55. Sawyer

CHAPTER 55

SAWYER

"My sister is going to kill me for doing this a thousand miles away from her."

"If we listen really closely, we might be able to hear her scream when she sees it," Leah teases as she places her left hand on my chest with the water in the background as she holds her phone up to take a photo of her engagement ring. The smile on her face as she types away warms my heart. She's beautiful, in every single way, and she's mine.

Only. Always and Forever.

She sucks in a deep breath and turns around to press her back against my chest as we await the responding texts.

Tay

I'm gonna fucking throw up. crying emoji

Shane

AHHHHHHHHH! SHE GONNA BE A WIFEY?! bride emoji ring emoji

Ruby

crying emoji Congratulations bby!! What a ROCK! heart eye emoji drooling emoji

Lauren

If you elope I'm kicking Sawyer in the balls. But also, OMFG I'M SO HAPPY FOR YOUUUUUU!!!! crying emoji heart emoji ring emoji

Tay

If you get married before me I will NEVER hear the end of it from Tucker. nervous emoji

"Hmm, eloping. There's a thought," I think aloud, catching a sassy side eye from my future wife.

"Nice try. Lauren will kick you in the balls. Taylor would probably try to shave your head and I'm not sure our parents would ever recover from the betrayal."

"You always were the smart one." I kiss her forehead, loving the way her eyes flutter closed every time I do. "Shouldn't you tell your mom too?" I look down and frown.

"Well, I figured I'd tell her once we got home."

"Because you trust Taylor not to have it on the front page of the newspaper by tomorrow morning?" She lets out a loud, beautiful laugh.

"A newspaper? " I tickle her sides as payback for mocking my outdated quip.

"You know what I mean." I bury my face in her neck and begin kissing her there repeatedly as she giggles.

"Fair enough. We could try to call her?"

"Let's do it." She pulls her phone back out and dials her mom via FaceTime. It rings twice before the line connects and Loretta comes into view.

"Hey, Mom." Leah smiles so big it's hard to miss the fact that she's sitting on information.

"Hey, Sweetheart, is everything okay?" She adjusts her glasses as the lamp on the end table next to her lights up the screen.

"Yeah, everything is fine. Sawyer and I took a little spontaneous trip to the place he wanted to bring me last month." She turns the camera around and shows her the lighthouse, turning it slowly towards Lake Superior as her mom squints to take it all in.

"Wow, it's lovely there!"

"Isn't it? He sure has an eye for beautiful things, doesn't he?" She turns the camera to me and places her hand on my chest much like she did with the photo she sent to the group chat.

"Yes, he sure—OH! OH MY GOODNESS! HE DID IT? HE PROPOSED?!" The line fills with emotional excitement and Leah turns the camera back around, putting us both into frame as she continues flaunting her ring to her mother.

"He did!" Their smiles are identical as they look at one another.

"Congratulations baby girl! Sawyer, you did good sweetheart," she says, giving me an encouraging wink.

"Thank you, Loretta, I'm glad you approve."

"You two have a fun night celebrating." She gives Leah a knowing look and I can't help but chuckle when Leah's face turns bright red.

" Mom! " Loretta rolls her eyes playfully at her daughter.

"I love you, sweet girl. When will y'all be back home?"

"We fly out in the morning so I'm back in time for my game," I answer, knowing Leah doesn't know that yet.

"See you both tomorrow."

"Bye Mom, I love you."

The line goes dead, and Leah lets out a sigh.

"Your parents next?" I groan, wishing we were a thousand thread counts deep into celebrating our engagement. "Really? If you thought Taylor would tell my mom, what makes you think she hasn't already called yours. "

"I really hate when you're right." I lean down and kiss her, hoping it'll sway her enough to change her mind.

It does not.

"Make the call, Moose."

"Fine, but as soon as we hang up this phone, I am taking you back to the hotel," I lean down and nip at her neck. "And I plan on keeping busy until our plane takes off in the morning."

"Call them faster," she breathes, and I smirk knowing I've gotten her worked up.

"Sawyer?" My mom says when the line connects.

"Who else would it be, Ma?" I tease as she turns the light on in the kitchen.

"Well, smart ass, you've never FaceTimed me at this ungodly hour before, I just wanted to make sure it was you. Are you okay?" When she slides her glasses on and sees Leah her face lights up a little more. "Leah! Hi sweetheart. What a pleasant surprise."

"I'll pretend that didn't hurt." Mom waves me off and I laugh. "Where's Dad?"

"He's just on the deck smoking a cigar. Why?"

"Can you call him over?" I love that my mom doesn't ask questions or start analyzing why I need both of them on FaceTime in the middle of the night.

"Tony! Come here, Sawyer is on the phone." Dad comes into the frame and notices Leah straight away.

"Hey there young lady. It's good to see you two together." He winks at her, and she smiles brightly.

"Thanks, sorry we're calling so late." She scrunches her nose up apologetically.

"No worries, it's never too late to call home." I pick Leah's hand up and kiss it, angling her ring finger at the screen.

"SAWYER ANTHONY CLARK!" Mom screams. "DID YOU ASK THAT GIRL TO MARRY YOU?!" No wonder Tot acts the way she does—she comes by it honestly.

"I did." I'm smiling so big my cheeks hurt.

"And she said yes ?" My dad teases as my mom continuously slaps his arm and screams.

"Of course I did, who could say no to this hair?" Leah matches his wit, running her hand through the brown waves and he smiles.

"Well, I'll be…" Dad's smile grows wider and he swipes at his eyes. Meanwhile my mom is a blubbering mess, wiping her eyes repeatedly to clear her vision.

"Congratulations to you both. Leah, sweetheart, you have always been part of this family in my heart. I am just so happy it's going to be official now." Mom sniffles as tears fill Leah's eyes.

"Thanks, Mama Marilyn. I love you." Leah sniffles now too.

"Oh, I love you more, sweet girl." Mom's lip quivers and Dad wraps his arm around her and pulls her over to kiss her temple.

"We did good, Honey."

"Goodnight Mom and Dad, I love you."

"Love you too, Son."

"Love you, baby boy." I roll my eyes playfully at my mom's comment. She has no idea her baby boy is about to do unspeakable things to his future bride.

We hang up the phone and as soon as it's back in my pocket Leah looks up at me.

"I was promised there would be hotel sex." She smiles devilishly, sending waves of excitement through my whole body.

God, I love this woman.