Chapter 102
“Okay,” he said, and Scooter sounded nervous. “I was…you know, I kinda rehearsed this, even, but…Andy, I’d…Be honored if you’d agree to marry me.”
Andy’s eyes flew open. Scooter had a small box in one hand, the sort that everyone who’d ever watched a cheesy rom-com was familiar with, black velvet and square. Scooter turned the box to face Andy and cracked the lid. His offering was simple; a gold band with a square sapphire, flanked by smaller, rectangular diamonds.
Andy couldn’t talk. He couldn’t even breathe. He hadn’t…They hadn’t been together for a whole year yet, and Andy already loved Scooter more than anything he’d ever felt before and oh God, he was tearing up, and if he did that he wouldn’t be able to see and he’d never be able to get down from this tree, he was just…”Oh my God,” he managed to squeak. “Are you—you really mean that?”
“I really do,” Scooter said. “You’re the one for me, Andy. I…can’t even, I mean, if you’re…it could be a long engagement, or, you know—”
“Oh, God, stop it, yes, of course, and also nowe’re not waiting. Well, you know, a little bit of waiting so we can do plans and have some ideas and did you have any particular time frame in mind but oh God I can’t shut up please make me shut up now—”
Scooter leaned forward and very gently brushed his mouth over Andy’s lips. “Give me your hand, baby.”
Andy shuffled closer and then let Scooter take his hand. He waited until Scooter had taken the ring out of its padding and said, “If you drop that and we lose it in the grass, I’m going to laugh so hard.”
“You said yes,” Scooter said, balancing the ring between his thumb and forefinger. “Can’t get out of it now, even if we lose the ring forever.” But he didn’t drop it, merely slid it onto Andy’s left ring finger where it fit snug in place. “Ah, good job,” Scooter said, holding Andy’s hand up to admire it.
“Wouldn’t want out of it,” Andy said. He leaned in cautiously to kiss Scooter, slow and then hot. “That’s why I said yes.” He glanced up at the leaves. “Hope she approves.”
“She’d adore you,” Scooter said. “Even if it was just because you make me so happy. But I think she’d see the same things in you that I do. Bravery, kindness, intelligence. Great sense of humor. You’re a fine catch, Andy. Thank you.”
Andy kissed Scooter again. Then, because if they kept being sappy he was going to tear up and seriously not be able to climb back down, he wiggled his eyebrows ridiculously and said, “Well, I’m happy you’re the one who caught me. Ready to take me home and stuff me properly?”
Scooter laughed, soft and a little wicked. “Oh, I’ll nail you up against the wall any time you want, baby doll.”
Andy started laughing helplessly. “That’s…that’s just terrible. That’s a terrible pun. I can’t live with this. The wedding’s off until the pun-tax has been paid!”
“Yeah?” Scooter shifted, preparing to climb down. “What sort of currency is acceptable? I’m sure I can come up with a suitable bribe.” He gave Andy a haughty look, “But I’ll have you know, I’m a faithful sort of man. I only have sex with my fiancé.”
“Oh, yeah?” Andy let Scooter help him down a level of branches. Going down was harder than going up. What even the hell. “I’m pretty sure I could talk to him, make a deal with him to get you on loan.”
“I wouldn’t,” Scooter said. “The interest rates are insane. Probably better just to buy outright.”
“Hmm, I dunno. I’m not sure I could afford you. Maybe I’ll ask my boss for a raise.”
Scooter swung down and touched the ground lightly, holding out his arms for Andy. “He’ll probably say no; he’s a little strapped. Got a wedding to pay for and a husband to support. Maybe you should just marry me, sounds like it’ll be easier.”
Andy could have dropped to the ground easily from the lowest branch, but he jumped into Scooter’s arms anyway, and wrapped his arms around Scooter’s neck. “You make a compelling argument,” he admitted, grinning.
“That’s good,” Scooter said. “Pretty sure Sam would turn me down flat. And then I’d have this ring and nothing to do with it.” He grinned back, then threw his head back and whooped. Scooter picked Andy up and swung him around in a circle before kissing him soundly. “You said yes!” he crowed. “God, baby, I was so scared. That you’d say it was too soon, or…”
Andy wrapped his arms around his fiancé’s waist and held on tight. “Good thing your Ma taught you to be brave, then.” 2
Andy was almost, almosttall enough to reach the light fixture while he was standing on one of the long picnic tables in Dockside’s dining room. Almost.