Ready or Not (The Ready Series Book 4)(81)

“Who hides a ring in an oatmeal container?” someone asked.

“Jackson obviously,” I answered.

“And when was this?” Mia asked.

“Nearly two weeks ago.”

Silence.

“See? This is why I didn’t want to tell you guys!” I said, throwing my hands up in the air.

“I’m sure he’s just waiting for the perfect moment,” Leah suggested.

“Maybe he has cold feet,” Declan said before he cried out in pain. “Ouch! My nipple is still attached to my body, Leah!”

“Not for long!”

“Oh my God, please stop! Too many images in my head. And maybe Declan’s right. What if Jackson has changed his mind?”

“I think we need another opinion,” Clare suggested, pressing another button or five on her phone.

Suddenly, Logan was joining us. “Hey, babe. Are you okay?”

“Yes, I’m fine. We’re fine. Say hi to everyone.”

“Who’s everyone?” he asked in confusion.

“Hi!” we all shouted together.

“Oh, okay…so everyone. Is this some sort of club meeting I wasn’t aware of? Can I nominate Declan for President?”

“President of Awesome,” Declan added.

“Oh my God, you guys are children. I called because Liv found an engagement ring at Jackson’s place.”

“That’s great! Congratulations—early, I guess?”

“Well, that’s what she’s worried about. Apparently, she found the ring nearly two weeks ago,” Clare said, looking up at me as she spoke into the phone.

“So?” Logan said. “Do you know how long I had Clare’s ring in my pocket? Months. Sometimes, it’s not a matter of knowing if the person is right, but if the timing is. He bought the ring, so he’s got the first part figured out. It’s all down to timing now.”

I looked at the phone, like it was my friend standing in front of me. “Are you sure?”

“Positive.”

“Thanks, guys.”

“Anytime,” Clare answered.

“Can we go now? I have important things to take care of, Liv,” Declan chimed in. “Oh, and let’s do this more often. But not in the afternoons…or mornings…scratch evenings off the schedule, too.”

“Mental images!” I screeched.

“You’re welcome! Good-bye!”

The phone clicked, and slowly, we said good-bye to the rest, leaving just Clare and me once again.

“When—not if—he asks, what will be your answer?”

I smiled sheepishly. “Guess you’ll have to wait and find out.”





Jackson

“It’s been a month, and I still haven’t asked her,” I admitted as Declan and I wasted away an afternoon playing pool at a local sports bar. I had yet to nail down a job, finding one reason or another to turn down every respectable offer I’d received. I had plenty of money to float us for as long as necessary, but I hated sitting around, doing nothing all day. Especially when I had Liv’s ring constantly reminding me of the many possibilities the future held.

“Why the hold up?” he inquired.

I watched him line up his shot and sink three balls with ease.

“I have no clue. The words are right there on the tip of my tongue, and every time she walks through the damn door, I think, This is it. This is the exact moment I’ve been waiting for. Then, nothing. I end up asking her about her day or if she thinks my flowers are being properly watered.”

“You’re not getting cold feet, are you? I mean, you love her, right?” he asked, standing up straight to meet my gaze.

“God, yes. Jesus, calm down. You look like the Hulk, about to go postal.”

“Just looking out for my family.” He shrugged. His shoulders loosening, he grabbed his beer from the nearby table.

“I honestly don’t know what it is. I mean, Noah is doing great, better than great actually, which is amazing considering everything we went through. And yeah, things with her father still aren’t fantastic, but I know that will take some time. I just keep waiting for the perfect moment.”

Setting his beer down, he turned to face me. “Did you ever think that maybe that moment doesn’t exist?”

“What do you mean?” I asked.

“I mean, maybe it’s not about how you ask. Do you really think five or ten years down the road it’s really going to make a f*ck-ton of difference if you asked her while you were cuddled on the couch in front of the TV or by some waterfall three months from now because you were waiting for the perfect opportunity?”

I rolled my eyes. “Says the dude who had his wife’s initials tattooed on his chest as part of his marriage proposal.”

Declan’s cocky grin lit up his face. “Well, we all can’t be as awesome as me.”

“Clearly.”

“Dude, I’m going to do you a favor, a huge and epic favor. It will break about a million friend laws that I don’t even know exist, but Leah will cite me for them, if she ever finds out.”

“I have no idea what the hell you’re talking about,” I replied in confusion.

“She knows.”