Marrying Ember(26)

Once my fingers were securely locked around the velvet box, I slowly lowered myself to one knee, trying to ignore the increase in sniffles from the group.

“I want you to marry me, Ember—”

Ember sank to both of her knees in front of me, her shoulders softly shaking as she cried. “Yes, Bo. I’ll marry you.”

We leaned toward each other, our foreheads meeting in the middle as our tears mixed.

“You didn’t let me finish,” I teased.

“There’s more?” She laughed and cried as Regan’s song finished and we were left in the silence of anticipation.

I opened the ring box.

“It was my mother’s,” I started, cutting her off preemptively. “Well, the stone was. I had it reset. For you. For us.” My fingers felt like they’d tripled in size as I plucked the ring from its satin pillow.

I’d had the large diamond reset, nestled into a band of braided rose gold. Antique looking, and perfectly Ember.

“Your mother’s,” she whispered, her lips pursing together as she held out her hand. Her non-verbal commitment.

A slight sob escaped my mouth. “She would have loved you so much, Ember. They both would have. My sister was crazy about you …” I took a deep breath. Rather than let sorrow drown me, I let the spirits of my departed family members lift me up and hold me against the woman that I loved.

Despite being in the dirt, and surrounded by family and friends, Ember and I stayed in our private moment for a few seconds longer, breathing in the serenity we brought to each other.

Finally, Ember spoke. “Can I say yes yet?”

I slid the ring on her slender finger, watching my mother’s diamond catch the light from the tiny strands of lights hanging over us. “Almost.”

“There’s more?” She sniffed and leaned back as the ring settled into perfect placement.

“I want to do it now.”

Ember’s eyebrows pulled together. “You’ve asked me.”

“I want to marry you now. Tonight. Here. There’s nothing we could plan that could possibly be more perfect than this moment. Right here. Me. You. Our family and friends. I’ve wanted to marry you since the very second I met you, Ember. I don’t want to wait any more.”

Ember slowly rose to standing, tugging my hands so I’d follow. The humidity ran her waves in wild patterns around her face and shoulders. Her tears seemed to dry in an instant, and I was shaking as I waited for her response. Though the fire in her yes gave me all the answer I needed.

After an eternity and a half, her shoulders rose as she took a deep breath, and sank again as she exhaled. “Right now.” She smiled and bit her lip. “I want to be your wife tonight. And tomorrow morning, and for all the mornings we have left. And, even after those run out. I’ll marry you tonight, Bo Cavanaugh, because I’ve been waiting for you to ask since before I even knew you.”

The world got loud, then. The sound of our bodies crashing into an incredible kiss. One we usually saved for the privacy rarely afforded to us. Squeals from her friends and parents and band members, and slaps on the back from Regan and Josh were like the champagne bottle breaking on a newly christened ship.

“Wait,” Ember shook her head, seeming to try to shake some sense into herself, “how? How can we, tonight?”

I looked through the small crowd and locked eyes with Journey, who graciously placed her hand on Ember’s shoulder.

“If you’ll have me,” Journey stated kindly, “I’d love to officiate. Of course you’ll need to handle the license and all of that in the morning … but, hell, that’s just paperwork. We can join you tonight. If you’d like.”

Ember looked at me hopefully. “Are you okay with that?”

I grinned. “I already asked her.”

“I can’t wear this.” Ember seemed to start to panic, but her mom, Monica, and Georgia fluttered to her side in an instant.

“I’ve got a dress for you, sweetie.” Raven wrapped her arms around her daughter and me at the same time. “I’m just beside myself for you two.”

“Wait!” Ember shouted, striking silence through the crowd. “Daddy?”

On command, Ashby moved next to his daughter. “What is it?”

“You said it was okay, right?”

Everyone broke into loud laughter as Ember and her dad hugged again. It was a beautiful sight, given the past few days.

“He’s a good man, Ember. And, if I have to let you go,” his voice pinched as he wiped under his eyes, “it could be to no one better.”

Ember pulled her dad closer. “You’re not letting me go,” I caught her whisper into his ear.

“Okay,” Ember said as she pulled away from her dad. “I need to freshen up.”

Georgia and Monica stepped forward. Before they could say anything, a small rental sedan screeched it’s way to the campsite, stopping just behind the RV.

The door flew open in a flash, and Willow ejected from the driver’s seat, running toward us. “Did I miss it? Did I miss it? I got here as fast as I could!” She caught up with Ember, panting with her hands on her hips.

Suddenly everyone’s eyes were on me once again. I shrugged. “Everyone needed to be here.” I held my breath that I’d made the right choice in calling Willow during her road trip back to San Diego.