“What was I thinking?” Landon shook his head until his eyes fluttered open. Landon groaned as if he was coming out of a morning hangover. He should have never proposed to Octavia. He wasn’t ready.
“I don’t know, man, but you were sure mumbling in your sleep about it,” Grady said, startling Landon. Sometimes he forgot he had a roommate.
Pulling back his covers, Grady stared at Landon. “Do you want to talk about it, because when I move at the end of the month, you might not have a roomie cool like me?” He displayed a boyish grin.
“I’m right behind you in another month.” Landon sat up and threw a pillow at Grady.
When Landon first arrived at Mac’s Place, he wasn’t too keen on sharing a room, and to top it off, with a young man who was reading his Bible. But God… He had strategically placed people in his life for his own good. Since his turnaround, he and Grady had bonded over the Bible.
“Just don’t forget about us little people.”
“Never again.” Landon stood, slapped Grady’s hand for a shake, then gathered his things for a shower. “Oh, and I’ll make sure you get an invite to the wedding,” he said casually as he walked out the door. Grinning, he counted as he waited for the news to sink in.
“What?” Grady jumped to his feet, then pumped his hand. “Oh, no, you’re getting cold feet already?” He bowed over laughing.
Shaking his head, Landon said, “No regrets on asking, only how I did it. It was on impulse—no ring—at a picnic bench.” He cringed. “It was a sorry excuse for a proposal. I should have had a ring and made it special because she’s special,” he chided himself as he continued on to the showers.
Landon made a resolve. He didn’t care if he had to work three jobs and postpone a trip to Boston. He was determined to go over the top to pamper Octavia with what she deserved. The standoff with James flashed in his mind as he scrubbed. Landon snarled thinking about it. He would make sure that Octavia would never regret choosing him over that dude.
***
Two weeks and counting. Octavia frowned. She had been an engaged woman for fourteen days, and since then her fiancé had been a no-show. Well, not exactly a no-show, but working. To make up for his absence, he sent her texts, which made her heart flutter. Sometimes the weekends were all they had, and even that was limited because of house showings. Not this weekend, Octavia thought, smiling. They had cleared Friday evening for dinner and Saturday morning for bunch. She couldn’t wait.
Octavia had been home barely an hour when he called. “Hey, babe.’ Landon sounded exhausted. “I love you.”
“I love you and I miss you, too,” she cooed as she searched her closet for something to wear.
“You have no idea how much…” He paused. “I’m really sorry, but can you hold all that love you have for me until tomorrow? When I see you, I want to look presentable and right, not like I’m broke-down tired.”
Her heart sunk in disappointment. Tonight was supposed to be the highlight of her day, but she couldn’t fault Landon for working hard at two jobs. His pride this time was misplaced. She offered to pick him up, but Landon would rather catch the bus and have her meet him places than have her pick him up from Mac’s Place. He said it was a man thing, so she respected his wish.
“Okay. I’m going to get some rest, and I’ll see you in the morning.”
“Wait!” Octavia yelled. “Where?”
“See you tomorrow.” Click.
Placing her black dress back on the hanger, Octavia stepped out of the closet and took a cleansing breath. She was tired, too, but the thought of seeing Landon gave her energy. She headed toward her kitchen for a snack before going to bed. Now Saturday morning would have to be the highlight of her day.
The next morning, Octavia was dressed by ninety-thirty. She wore fall shades of brown and green. She always received compliments on any shades of red, but rust seemed to accent her unusual blondish-brown hair. She admired her flirty appearance and hoped Landon would too, if he would only call or text her back. She had no idea where to meet him. Finally, at five minutes before ten, he sent her a text. Open the door and follow the path.
Huh? Her subdivision wasn’t on a bus route. Peeping outside her front window, there was indeed a trail of red roses that began at her front door. She frowned as she grabbed her keys and locked her door. It was unusual to see many of her neighbors standing on their porches this early and looking toward her house as if they had a heads-up on something. Some were grinning, others waving—she even got a couple thumbs-ups. The cool October morning was a welcome respite from the lingering summer heat, but there was a slight chill, and she thought about going back inside for a sweater, but curiosity had her follow the path until she turned the corner, and that’s when she froze and gasped.
Her eyes blurred at the sight of the longest stretch Hummer limo she had ever seen. There was a photographer and another with a video camera pointing in her direction. The door opened, and Landon stepped out dressed in a tuxedo. Her mouth dropped. He was a prince magnified. In synchronized actions, he knelt as he opened his hand to display a ring box. A gentle wind seemed to nudge her forward until she towered over him. “You already proposed to me,” she said in awe. It was nothing on this scale, but it was her moment to cherish forever.
“But not the right way, baby.” He shook his head. “You’re a jewel, and I promise you, I’ll treat you as my queen until the day I die.”
As if cued, four women spilled out of the limo and fitted her head with a tiara, then wrapped a silk shawl the same color green as her skirt, as if he knew her wardrobe, around her shoulders. She remembered him asking her long ago about her favorite colors. Landon remembered. His baritone voice began the words to “My Destiny” as the ladies backed him with up the chorus. The dam of her emotions spilled, and she cried unchecked as Landon stood, pulled her closer, then slipped a beautiful ring on her finger. She didn’t care if there weren’t any diamonds, she thought until something winked at her. There was at least one.
Instead of kissing her, Landon wiped at her tears as he continued to serenade her. The moment was surreal as her neighbors crowded around them.
Octavia’s head was spinning by the time Landon finished the last note solo. She opened her mouth, but words couldn’t describe what she was feeling. As Landon waited for her response, she placed her hands on the side of his face and whispered her love before she sealed it with a kiss.
Her stomach growled, killing the moment. She blushed and looked away. “You did promise me breakfast, and I haven’t eaten.”
That seemed to cue two servers to step out of the limo. “What else is in there, a house?” She walked closer to peep inside to find—her dad and his wife? Olivia was inside along with Rossi, his cousin and wife and Terri sitting at small makeshift tables.
“Congratulations,” they screamed as if she hadn’t already been engaged for almost a month.
Landon helped her inside and took the seat next to her.
“This is so romantic,” Octavia lowered her voice. “But this cost a lot of money. How did you pay for all this?”
Placing his arm around her shoulder, he grinned. “I’m an account rep, babe. When I mentioned to my client Dingo Limo Service that I wanted to impress my fiancée with a proper proposal, they offered their services and asked if it could be taped for a commercial, so we had our moment on our own reality show. Another client offered the tux.”
“And the ring?”
“That I worked every muscle in my body to buy.” He looked into her eyes.
“Please let your clients know I was wowed,” she said.
He winked, then smirked. “I think as soon as they see the video, they’ll know.”
Suddenly, she playfully punched him in the arm. “Why didn’t you tell me you could sing like that?”
“I once was a choir boy, remember?” He chuckled.
So with all her questions answered, Octavia cuddled closer as two waiters served them fruit, juice and mini waffles. She never would have thought a man with so little could give her so much. Landon Thomas was rich in his love