Chapter Thirty-Three

Aiden

 

“This has been the longest weekend of my life,” I whined to Luke, who sipped on one of my beers.

“I doubt that,” he chuckled, raising an eyebrow in my direction.

He was right. There were plenty of weekends out in the field or on the ship that seemed to last forever. Still, this was up there.

“What if she doesn’t call?” I asked.

“She’ll call,” he said sternly.

I knew he was growing tired of listening to me groan about Blake, but she was all I could think about.

I had it all planned in my head, the speech, the proposal. The one thing I didn’t have all wrapped up was the possibility she may not be interested.

“Where did you put the ring?” Luke asked.

It had been in my hands all weekend, wrapped around my pinky, just at the tip. I’d twirl it when I got nervous, and Luke had reprimanded me several times about losing it if I wasn’t careful. I was always careful.

“In my pocket,” I smiled, patting down the left side of my Levi’s.

It was a gorgeous ring, one that Blake deserved. The shiny gold band that I bought to match my own for our wedding, our fake wedding, was cheap, something just to get the job done. This ring was a diamond, princess-cut, and so brilliant it was hard to stare at it in the light.

“I’m gonna call my abuela,” I announced, standing to grab my phone.

Luke shook his head as I made the call. First, I just listened to the old woman tell me how she’d been out in the fields picking her beans.

“I told you, I would get to it,” I groaned.

“I’m perfectly capable,” she sighed on the other end of the phone.

There was no doubt in my mind that she was capable of just about anything. And there was no doubt in my mind that she’d never lie to me.

“Abuela, do you think she’ll call?” I asked.

The old woman chuckled, causing me to pull the phone from my ear. Luke shook his head, laughing at I’m sure what he thought was me acting ridiculous.

I hung up, fell back into the couch cushion, and dug into my pocket for the ring. I pulled it out, twirling it around my finger, and thought about all the things I would say to Blake once given the chance.

“You know she’s been working,” Luke questioned, his eyes narrowing on me as he spoke.

“I know,” I sighed.

I had talked to her, mainly through text, but our communication was much more frequent than before Gunner. She complained about having the extra responsibility, the fact that his poop was larger than his head, and that she had only a few days to meet her deadline.

When I asked her if she wanted me to come get him, just keep him here until she was done, she screeched at me, demanding I do no such thing. It was obvious she was already in love with Gunner. I’d made the perfect choice.

My phone beeped, causing me to lunge forward to grab it and knock my beer all over the table. Luke laughed as I stared at the screen.

“It’s her,” I announced proudly, holding the phone up so Luke could see.

It was a text, not a call, but it was something, and at that moment, I needed something.

“What’s it say?” Luke pushed.

I read the text aloud.

Blake: Finally done with work; now I can finish this scavenger hunt…

Holy shit, it was happening, it was finally happening!

“Great. I was beginning to wonder if I’d be around for this proposal,” Luke laughed.

I knew he would be taking off soon, and that thought had crossed my mind as well.

“You’ll come back for the wedding though, right?” I asked.

“Of course, you think I’d miss a chance to be at my best friend’s second wedding to the same girl?” he chuckled.

I texted Blake back quickly, and then took a long swig of what was left of my spilled beer.

Me: Good, congrats on your work. When do you plan to start?

Blake:I’m gonna shower, and then I’ll start

Me:Okay

My heart raced. She was starting it tonight. Tonight was the night I would ask my wife to marry me. I laughed, choking on some of my beer as I tried to speak, but couldn’t due to the ironic thought in my mind.

“She’s showering, and then she’s starting the hunt,” I announced to Luke, who was already standing, staring out the window.

“We’ve got a lot of work to do,” he nodded in my direction.

I had everything planned. It would be perfect. Now, I just had to get everyone there, on time, and hidden from Blake’s sight.