rival club, but my mission isn’t complete. Never will be. I love Emily, and I want to spend the rest of my life keeping her safe and making her happy.
In the living room, Breanna and Razor are catching up with Nina, my parents, and Razor’s dad and step-mom. On the front porch, through the open screen door, I can hear Chevy, Isaiah, Rachel, and Violet swapping stories. There’s multiple conversations happening. Laughter and smiles all around. It’s the way Olivia would have wanted her family to be—together.
Emily glances up, as if she can feel me watching her, and she gives me that gorgeous smile. I tilt my head toward the front door. It’s a question. Can we steal a few minutes alone?
My original idea was to take her to the overlook to propose, but we’ve lost too much time. Tonight’s party is already under way. Once Emily hits the clubhouse, I’ll be lucky to see her again until she’s dead on her feet and ready for bed.
Emily nods and I can inhale again. We’ll have a few minutes alone, I’ll propose to her and she’ll have the rest of the night with our family.
She scoots back from the table, tells Eli and Cyrus she’s going to spend a few minutes with me and Eli stands along with her.
“I’m going to give Isaiah James’ motorcycle tonight,” he says low enough I can barely hear it.
Emily brightens. “Tonight?”
“Yeah.” He looks as giddy as she is.
“When?”
Eli looks over at Cyrus. “I don’t know. We haven’t thought about that yet. It’s inside the clubhouse now. We had Pigpen bring it in after Isaiah came into the cabin.”
“Eli,” I interrupt. “Emily and I are going to take a walk.”
Eli meets my eyes and the understanding is clear: I’m about to propose and I’d appreciate it if he didn’t get in the way…again.
“But you and Oz take some time—” Eli starts.
“We will, but you have to give Isaiah the bike now or he’ll see it when he goes into the clubhouse.”
Cyrus glances between me and Emily, also catching on. “No, we’ll wait a few minutes.”
“Nonsense.” Emily approaches me and takes my hand. “Aren’t you excited to see Isaiah receive his bike?”
Of course I am. “Yes.”
“Then we’ll go for a walk after.” She kisses my lips in a slow way, in a promising way, but I know how this will play out. She’ll be lost in all the people who will want to see her the moment we walk into the clubhouse. Then, as we catch up with our friends by the bonfire, she’ll fall asleep in my arms.
I wanted this to be perfect. I had planned roses and candles and music. But perfection isn’t going to happen.
“Seriously, Emily,” Eli tries again, “we can wait. You and Oz haven’t had two seconds together since you got here.”
She cocks an eyebrow. “Since when have you been concerned about my quality time with Oz?”
She’s right, and Eli shoves his hands in his pockets, fumbling for a response. But Emily doesn’t notice, as she’s on a mission. She wants to see her cousin receive a gift that means the world to her father.
Emily slips away from me, into the living room and out onto the porch. “Isaiah, let’s head to the clubhouse.”
I follow, and I hear footsteps as everyone in the house follows as well.
“Emily,” I say softly as a growing sense of purpose takes hold of me.
“This is going to be such a great party,” she continues.
“Emily,” I say a bit louder. When she glances at me over her shoulder, her long dark hair falls all around her, and I lose the ability to breathe. I love her. More than anything. I want to spend the rest of my life with her. I want her to want to spend the rest of her life with me, as well.
The entire porch goes quiet—Razor, Breanna, Chevy, Violet, Isaiah, Rachel, Eli, Nina, Cyrus, Hook, Pigpen, Caroline, my mom and dad. I don’t know why they’re so silent. Maybe because everyone here knows how long I’ve been wanting to do this.
Emily stares at me, a question in her eyes, and I stare back, hoping and praying that she does love me as much as I love her.
Lots of people are gathered in the yard, there to keep Isaiah from going into the clubhouse so he doesn’t see his gift. As the silence stretches on the porch, the loud conversation and laughter in the yard dies. Emily glances around as if searching for answers,