aren’t dating, we aren’t boyfriend girlfriend. That’s juvenile to me because of our history. You’re my fiancé, my wife, mine. It’s as simple as that.”
There it is, the light ignites in her eyes again. “I don’t remember you asking me to marry you,” she quips.
“You don’t? I believe you said yes while we were playing in the mud when we were nine. I asked you to marry me with a twig dipped in dirt, that’s what I used as a ring. You said yes, put my ring on, and we played in the mud right after that.”
She scoffs. “That doesn’t count. We were nine.”
“It counts. We sealed the deal stomping in the mud. Sorry, I don’t make the rules,” I sigh, feeling a bit cocky.
I open the truck door, sliding out first, and she follows right behind me.
“Well, until there is a ring on this finger, I’m a free—”
I press her against the truck, snag her hand, dig in my pocket, and slip the ring I got for her when I was eighteen onto her finger. It’s a large diamond, three carats, surrounded by yellow accent diamonds. I wanted it to look like the sun because Nina’s light always overcame the shadowy places in my soul.
“You aren’t single. You aren’t free. You’re mine, Nina. Understand?”
She gawks at the ring, then nods, dazed and a bit confused. “I— I— I do —yes.” Her watery eyes lift to mine.
I smile, lifting her off her feet and spinning her around.
What the fuck has been wrong with me all these years? I’ve been missing out on way too much.
“What are we celebrating? I know it isn’t your car because that thing is toast, Nina. Sorry.” Tim’s voice ruins the moment and I set Nina down, turning to my friend.
“We’re engaged.”
His eyes round in surprise, the oil-stained rag dropping from his hands. “Pete! Pete!” Tim barks for his brother.
A loud metal clank followed by a curse word. Nina giggles, burying her smile in my chest.
“What? You made me hit my head on a tire,” Pete complains, rubbing his head as he stumbles out of the garage.
“You did that. I didn’t. Don’t blame me.” Tim points to me. “Simon is engaged.”
“No way! That’s amazing. I love weddings. They are so beautiful,” Pete smiles. “Congrat— Ow.” He rubs his head again after Tim slaps it. “What was that for?”
“It means he is leaving. He is going home. He won’t be needing us anymore.”
“Hey, that is not true.” I step forward, keeping a tight hold on Nina’s hand.
“Isn’t it?” Tim questions, sadness instead of anger riddled in the words.
“No. You’re my best friends. I wanted to ask you to come with me.”
“Come with?” Pete perks up.
“Hell yeah. Give us an hour. We’ll pack our bags and follow you home.”
“Just like that?” Nina asks.
“Just like that,” Tim answers. “Let’s go see what the Christmas town is all about, then let’s deal with your uncle.” He steps away, then steps back. “Maybe not in that order.” He snaps his fingers as if he just had a bright idea, leaving Nina and me alone in the parking lot.
“They are willing to do anything for you,” she says.
I nod. “I met them when I was down on my luck.”
“Well, I’d say you got very lucky.”
