“I really don’t want to be a rude guest,” she said as she got comfortable, her eyes already closed. “But I have to nap, or I’m going to feel like shit later.”

“You’re not being rude,” I replied as I pulled the ring box out of my pocket and slid in next to her. “My mom will nap, too, once she goes through her haul and writes down all the presents she’s gotten.”

“She writes them down?” Sarai asked sleepily, curling up against my side.

“She’s got a lot of kids and grandkids to buy for. She writes everything down so she can keep track and she doesn’t miss anyone.”

“That’s sweet,” Sarai mumbled.

I lifted her hand and traced it with my index finger, debating with myself whether this was the moment I wanted to show her what I’d been doing all day.

“I got you some presents today,” she said sleepily, patting my chest. “So don’t look in my bags, okay?”

“I won’t,” I said.

I quietly snapped the lid of the ring box open and pulled the ring out, holding it between my fingertips for a moment before I spoke.

“I went shopping today, too,” I told her softly.

“Really?” she mumbled. “Where’d you go?”

I slipped the ring onto her finger without a word, the rest of my body frozen and tense as I waited for her to open her eyes. I didn’t have to wait long.

“Oh, Alex,” she whispered, pushing the ring farther down her finger until it rested at the base of her knuckle. “It’s gorgeous.”

“Yeah?” I rasped out. I’d been less nervous when I’d asked her to marry me. That…well, that had been a spur-of-the-moment thing, though I’d never admit it. I hadn’t had time to worry that she’d say no. This ring had been in my pocket for hours while I worried.

“It’s simple,” she said, still staring at her hand. “Classic.”

My stomach rolled. “That’s good?” I asked tentatively.

“Yes.” She laughed a little, her eyes locked on mine. “Every day women get the popular engagement rings, the ones that are in style that season. My ring—” She looked back at her hand, tilting it this way and that. “My ring will always be in style. It’ll still be as beautiful when I’m as old as Mrs. K.”

“I’m really glad you say that,” I replied, relaxing with a huff. “Because I can’t return it.”

Sarai jokingly smacked at my chest before lying down again, her head resting on my shoulder and her soft breaths tickling my neck.

“I love it,” she said, her eyes already closing again.

I fell asleep with her curled up against me, my fingers entwined with hers on my chest, and happiness pulsing through my body.

*  *  *