Feeling special and very loved, she walked to the back, leaning against Lucas as they made their way to the table.
“Surprise!” a loud group of people yelled out, and Maxie blinked, jerking back into Lucas.
Kade and Lexie, Kendall, Derek, her friend Bailey and her boyfriend, and to Maxie’s utter surprise, Lucas’ parents were there as well.
“What’s going on?” she asked, glancing up at Lucas.
“We waited a long time for our time. To get things right. And I thought you’d want to be around people who love you when we celebrate.”
She wrinkled her nose. “Celebrate what?”
“Our official engagement,” he said, reaching into this pocket and pulling out a small black box.
She sucked in a shallow breath. She’d agreed to marry him at the hospital, but she hadn’t been sure it wasn’t a spur-of-the-moment question born of frustration that he hadn’t been able to get in to see her. They hadn’t discussed it again since.
Clearly he’d been planning though.
He popped open the box, revealing a huge round stone in a classic Tiffany setting. “Lucas!”
“I might not always act like I’m a billionaire, but my wife is going to look like she’s married to one.” He lifted the ring from the box.
She couldn’t help but notice his hand was shaking, which endeared her to him even more. Because she was trembling too. How could she not be when all her dreams were finally coming true?
He knelt down on one knee. “Maxie Sullivan, I have loved you my entire life and plan to love you for eternity. Will you marry me?”
Her eyes welled up, threatening to ruin the makeup she’d put on so carefully. “Yes. Of course!” She held out her hand.
He slipped the ring onto her finger, where it fit perfectly. “Lucas, I love it and I love you.”
He rose and leaned in for a kiss, which resulted in a round of applause from their company, who she’d almost forgotten was there.
A glance told her everyone looked happy for them, including his mother and father.
“How’d you manage your parents being here?” she asked quietly.
“Believe it or not, that was easy. In the end, they don’t want to lose their family. They love you.” He pulled her against him, heedless of the people waiting to congratulate them. “And so do I.”
With that pronouncement, he kissed her again, for a long, long, long time.