to the way her lungs work to pump oxygen in and out. I listen to the way her heart races. All of it grounds me, and I know as long as I have her, I won’t need anything else.
In the morning, I wake early and get dressed quietly as to not wake her. I quickly write out a note that I leave on my pillow, telling her that I’ll be right back and not to worry. I step out of our room and lock the door behind me, heading for the truck.
I spend my morning ring shopping. I stop at every jewelry store in the area before venturing out into the city. I don’t find the perfect one until it’s pushing ten a.m., four hours after I left the room. I wonder if she’s awake yet, but I hope that she’s not. I’d like to surprise her. The ring I end up getting is a three-carat princess-cut diamond on a thick silver band. I know it will probably look huge on her tiny little finger, but my girl deserves the best, and that’s exactly what I’m going to give her. The man wraps the box up and I set it on the passenger seat of the truck before driving home.
On the drive, I can’t keep my eyes off that box. Excitement courses though me at the thought of sliding it onto her finger and making her mine forever. I can’t help but dream about how our lives could be. I see myself building a house out on my family’s property, something big enough to support our growing family, but not too big that it feels empty when the kids grow up and move out. I can see the kids running and playing in the backyard while I work on an old engine in the garage and Deven works in the garden out back. I see us celebrating holidays and family birthdays there. I see the kids growing up and one by one leaving for college or to start their own lives. I see us growing old together. I know I made the right decision. There’s not a doubt in my mind.
I swing by the bakery and get a box of muffins and two coffees before heading back to our room. Before going in, I grab my phone and make an appointment for us later today before taking everything inside. Walking in and closing the door causes her to wake up. I thought she’d be up by now, so I made no attempts at being quiet.
Her dark eyes lock on mine, and I offer up a nervous smile. “Sorry, I didn’t realize you were still asleep.”
She gives me a sleepy smile as she sits up, holding the sheet to her naked chest. “It’s fine. I’ve slept too long as it is. I guess you really wore me out last night.”
That makes me smile as I place everything down on the table. “I got us muffins and coffee for breakfast.”
“Mmmm, that sounds amazing. I’ve starving.” She goes to get up, but I fall to my knee beside the bed. She looks down at me, confused, until I show her the box I’m hiding behind my back.
Her mouth drops open. “You didn’t have to do this, Hudson.”
“I didn’t have to buy my fiancée an engagement ring?”
“No. I mean, as long as we know what we are, why do I need a ring?”
I open the box and pick up the ring, showing it to her. She gasps at the beauty. “Because you’re mine and you deserve the best of everything,” I tell her, sliding the ring onto her finger.
She holds her hand out, watching as she moves her hand from side to side. “This is perfect,” she whispers. “Thank you.” Her eyes fill with tears as she looks over at me and wraps her arms around my neck.
“Thank you,” I reply, hugging her tightly. “I actually have another surprise for you this afternoon.”
She pulls back slightly, just enough so she can look me in the eye. “Another surprise? Hudson, this is enough. Seriously. I don’t need diamonds and money. I’ve gone my whole life without that stuff. I just need you.”
“I know you don’t need anything I can give you, but that’s not going to stop me. You deserve the world, and I’m going to give you any damn thing I want. Understand?”
She smiles but rolls her eyes and nods.
“Now, come on. Out of bed. Let’s eat breakfast then you can get ready and