My Unexpected Love (Beaumont: Next Generation 2) - Page 64

The women are all gathered together, forming a circle around my soon to be wife. Each day, I wake and pinch myself, to make sure I’m not dreaming. My life is my dream. Peyton and I are going to be married. I had hoped we’d have set a date by now, but she wants to finish school first. I get it. However, the season is approaching fast and I’m going to be tied up, hopefully until the first weekend of February. It’s a dream, leading the Portland Pioneers to the Super Bowl, but not one that’s out of reach. Our off-season acquisitions put us high on the depth charts and the rookie sensation we drafted is sure to give us the boost we need to get over the expansion hump.

Their laughter makes me smile. Even from here, I know they’re looking at the wedding book Peyton has meticulously put together. Everything from flowers, to dresses and color schemes. Each section of her binder is organized by season. I have yet to fully look through it, except when she’s sitting beside me and assumes I’m not paying attention to her. The thing is, I’m always watching her, memorizing the way she flips the pages and what season lights up her eyes - Christmas. Peyton won’t come out and tell me it’s what she wants, she doesn’t have to. Her expression says it all. And yet, we both know it’s about impossible to have a winter wedding with my schedule.

“Do you ever feel like they’re talking about you?” Quinn nods toward the group. Not a single one of them is looking around to see if anyone is staring at them. They’re too busy oohing and aahing over the collection Peyton is showing them.

“They are talking about me,” I tell him. “That’s Peyton’s wedding book or bible.”

“Ah,” Quinn says, almost as if he understands.

“Yep.” I ask Quinn if he wants something to drink as I get up to head to the cooler. He tells me he’s good but that he’ll take one of the cookies sitting out on the tray. Luckily, for me, the cooler is near the love of my life and it gives me an opportunity to be in her presence for a few seconds. It’s funny to think I spent most of my life with her, growing up next to her, and yet I can’t get enough of her. During the season, the few days we’re apart are the hardest of my week. I don’t care how many times I’m sacked on Sundays—well I do care, but it’s different—missing her is a pain I can’t describe. Even though I know I’m going to see her, my heart still breaks each time we have to say good-bye.

Standing behind Peyton and the rest of the female contingent, I pick up bits and pieces of their conversation. It’s my mother who tells Peyton she can’t have a winter wedding and the dejected sigh and almost too quiet “I know” really hits me square in the chest.

“You look lost,” my dad says as he stands next to me. “Unless you’re admiring.”

I laugh because all you can see are the backsides of everyone. “Just listening.”

My dad reaches into the cooler and pulls out two beers, handing me one. “Let’s take a walk.”

“I need to deliver a cookie to Quinn.” However, my dad doesn’t care and puts his arm on my shoulder, directing me toward the darkened beach. “Is there something wrong?”

“Nope,” he says as we trudge through the sand. “Just want to talk to my son for a minute, away from everyone else.”

We walk until our feet start to sink into the wet sand from the receding tide. “What’s on your mind?”

He laughs. “Not mine, yours. I’m not kidding when I said you looked lost back there. What’s going on?”

I sigh heavily and take a quick drink of the bottle of beer. Not my favorite, but right now I don’t care. “I’m fairly certain Peyton wants to get married around Christmas, but she won’t come out and tell me.”

My dad is silent as we stand there listening to the ocean lap at the shores. For the most part, the beach is priv

ate and the only people out here are the homeowners. Long put away are the pile of surf and wake boards we had out earlier.

“So why not just propose the date to her?”

“Because I can’t. It’s during season and it’s not like I can take the time needed off.”

“Have you looked at the calendar?” he asks. I shake my head and pull out my phone. It’s like a light bulb goes off as a smile spreads across my face.

* * *

Later that night, Peyton and I lie in bed, facing each other. It’s times like this when I wish we had rented a hotel room, but her parents would be hurt. Of course, I should be thankful they allow me to stay the night with her. I think they know if I weren’t allowed, she wouldn’t stay here.

“You looked like you were having a good time going through your book tonight.”

“I was,” she says. “It’s nice to be here with everyone instead of exchanging emails about ideas. Where did you go with your dad?”

“You noticed?”

“I always notice, Noah. As soon as you started walking away, I knew.”

I slide a bit closer to her. “Did you watch me walk away?” I ask, teasing her.

Thankfully, the moonlight is beaming through the window because without it, I wouldn’t be able to tell she’s blushing. I run my thumb over the pinkness of her cheek and smile. “I love you.”

“I love you too.”

“Tell me what you want, Peyton. You know I’ll give it to you.” She doesn’t say anything, although I can see it in her eyes; she has so much to say. “Will you marry me?” I ask her.

Tags: Heidi McLaughlin Beaumont: Next Generation Romance
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