He turned, and Jake grinned as he saw the confusion on Angel’s face. It was an expression echoed across most of the room, and he could see who had been in on the secret. Wrapping his arms around Sharon, he could see that Hilary was practically bouncing with excitement and Jessica obviously knew what was about to happen too, although none of their men were in the know. Jared was grinning broadly, but Leigh was totally clueless.

Olivia and Luke were exchanging looks, both of them wondering if the other knew what was going on. Everyone else was also trying to figure it out.

Except for Rick, as he stepped forward and turned to face Maria. His face was tinged a slight pink, his normally calm demeanor looking more than a little shaken.

There were several gasps of excited happiness and a few small squeals as he dropped down to one knee in front of her. Maria’s dark brown eyes were open wider than Jake had ever seen them, both of her hands coming up to clap over her mouth as she stared down at her boyfriend in disbelief and happiness. Sharon leaned back against Jake, gripping his arm and digging her nails in, and he didn’t have to glance down to know she was already crying.

She cried at almost anything romantic but laughed maniacally at people being chomped on during shark movies. Jake thought it was adorable.

“Maria-“

That was as far as Rick got before Maria’s hands flew open and she flung herself at him.

“YES!”

The shock and surprise on Rick’s face marveled the expression on Maria’s when he’d knelt, and he barely managed to keep his balance as he caught his sobbing girlfriend - well, Jake supposed they could officially call her Rick’s fiancé now.

Rick said something to her, although it was somewhat muffled in her hair, and Jake was pretty sure that at least part of it was “I had a speech.”

He managed to wrestle Maria onto his knee so that he could put the ring on her finger, causing a wave of applause and people rushing in to congratulate them. Jake had to let Sharon go so she could run in. Rick and Maria managed to get up so they could stand in the center, Rick with his arms wrapped tight around her waist while she showed off the ring.

She was still sniffling a little and beaming at Rick in between thanking people for their congratulations.

As everyone managed to say their congratulations to the happy couple and things slowly broke up, Jake took the opportunity to snag Sharon’s hand and pull her away from the party and down the hall.

“Now?” she asked, sounding exasperated.

“Yes, now,” he said, looking over his shoulder to make sure no one was paying attention to them. They weren’t.