Andrew July 11, 2020

My eyes about bugged out of my head. I thrust the tongs I had been carrying into Seth's chest, turned, ran into the sliding door before I could pull it open all the way.  A few unsuccessful attempts later, the door finally opens, and I sprint through the house.

I'm frantically searching for my pants that I had discarded in the downstairs bathroom when Jamie leans against the open door frame. Her amused eyes taking in my hectic state. "Lose something?"

"Nope, it's right-," I've shoved my hand into the front pocket of my crumpled jeans. Nerves and an unexpected rush of adrenaline have got me sweating and shaking, causing me to struggle as I try to pull the wooden matchbox-sized container out. "-here!" I toss the pants aside, holding my bounty high in victory.

Jamie is shaking with the effort of holding her laughter in. "Do you really carry my ring everywhere with you?"

"Sure do."

"Even when you aren't planning to see me?"

"Absolutely, you never know when the opportunity to propose will present itself."

"Well, this seems like a good opportunity right now."

"That it does." I beam up as I lower myself to one knee at her feet, setting the intricately carved box on the ground beside me.

"Jamie," I begin taking her left hand in both of mine, "You are the most spectacular woman I have ever known.  The most amazing, forgiving, patient, thoughtful, beautiful, sexy, fun-"

"Ha!" She scoffs.

"I'm serious, I have loved you every single day of these last 20 years, even the ones we were apart."

"We met 19 years ago, Drew."

"Don't interrupt, I'm on a roll here! And yes, we met 19 years ago, but I saw you for the first time 20 years ago. "

"You did not, I didn't even live here 20 years ago."

"Again, with the interruptions! Damn it, woman, my knee is bruising from this hard ass tile!" I lift my knee slightly to show her the red mark. A soft laugh bubbles from her chest, and she gestures for me to continue. "You have been the only girl that has existed since I was fifteen years old. I love you with everything I am. You have brought so much happiness into my life and given me the best gift ever in our son. You and Elijah are my world. Please marry me, let me come home, let us be the family that we are meant to be. Yes?"

"Yes. Come home, Drew." She leans to kiss me, as I stand, both knees popping loudly.  "For the record, this has been my favorite proposal." She says, gesturing to our bathing suits and wild hair.

"Oh yeah, even better than the first time?"

"Yup. The candles and roses were a little over the top. The mirror, though. That one got my heart going." She says, referring to the time I scared the hell out of her by sneaking in and writing my proposal on the mirror as she showered.

"Ah, bathroom proposals are the way to go then? I wish you had told me that before. Would have saved me a grip of money!"

"Cheap ass," she teases.

"I did see you 20 years ago. You were wearing a hot pink hard hat, dirty white tank top, and a toolbelt was tugging your dusty jeans down your hips. You were using a rubber mallet to drive a nail into a 2x4. The idiot next to you was too busy checking you out to tell you that you weren't using the right tool. You fueled a lot of teenage fantasies in that get up."

"Oh my God, Drew!" She slaps my chest, laughing at my declaration. "I only volunteered to help on Uncle Rob's crew the one time. I was terrible and apparently a distraction if you are to be believed. I don't remember you being there." This must be where Eli gets his eye-rolling skills.

"Oh, you were plenty distracting. Uncle Rob, as in Robert Kent? He's your uncle?"

"He's not really my uncle. He was my dad's best friend growing up. Then he just sort of quit coming around. I have not spoken to him in years."

"Huh, I think he still does business with the family. That's actually why I was there. I was grounded, so my dad made me shadow him everywhere that summer. There you go distracting me again! Let's get this ring on your finger." I slip the ring out of the box, tucking it into the velcro pocket of my board shorts, then place the sparkling diamond on Jamie's third finger where it belongs.

"It's bigger than I remember." She tells me with a buzzed grin.

"That's what she said." It is bigger. A lot bigger. When she sees it with sober eyes tomorrow, I won't be able to deny it. "No take-backs this time?"

"No, no take-backs."

I lift our joined hands, pressing my lips to the back of hers with a smile. "Let's go tell em."

A/N

So that happened! I hope it all works out for them.

Do you think any good will come from the girls drinking their bad week away?

Jamie is still keeping quiet about the keys 🤔