The River Speaks

Chapter Forty Three: Date

Chapter Forty Three: Date

We ended up sitting down and explaining Aiden's past to my siblings who apologized profusely when they found out the truth.
We had dinner at home for my birthday, we had cake, and then we watched a movie. Aiden and I went up to bed early and made out for a while, and then I sat and colored in a coloring book while he worked on his book.
Now it's the next morning, and he's taking me on a date.
He told me to dress to go riding, so I threw on a t-shirt, jeans, and cowgirl boots. My brown hair is down and wavy, and I'm excited for this date.
Anything in the woods makes me excited.
I'm supposed to meet him in the barn, so I wander out of the house and across the property to the barn.
When I walk in, he's sitting talking to my Dad and brother, but they all go silent when we walk in.
"Where are we going?" I ask excitedly.
"I can't tell you." Aiden smiles.
"How long will we be gone for? Is it a long ride?"
"It's overnight." He responds.
An overnight ride?!
"Really?" I ask excitedly. "I haven't been on a ride like that since we were running from Elliot."
"I know, but there's a catch." Aiden says.
"What's that?" I ask.
"When we get close, you have to put on a blindfold."
"You know I hate blindfolds. Can't you just walk me?"
He hesitates.
"We'll see."
He grabs the overnight bag and slings it over his shoulder. His handgun from work is in his right hand, and he hands me the rifle.
"You kids have fun." Daddy says. "Be careful."

*****

I ride beside Aiden. He's on Winter, who had her foal about six months ago, and I'm, of course, on Ruby.
"Where are we going?" I ask Aiden.
"It's a surprise." He says.
I'm not a fan of surprises, but anything from him is perfect.
"Can I ask you something?" Aiden asks.
"You just did." I say. He rolls his eyes.
"Remember that day Reese was getting that girl off in the bar?" He asks.
"Yes."
"And I ran into Katie?" He continues.
Katie.
"Yes." I say, trying to hide my distaste.
"You broke a glass and left the moment she showed up. Were you jealous?"
I hesitate, thinking back to that day.
Aiden was teasing me and it felt good, I guess. And then Katie comes along and he was with her.
"Yes." I say finally. "I broke the glass because I was squeezing it so hard because I was jealous she was getting all the attention."
"I knew it." He grins.
I stay quiet, deep in thought as I think back to Katie and how she looked.
Aiden chose her. He didn't choose me, it just kind of happened.
"Was Amelia blonde?" I ask.
"Yes." He says."Why?"
I bet she was blonde with big boobs and a big butt, just like Katie.
Those girls are Aiden's type.
I'm a brunette with freckles, small boobs and a small butt.
He pulls Winter to a stop, so I do the same with Ruby.
"What's wrong?" He asks.
"Nothing." I say quietly.
"Lily." He says. "Talk to me."
I sigh.
"Sometimes I feel like...I'm...not good enough for you." I say.
I'm trying to work on communicating with him, so I'll tell him the truth.
"Why would you think that?" He asks.
"How did you meet Amelia?" I wonder.
He shrugs. "I hit on her at my college campus. Why?"
"You hit on her. Blonde. Big boobs. Big butt. You hit on Katie. Blonde. Big boobs. Big butt. But you never hit on me, because I'm not your type."
He gets off of Winter and gestures for me to get off of Ruby, so I do.
He moves to stand in front of me.
"Sweetheart, the reason that I never hit on you is because I was nervous. I still do get nervous. You're beautiful in a lot of other ways. You're beautiful in your eyes with your freckles. You have a beautiful body, but more importantly, you're beautiful in here." He points to my heart. I hit on them because of how they looked, yes, but I'm in love with you because of who you are and how you look. I'm in love with you for the way your eyes light up when you talk about Ruby. I'm in love with you for the way you hide your face in my shirt when you're scared or really happy or upset, even though I hate seeing you upset.. I'm in love with you for the way you look when you're thinking. I'm in love with you for how excited you get when I walk into the room. I'm in love with you for you, all of you, not just your body. You, my beautiful girl, are more my type than anybody else on the entire planet, because my type," he takes my hands in his. "Is you."
My eyes are full of tears and I laugh nervously, wiping them.
"I love you so much." I whisper.
"I love you too."
His eyes stay locked on mine for a moment, and then he shakes his head and smiles.
He kisses me, and then pats my butt and points to Ruby.
I kiss him one more time and climb back onto her, watching as Aiden does the same thing.

*****

At sunset, Aiden pulls us to a stop.
"Lovebug, I don't like blindfolds." I remind him.
"Alright, hop down."
I get off Ruby.
"Now turn around and shut your eyes." He says.
"You're leaving?" I ask.
"Yes. Please don't peek, okay? It's really important to me."
"Okay." I reply. I accept his kiss and turn around, shutting my eyes.
I hear him lead the horses away. The river sounds close and I'm nervous to know what the surprise is.
After a few seconds, I hear footsteps.
"Okay." Aiden puts his hands on my shoulders. He kisses my cheek from behind. "Ready?"
He sounds nervous, which makes me nervous, but I nod anyways.
He moves his hands over my eyes and I reach up to hold his biceps. His body is pressed against mine, and he leads me.
"Root." He murmurs.
I step over it.
"Plants." He says. He uses one of his hands to push them out of the way.
He moves me a few feet forward, and then he stops.
"Okay, I'm taking my hands away, but don't open your eyes until I tell you." He says.
"Okay." I say nervously.
His hands disappear and I hear him moving.
"Okay. Open your eyes."
His voice is gentle, hushed.
I open my eyes, and my jaw drops.
There's a picnic table, a pitched tent, a fire crackling in the middle, and resting against a tree is a sign that says in Aiden's messy handwriting, Will you marry me?
My jaw opens slightly and I turn around, my hands covering my mouth to see him on one knee behind me.
I let out a little laugh and I'm not sure if I should squeal or cry, but he looks so nervous and he's so fucking cute.
"I always knew, or rather hoped, to some degree that I would find somebody to be with forever." He says. His voice is shaking slightly and I feel a few tears roll down my cheeks. "But I never thought that the person I found was going to be so incredible. I know it's only been seven months, and maybe it's fast, but there's only a few things in my life I'm absolutely certain about, and all of them involve you. You have managed to complete me on a level I can't even begin to understand. You can reverse my mood without even trying. You have given me a whole new reason to breathe, and it wasn't until you came along that I realized it's not about finding somebody that you don't fight with, it's about finding somebody who will stay awake all night to resolve the argument. It's about somebody who won't give up. Somebody who will stay no matter how hard things get." He pauses. "I know sometimes I get a little jealous and crazy, but I was raised hardly knowing what love is, and now that I have it, now that I have you, I never want to let you go. So...Lilliana Kindell, will you marry me?"
I always thought I would have to think about it before I said yes, but I don't.
"Oh my god, Aiden, yes!" I laugh tearfully. He smiles brightly and takes my left hand, sliding a beautiful diamond ring on my finger. He stands up and lifts me into his arms, kissing me excitedly.  I tangle my fingers in his hair and kiss him back. My legs lock around his waist and his hands land on my butt.
After a moment though, I'm forced to pull away because I'm smiling too big. I peck his lips multiple times, and then he sets me down.
"I love you, I love you, I love you!" He says, kissing me between each saying.
"I love you too." I grin. "So, so much."

*****

Lol Chloe you thought something was wrong when I told you I was crying because of this chapter
~Sam