He's a Keeper

Chapter 27

           

Shane

She's there.

She's right there.

And it's in my pocket, and I'm so anxious, I feel like I'm going to throw up.

It's Christmas day. Everyone has been here for five days. The puppy is three weeks now, and he's healthy and happy and he's starting to play. She still hasn't named him. Everyone is getting along. They all hang out and we all joke and laugh. My baby girl's therapy is working. She's doing great. She decided to do a vet business. I'm proud of her.

I'm watching her. She's crouched next to the tree in a long red dress. Her body is perfectly tanned, and you can see her sideboob. She's so beautiful.

I already talked to her Dad, and I talked to her grandfather. They both said yes without an ounce of hesitation. My Dad and grandfather know how I'm doing it, and so do hers.

But I just have to have the balls to do it. She's playing with the puppy. She's happy and smiling and laughing, the puppy chewing on a toy.

She spent three hundred dollars at the pet store for his Christmas gifts.

I'm wearing dark jeans and a red button down, and black dress shoes.

Everyone knows I'm gonna do it except for her.

Everyone keeps looking at me.

I'm scared.

I can feel the black velvety box burning a hole against my leg.

It's right there.

And she's right there.

I can do it.

I take a deep breath, and make a move to get up.

But...but...but what if she says no

Fuck.

I sit back down.

She hasn't even realized that nobody is talking.

It's ten in the morning. Well, 10:02.

I was supposed to do it at ten.

Dad nudges me.

I look at him.

He looks at Felicity and back at me, and then he raises his eyebrows.

I was thinking it would be easy.

That I'd just distract her with something and when she turns, I'd be on one knee.

But she's going to get suspicious.

She's making me so anxious.

Damn this beautiful women.

The guys are all looking at me.

Tori is biting her lip.

She looks like she's going to slap me if I don't do it.

We've got hours.

We've got years.

I've got time.

There's no signs saying I need to do it right now.

But the song changes, and Faithfully comes on.

That's our song.

That's God telling me to do it.

Do it.

Fucking do it.

My grandfather had told me to put the ring on a puppys collar.