AllFreeNovel
Share Us
"I'm sorry my phone died," I mutter. "It was a total accident. I meant to talk to you last night and then I just got distracted with my family and..."
"That's okay," she says. "Just don't do it again in the middle of a serious conversation? Or uh...try to charge it again faster?"
I snort. "I can do that."
"Good."
We go silent again. The river trickles along, the morning sun shining over the Oregon mountains.
"So you set a date," I say.
She blushes. "I'm really sorry. I didn't mean to--"
"No, I'm glad you did," I interrupt, taking her by the hand. She starts at my touch, but her fingers curl around mine. "I just...worry that we're doing this in the wrong order."
She bites her lip. "Finn, I--"
Nope. Nope nope nope. I can't wait any fucking longer.
"Before you say anything," I cut her off. "Jenny Liu--"
I practically fling myself off the bench to get down on one knee, kneeling at her feet. Her eyes widen, her breath hitching in her throat. I was worried that her parents would tell her I came by last night, but shelookssurprised--or at least, I choose to believe she's genuine.
"Jenny Liu," I say again as I gather my thoughts. "You have been my best friend for the better part of my life. You have been my ride or die, my partner in crime, and the love of my life. I cannot imagine my future without you in it. I love you with every fiber of my being, and I want to spend the rest of my life showing you just how much you mean to me. Will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?"
Tears glisten in her eyes as she stares at me, and for a moment, everything is still. The world fades away, and all I see is her--Jenny Liu, my everything.
And then she nods, her voice breaking. "Yes, Finn. Yes."
We both laugh and I take her into my arms, holding her tight as she joins me in the dew-tipped grass. I kiss her all over her face as she laughs and cries, then she swipes at her eyes and leans back. "So," she says, "I guess next step is to get a ring...?"
"Oh, shit," I mutter. "I...wait a second."
I fumble around in my pocket for the ring, pulling out the velvet box and opening it up. Jenny's eyes sparkle as she looks at it, her lips parting slightly. "It's perfect," she says. Should I..."
"Let me put it on you like I'm supposed to," I say. "Please, just..."
I reach for the ring, holding the box with one hand--but as I put the box back in my pocket and hold the dainty ring in my fingers, my hands start to shake.
And I fuckingdrop it.
It falls soundlessly into the grass, and both of us gape down at the place where it disappeared. We lean in at the same time and knock our heads together--and we both laugh awkwardly--and it's Jenny who finds the sparkling diamond, picking it up and sliding it onto her ring finger. It's a perfect fit, and it looks so much better on her than Steven's gaudy ring ever did.
As we stare at the ring on Jenny's finger, my mind starts to race. I can't believe that I have just proposed to my best friend, the woman who has been by my side through everything. The woman who knows everything about me, the good and the bad. The woman who loves me for who I am, flaws and all.
The woman I can't wait to get to know as a lover, not just a friend.
I can't help but let out a shaky breath as I realize that I am going to spend the rest of my life with this amazing person.
Jenny looks up at me, a soft smile on her face. "I can't believe it," she whispers. "We're really getting married."
I wrap my arms around her, holding her close. "I know," I say, my voice filled with emotion. My voice cracks when I try to tell a joke, failing to hold back a couple stray tears. "Good thing we've already got a date set."
She bursts out laughing, and we hold each other and keep on kissing. Finally, she leans her forehead against mine and gazes into my eyes, her expression heated.
"Will you take me home?" she asks.
I nod, holding her tight.
