She gives me a coy look, her red brow cocked on her freckled forehead. “Are you sure your ego can handle it?”

I laugh. I rarely win, and if I manage to pull it off, it’s only by distracting her. Not that I care about winning. Beneath that gorgeous red hair and disarming smile is a keen strategist. I only hope she never gets bored playing with me.

“How else will I get better?”

She giggles. “In that case, yes. I’ll make a fire.”

We enact our plan. The cabin is soon warm and cozy with the fireplace crackling and bacon smells in the air. We eat, then take our places around the game—cats and dogs curling up beside us.

Over our third round, I lock eyes with her across the board as she contemplates her next move. It’s the closest I’ve come to beating her, and I can tell she’s grown worried by the way she nibbles her lip.

“Today should be a celebration, Marina.”

“A celebration of how many times I beat you at chess?”

“You know what I mean.”

She sighs, annoyed. “I don’t want to talk about today. Quit distracting me.”

“Then, let’s talk hypotheticals. If we celebrated, what do you worry might happen?”

“If,” she groans. “Anything could happen, Grady.”

“Have you ever had a good one?”

“A good today? Um… a few when I was young.”

“What were they like?”

She leans back, folding her arms over her chest. “Mom took me to the North Carolina Zoo once. She gave me a cute pink button with BDAY GIRL written on it, so all day people said… well, you know. Another time, she gave me her grandmother’s quilt as a present.”

“The one on our bed?”

“Yep. I love that quilt.”

“So, the day isn’t always unlucky?” I reason.

She rolls her eyes. “Grady, can’t we just have a quiet Saturday?”

“Aren’t we?” I challenge. “But to be clear, am I never allowed to celebrate my wife on the one day that’s just about her and us?”

She smirks and scoffs. “I’m not your wife.”

“To me, you are. I’d marry you today if you’d let me. No big fuss. Just you and me in our backyard with the rings I bought.”

Her brow quirks. “You bought rings?”

“Simple, beautiful wedding bands. Bought them in August, after that weekend at that B&B on Oak Island.”

Just bringing up that amazing trip makes her blush and smile.

“I rescued them from an antique store,” I add, making her gasp with delight. “I have them whenever you’re ready, if you’re ever ready. Wearing a ring that tells the world we belong to each other would be nice.”