My eyes traveled down to where we were joined. She was finally mine again. She arched back suddenly. Her hands shot out behind her to grip my thighs as she rose up and down and then came apart on top of me. I held her hips and thrust up hard until I went over the edge with her. I slid my hands up to grip her waist and pull her up, so I could see her face once more.

Her eyes were at half-mast, hair a wreck from my hands, lips swollen from my kisses, she had never looked more beautiful. “I love you, Lily. And now that this is officially official, I have something for you.” I sat up and gathered her in my arms. Her legs squeezed around my hips as I stretched to the side, reached into the drawer of my nightstand, and pulled out my mom’s engagement ring in its little white box.

Lily’s eyes got big when she saw the tiny box.

“I want you to wear this. I want you to marry me. Will you marry me, Lily?” I opened the box and pulled the ring out. It was a huge square-shaped diamond surrounded by a bunch of little round diamonds. It would dwarf her tiny little hand just like it did my mom, but it was beautiful despite its ostentatious nature. Beautiful and perfect, just like Lily. I watched the tears fill her eyes as she recognized the ring.

“Your mom’s ring.” She gazed at me. Tears shimmered in her eyes. “I used to sit on her lap and twirl it around her finger when I was little. Oh, Luke.” I slipped it on her finger, and she held her hand out. It fit perfectly. “I have always loved this ring. I wish she were here to see this.”

“She knows. I believe that. So, you’re gonna marry me?” I said.

Her head crashed into my chest, and she wrapped her arms around me whispering, “Yes. Of course, I’m going to marry you.” She pulled back to look at me. “But I can’t wear this yet. We need to talk to Dylan first, and I’m worried about how Jane will handle it. I should talk to her too. If everyone sees this ring on my finger, they’ll know what it means, and Dylan and Jane should know first. I want us to tell Dylan together and make it special, and I’ll find some time tonight to call Jane.”

“You’re right. I didn’t think about that. I only had one thing on my mind.”

She blushed. After all we’d just done together, I found it adorable that I could still make her blush.

“But it’s going back on your finger as soon as possible.” She nodded against my chest, and I felt her smile against me.

“Soon, I promise. I can’t wait to wear it forever.”

22

Lily