Wild Card (North Ridge #1)

I raise my brow, looking around. Looks like just a parking lot to me.

“This,” he says, grabbing my left hand and slowly pulling off my glove. “This is the place where we came apart, a distance that could have lasted forever had you not come back to North Ridge, had we both not found each other again. Had we not been brave enough to try again. I don’t want this parking lot to stand for that. I want it to be the place where we finally came together.”

Part of me wants to point out that he’s waxing poetic about a parking lot and the other part, well that part is yelling SHUT UP RACHEL AND LET HIM TALK!

“Rachel Waters,” he says, his voice shaking. He drops to one knee in the snow and looks up at me with so much love that I’ve got a universe expanding in my chest.

I can’t believe this is happening.

Is this even happening?

“I’ve loved you since forever and you have my whole heart for my whole life. Will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?”

He holds out a rose gold ring that glows amongst the snow.

Oh my god.

It’s so beautiful.

This is so beautiful and it’s going so fast and I need to hold onto this forever and—

“Are you going to say yes?” Shane asks. “Because I can’t feel my fingers anymore.”

I burst out laughing.

“Yes!” I cry out. “Yes, of course, yes. I will be your wife. I will marry the hell out of you.”

I expect him to slide the ring on my finger but he just holds it out to me. “Read the inscription.”

I peer inside the ring.

It’s engraved: This was what I wished for.

And the tiny symbol of a wishbone.

I glance at Shane and now the tears are coming, though they’re freezing on my cheeks. “That’s what you wished for all those years ago, when we were nine?”

He nods. “I wished I’d marry you one day,” he says earnestly. “And I spent a long time holding out for it to be true. I still have that half a wishbone saved, tucked away in my closet. I don’t need it anymore.”

“No, you don’t,” I say, wiping away my tears while he slides the ring on. A perfect fit. “My mother gave me a wishbone before her surgery and I saved it, too afraid to wish on it. Now I don’t need to. Shane, I’m yours forever.”

“My wish come true.”

Suddenly applause and hoots and hollers fill the air and Shane gets to his feet as we turn and see everyone crowded at the entrance to the pub. Hank, Vernalee, Del, even Old Joe.

“Way to go, cowboy!” Del yells.

“We’re so happy for you!” shouts my mother.

“Beers are on me,” says Old Joe, attempting to light a cigarette that Del snatches out of his fingers and tosses into the snow.

“Now will you two get back inside here before you get frostbite and we can celebrate?” Hank mutters, shaking his head. “Sheesh. Young kids these days, you know?”

“Oh I know,” Vernalee says, kissing him happily before they go back inside.

“Come with me, future Mrs. Shane Nelson,” Shane says, taking my hand in his and holding tight.

“Whatever you wish,” I tell him and let him lead me home.



THE END