“Are you sure about this?” I ask after a long moment.

“Baby, I wouldn’t be asking you if I didn’t know I want to spend the rest of my life with you.”

“This is forever, as in for-ev-er,” I sound out.

“Jesus, you’re a pain in the ass,” he says, grabbing my hand and sliding the ring onto my finger. “We’re getting married,” he states, and a bubble of laughter climbs up my throat, which he silences with a kiss.

“I love you,” I mumble against his lips when his mouth leaves mine.

“Love you too, baby.”

“We’re getting married,” I whisper, and his face goes soft and he kisses me again, murmuring, “We are.”

“Holy cow! I’m getting married!” I scream and start jumping around while holding my hand up in the air, looking at the way the light bounces off the stones.

“I can’t wait to tell everyone,” I say, breathing heavily and pausing to look at him. “I’m so happy.” I run at him and he catches me in his arms as I wrap my legs around his waist. He hoists me up with his hands under my ass. “I’m so, so happy.” I rest my forehead against his.

“July Abigail Silver.” He smiles, and my heart does a little flutter in my chest at the sound of his name with mine.

“I like the sound of that.” I close my eyes and tighten my arms and legs around him.

“Me too, babe,” he replies, kissing me again. This time, his mouth stays against mine for an extra long moment.

“Holy cow,” I repeat, opening my eyes and looking at the ring on my hand that is resting against his cheek.

“So I take it you say yes?” he asks, and I look into his eyes and nod then press my mouth to his again.

“Yes, a million times,” I say and he smiles. “Can we go tell my mom and dad?”

Chuckling, he mutters, “Thought I’d at least get lucky before then, but yeah, babe.”

“Oh, you’re gonna get lucky…very lucky, but the things I plan to do to you are going to take all night.”

“Really?”

“Yes,” I reply, and he slides me down his body, letting me feel his arousal, which causes me to whimper. “Maybe we can tell my parents tomorrow,” I suggest, and he throws his head back laughing, which causes me to giggle.

“Your sisters will be excited. I wasn’t sure when I was going to ask, and I know they are leaving tomorrow, so we can go visit with them then have the night to ourselves,” he says then picks up the helmet off the seat, placing it gently over my head and buckling me in. My heart, which is already full of love for him, gets that much bigger.

I wait until he has his helmet on and lifts his leg over the bike before I do the same. Once I have my legs tight to his thighs and my hands on his abs, he starts up the bike, squeezes my knee, and then pulls off onto the road, going back the way we just came, and even though I just saw the same scenery moments before, everything looks more vibrant. The colors of the trees in yellows, golds and oranges that let you know fall is in full swing, and the air feels cleaner and I just feel happier.

It doesn’t take long to reach my parents’ house, and when we do, my dad is the first to step outside. His eyes go to Wes, and even though I was afraid of his reaction to Wes to begin with, I can’t wait to tell him I’m getting married, that I found someone who loves me the way he does, completely without question, and honestly, I should have known better. That was all my dad ever wanted for any of his girls.

As soon as Wes shuts off the bike, I lift my hand in the air, and yell, “I’m getting married!” at the top of my lungs, which causes my dad to smile and Wes, who I was still pressed up against to laugh.

“Babe, hop off,” Wes orders, squeezing my knee, and I get off the bike and start fiddling with the straps of my helmet, trying to get it off while my hands shake with excitement. Lucky for me, Wes pushes my fingers away and quickly removes the helmet from my head. As soon as I’m free, I take off at a run towards my dad, who is still smiling, only bigger now. I pause halfway, run back to Wes, kiss the underside of his jaw, and then take off back towards my dad, who is now laughing at me, but I don’t care. I make it up the stairs to him and wrap my arms around his waist, feeling his go tight around me before I tip my head back and breathe, “I’m getting married,” again, this time with tears in my eyes.

“I know, my beautiful girl,” he says gently, bringing one hand up to cup my cheek, and I can see a deep happiness in his eyes. That one look tells me he’s happy I found what he and my mom have…what my grandparents have.

“Where’s mom?” I ask, swiping my eyes free of the tears that had filled them.

“She and your sisters were out back near the fire pit,” he tells me. I give him one more squeeze then take off into the house, running through, and then out the back door, yelling once again, “Wes asked me to marry him!” only this time, my news is met with squeals of happiness from my sisters, who all come and hug me, each saying how happy they are. Then I look at my mom, who has her hand covering her mouth and tears in her eyes. I go to her, wrapping my arms around her waist then resting my head on her chest, like I did when I was young.

“I love you, honey,” she whispers, running a hand down my hair and back, “more than you could ever know.” But she’s wrong. I do know how much she loves me. I know, because since the first moment I can remember, she has reinforced that love, always showing just how much each of us means to her. I’m lucky to have that, blessed beyond reason to know what it feels like to have that kind of love from my family. “Wes is a good man. Me and your father are both so happy for you guys.”