“Liza, how is Keith?” Courtney asked as Reed wrapped his arms around her.
I smiled at their display of affection. Walker and Ava were just like their parents. Ava was the spitting image of her Courtney. Walker was a younger version of Reed. When I’d seen Walker earlier, it took everything out of me to keep my jaw from dropping. Walker had clearly been working out. He was bigger than he was last summer. His messy brown hair always looked like he’d just run his hands through it after a shower. When my eyes were searching his body, I’d noticed a piece of a tattoo on his right arm, peeking out from his T-shirt. His blue eyes had pierced mine, demanding my attention, like always.
The moment he’d noticed the ring on my finger, I’d seen the hurt in his eyes. It had just about gutted me. I can’t believe I was so stupid—I’d meant to take it off. My phone buzzed in my pocket and I pulled it out.
Keith: I just landed. Are you home?
Me: Yep! Just got here a bit ago.
Keith: Have you told your folks the news?
Me: News??
Keith: Yes, Liza. Our engagement!
I rolled my eyes and looked around. Everyone was busy talking so I walked out into the living room.
Me: I haven’t officially said yes yet.
Keith: You’re wearing the ring though, right?
I pulled my hand up and looked at the massive oval-cut diamond on my finger. I tried to take a deep, cleansing breath. I need to take this massive thing off.
Me: Yes. But, Keith, you gave me until the end of summer. Remember?
Then I heard a scream. My mother came running toward me. “Taylor Elizabeth Morris! Why didn’t you tell us?”
I gave her a confused look and laughed. “What are you talking about, Mom?”
I caught my mother staring at my hand, and I instantly spun the ring around and attempted to put my hand in my pocket. But she was quick, grabbing my arm and pulling it out. She gasped when she saw the ring. Shit. Shit. Shit.
“Liza,” My mother implored. “Why in the world didn’t you tell us that Keith asked you to marry him at Christmas?”
I tried to talk, but nothing came out—I was too surprised.
How in the world did my mother know that Keith asked me to marry him last Christmas? I tried to clear my head, but now Ava was grabbing my hand and Courtney was next in line.
“It’s beautiful!” Ava said. “Oh, wow. That thing must have cost him a fortune.”
“Ava Grace, that is just rude. Try to filter yourself—even if I don’t,” Courtney said, holding my hand to examine the ring.
My mother placed her hands on her hips. “Well?”
“Um, well, what?” I said as I chewed on my lip. I could feel it swelling—I was abusing the hell out of it.
Mom shook her head. “I want to know why I had to hear it from Keith.”
“Hear what from Keith? Mom, you’re really confusing me.” My phone buzzed in my hand and I glanced down to see Keith’s text. All I saw on the screen was “Sorry.”
I opened the message. I could feel the anger building the moment I read his text.
Keith: Sorry. I texted your mom and asked if she was excited and whether she’d seen the ring yet.
I tried to smile at my mother. That’s when I saw the sign behind her. “Taylor” was crossed out with “Liza” written above it. I instantly knew who’d done it. Walker.
“Liza? What are you thinking about? Why didn’t you tell us about the engagement?” My mother said as my father came in.
“What engagement?” he asked.
Ava started jumping. “Liza is engaged! She’s getting married.”
My father turned quickly. “What? Liza, is that true?”
My heart was beating faster than ever. I wasn’t sure if I was pissed at Keith or upset with myself.
I placed my hand on my temple. “Wait. Give me a second here.” Ava was still bouncing around. “Ava! Cut it out!” I yelled. She instantly stopped and stared at me.
I glanced at my mother who now looked very concerned. My father just seemed confused as hell. Before I could stop myself, I blurted, “I’m not engaged!”
Everyone was staring at the engagement ring on my finger. When I saw blue eyes gazing at me from the door, I sucked in a breath. Then my phone rang. I glanced down—it was Keith. I was too angry to talk to him right now.
My mother cleared her throat, waiting for an explanation.
I took a deep breath and said, “I mean. I’m not…I haven’t said yes…yet.”
I risked a look at Walker, who just stared back at me. Then he checked his phone. As he walked away, I heard him say, “Hey, Jess…are you getting ready to leave?”
I’d wanted to grill Ava, to see if Walker was still dating Jessica. I guess I didn’t have to. I tried desperately to quell the jealous feelings that ran rampant in me.
I tried to laugh. “I mean, I told Keith I wanted to wait until after college to make my decision.”
“Smart girl,” My father said. “I knew I raised you right.”
I giggled nervously as I glanced back over to Walker. He was still standing in the corner, talking on the phone. He was smiling when I read his lips saying, “I love you.”
He pulled the phone away and must have hung up. He looked directly at me, but I looked away, continuing to explain the engagement thing to my parents.
“I, um…I told him I would for sure give him my answer by the time he came back from his hiking trip with his dad. He uh…well, he asked me to wear the ring, so…” I held it up and tried to laugh before I dropped my hand and shrugged.
Ava pulled me in for a hug. “Well, I know that you wouldn’t have put it on if you didn’t think your answer would be ‘yes.’”
I swallowed as I peeked over to Walker. He gave me a weak smile.
“Well,” I said, “we still have some things to talk about so…” I trailed off as I saw the look on my mother’s face—it was like she could see the internal struggle going on in my head. “Anyway,” I said. “I’m starved. Are those ribs done yet?”
Everyone dispersed. Jase and Walker headed into the den and mentioned something about playing a game of pool. We’d always loved to play pool. Walker had taught me how to play and Jase hated that I constantly beat him.
“After dinner boys,” Courtney called. “Let’s eat!”
Courtney carried a giant bowl of potato salad to the table and I was more than happy to help out. Anything to turn the conversation away from the ring.