Easiest purchase of my life.

Once the ring was put into a jewelry box, Banner demanded I take him out for dinner. He earned it.

“True, good point. Any ideas?”

“I was thinking about taking her to Bright Harbor in the fall. She loves it there, and I could get Nola to take pictures from a distance.”

“That’s a good idea. Have you told Nola?”

I shake my head. “You’re the only one I’ve told. So don’t be fucking saying anything to Nichole.”

“Dude, I don’t talk to her. I haven’t seen her in a while. Nothing is going on there, I swear. And I’m not just saying that but mean something else. Seriously, nothing is going on.”

“Okay, well, just don’t say anything.”

“Your secret is safe with me.” He lifts his beer to his lips and says, “Still can’t believe you’re going to propose. I remember when she barely looked your way.”

“Tell me about it.” I lean back in my booth, keeping an eye on the door because Myla is supposed to meet us here. “But after the other night, when she told me she loved me, I knew she was ready.”

“The same night you met her dad and Verna, the venereal disease?”

I chuckle. “Yeah, the same night.” I let out a deep breath. “Fuck, that woman. She has got to be the single most, worst human I’ve ever met. I still can’t get over the shit she said with Myla sitting right there. Practically called her obese and said she was stupid and not good enough for me. Could you imagine Mom or Dad ever saying that about us?”

“Yeah, you know that trend that’s going around where people ask, ‘what would you say to your family to let them know you’ve been captured, without letting them know you’ve been captured?’ Well, Mom and Dad would say, ‘good riddance; you three children are the biggest disappointments in our lives, and we hope you rot in hell for eternity.’ That would confirm they’re being kidnapped because never in a lifetime would they even think those thoughts. When it comes to our parents, they believe we walk on water.”

“We kind of do,” I say just as the door to the restaurant opens and in walks Myla.

She’s pulled her long, brown hair back into a ponytail and has dressed up in a black jumpsuit with a jean jacket and black high heels. She looks so fucking good. And when she spots me, the largest grin spreads across her face as she approaches.

“From the heart beams coming out of your eyes, I’m going to guess Myla just got here.”

“Yup,” I answer as I stand from the booth just as she arrives. “Hey, you,” I say as I move my hand around the back of her neck and give her a soft kiss. “How was your meeting?”

She smiles brightly and says, “It went really well.”

“What meeting?” Banner asks.

I help Myla into the booth and hand her my beer before draping my arm over her shoulders and pulling her in close.