Losers Weepers (Lost & Found 4)

But there she was. Watching me with those big green eyes, looking as though her heart was ready to leap out of her throat. She was there, right then, watching me . . . waiting for me . . . supporting me.

What the hell was I doing climbing a fence toward a bull when I had the most important question of our lives to ask her? Right, apparently, this moment. In my back pocket, that ring burned another hole in my ass.

“Hey, Black. I know it’s been a while since you’ve been on one of these, but here’s a little reminder.” One of the guys manning the chutes lifted his chin. “You don’t have to wait for an invitation. You can just climb on board and get after it.”

Across the arena, Josie noticed me watching her. She stopped worrying her lip long enough to smile. She could only hold it for a moment before she got back to biting at her lip.

I smiled back. Then I jumped off the fence. “Call the next rider. I’ve got something more important to do.” Slapping the guy’s arm, I jogged toward the end of the arena.

“Where in the hell are you going, Black?”

“To do something I should have done a long time ago!” I hollered back, although I wasn’t sure if he could hear me above the crowd.

“And this something can’t wait thirty seconds?” he called back.

I shook my head and kept jogging. “It can’t wait one more second,” I said to myself.

The people in the stands were watching me, probably guessing I was chickening out after what had happened last time or speculating that I’d lost my mind. Some of them were starting to chant my name, but even if every last person on Earth had chanted my name at that very moment, it wouldn’t have kept me from doing what I was about to.

I was getting close to where I’d seen her, and the closer I got, the faster I moved. I wasn’t sure if she’d seen what had happened, but when she finally came into view and her eyes went wide with surprise, I guessed she had no clue I’d just walked away from my first ride of the season.

“Garth?” She pushed back from the fence, her forehead creasing with confusion.

“Hey, Joze.” I was smiling so wide I was surprised I couldn’t feel my ears with the corners of my mouth yet.

“What’s going on? What are you doing? They just called your name.” Her face turned from the center of the arena to where I was making my way toward her.

“There’ll be other rides.”

“But this one. Your first one after your accident . . .” Her forehead creased deeper. “This one was important to you.”

I shook my head as I stopped in front of her. “Not as important as you are to me.” Looking around the arena, I noticed plenty of eyes on us, despite the rider next up being about to start. I loved my fans, I was thankful for every one, but I didn’t want an audience for this.

This part of my life I wanted to keep sacred.

Grabbing Josie’s hands, I pulled her into the tunnel and out of view of the arena. With every step farther from the arena

, more confusion swam in her eyes.

“What’s going on, Garth? You’ve got me worried.” Josie looked over her shoulder like she was waiting for someone to come haul me back to the arena.

Once we were a good ways inside the tunnel and I knew no one could see us, I reached into my back pocket, curled my pinkie around that ring I’d been in possession of for more than half a year, and pulled it free.

“Something’s come up. That’s what going on. Something I need to tell you.” I got down on one knee and then one more. I wasn’t just prepared to ask for this woman’s hand in marriage—I was prepared to beg.

“Oh my God.” Her eyes went wide, worry spilling into her expression. “Are you okay? Your legs . . .” Her gaze drifted to where I was kneeling, as if my legs had just been chopped off at the knees. “I’m calling Dr. Murphy. Just don’t move. Try to hold still.” She dug around in her purse frantically, searching for her phone.

That I’d just gotten down on two knees in front of my girlfriend and she’d assumed it was because my spine was acting up instead of realizing the real reason told me she’d been expecting this about as much as I had when we’d woken up this morning.

“My legs are fine, Joze,” I assured her, curling my hand around hers still searching for her phone. “My back is too.”

“Then what’s the matter?”

I inhaled and held up the ring between us. “What’s the matter is that I’m afraid if I don’t ask you to marry me right this very moment, nothing will ever be fine again.”

“Oh my God, Garth,” she said again, although this time, she sounded totally different. “Is that what I think it is? Are you asking me what I think you are?” Her face lit up as she went from looking at me to the ring. All of the worry and anxiety melted from her expression, and right then, she looked like she’d never been happier than she was right now, trapped in this tunnel with me while I held her hand.

“I haven’t asked you anything yet.” I lifted a brow at her and twisted the ring so the diamond was facing her. “But I’m about to.”