Melina sat curled up on the couch, one knee pulled to her chest, absentmindedly twisting the ring on her finger. The sunlight streaming through the window made the diamond catch the light, scattering tiny rainbows across her skin. It still didn't feel real. Every time she looked down, she half expected to wake up and find it was just a dream.

But it was real.

Tucker was in the kitchen, humming to himself as he made coffee, his back turned to her. He was shirtless, still in his sweats, his tattoos shifting as he moved. The same arms that had pulled her close last night, holding her against him as if she might disappear. The same hands that had slid the ring onto her finger with a quiet, "Marry me?"

She smiled to herself, her heart so full it ached.

Her phone buzzed in her lap. LIV.

She grinned, already bracing herself as she answered. "Hey."

"HEY?" Liv shrieked. "That's ALL you have to say to me?!"

Melina burst out laughing. "I mean... surprise?"

"Oh my GOD, finally! I knew he was up to something! He was acting all suspicious the last few weeks, and don't even get me started on you. You totally had a feeling, didn't you?"

Melina bit her lip, glancing toward Tucker, who was now stirring sugar into his coffee, completely unaware of the chaos happening in her ear. "Maybe a little," she admitted. "But Liv, it was perfect. He planned everything, just us, no crazy grand gesture, just him and me and—" She sighed, her heart squeezing. "It was everything I could've wanted."

"I'm so, so happy for you," Liv said, her voice softer now. "You deserve this, Mel. You deserve him."

"I know." And for the first time in a long time, she really, really believed it.

Before Liv could say anything else, Tucker came over and plopped down next to her, handing her a mug of coffee. "Who's yelling at you?" he asked, pressing a kiss to the top of her head.

"Liv."

"Ah," he smirked. "Hi, Liv."

"Tell my new brother-in-law I say congrats," Liv said dramatically. "And also that if he ever hurts you, I will hunt him down."

Tucker chuckled, wrapping an arm around Melina's waist. "Duly noted."

Liv hesitated before adding, "Hey, have you told your mom yet?"

The question made Melina freeze, her fingers tightening slightly around the mug.

Tucker must have felt it because he gave her waist a little squeeze. "You don't have to if you're not ready," he murmured, just for her.

Melina swallowed hard, then took a deep breath. "I'm about to," she told Liv, more to convince herself than anyone else.

"You want me to stay on the line?" Liv offered gently.

Melina shook her head. "No. I need to do this alone."

After hanging up, she stayed quiet for a moment, staring down at her phone. Tucker didn't say anything, just rubbed slow, reassuring circles into her back.

Finally, she scrolled through her contacts and hovered over Mom. The name looked so small on the screen, yet it carried so much weight.

"You got this," Tucker whispered, squeezing her knee.

She nodded and pressed the call button.

It rang. Once. Twice. Three times.

Then—

"Melina?"

Her mother's voice was the same. Soft, careful. Like she wasn't sure if she was allowed to say her name.

Melina closed her eyes. "Hey, Mom."

A pause. Then a breath, like her mom was holding back tears. "It's been a while."

"Yeah." Her own voice was thick with emotion. "It has."

Silence stretched between them, years of distance pressing in.

Tucker rested his chin on her shoulder, wordlessly reminding her that he was right there.

Finally, Melina spoke. "I have something to tell you."

She could hear her mom inhale sharply, bracing herself. "Okay."

"I'm engaged."

A beat of silence, and then—her mom's quiet, shaky laugh. "Oh, sweetheart..."

And just like that, the walls between them weren't so high anymore.







After the call with her mom, Melina sat still, her heart pounding in her chest. She wasn't sure what she had expected—anger, disappointment, maybe even silence. But instead, her mother had sounded... happy. Emotional, but happy.

"She took it well," she murmured, still processing.

Tucker, who had been running his fingers through her hair absentmindedly, pressed a kiss to the top of her head. "Of course she did," he said. "She's your mom. She loves you."

Melina sighed, leaning into him. "I know, it's just... we haven't talked in so long. And part of me was scared she wouldn't care."

Tucker wrapped his arms around her, holding her against him. "Well, she does." His voice was warm, steady. "And I'm proud of you for calling her."

Melina tilted her head up to look at him. "You always say that."

He grinned. "Because I'm always proud of you."

She rolled her eyes, but she couldn't help the small smile pulling at her lips. "You're so sappy."

"Yeah? And you love it."

She huffed. "Maybe."

Tucker leaned in, his nose brushing hers. "Definitely."

She giggled, pressing a quick kiss to his lips before pulling back. "We should go do something. It's too nice of a day to stay inside."

Tucker raised an eyebrow. "We're at a cabin. What do you wanna do? Go for a hike?"

"Nope." She stood up, tugging him along with her. "We're going to the lake."

—

The water shimmered under the afternoon sun, small ripples dancing across the surface as a warm breeze drifted by. Melina kicked off her sandals and waded in first, letting out a small eep at the chill.

"It's cold!" she gasped, laughing.

Tucker smirked from the shore, his hands on his hips. "I dunno... it looks fine to me."

"Oh, you think so?" Melina smirked, and before he could react, she splashed him.

Tucker let out a dramatic gasp. "Oh, it's like that?"

She squealed, trying to run deeper into the water, but he was too fast—within seconds, he had wrapped his arms around her waist, effortlessly lifting her up.

"Tucker, no—"

But it was too late. He tossed them both into the lake, water rushing around them as they surfaced, laughing.

"You're the worst!" Melina giggled, pushing her wet hair out of her face.

"And yet, you agreed to marry me."

She rolled her eyes, but her heart swelled at his words. "Guess I'm stuck with you."

Tucker swam closer, his hands resting on her waist under the water. "Guess so."

For a moment, they just looked at each other, the world fading away. The water lapped gently around them, the sun casting golden light over everything.

Then, Tucker cupped her face and kissed her, slow and sweet, like he had all the time in the world.

And maybe, just maybe, they did.









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Saintlaurantcowboy "When it gets quiet i can here her mind race, she staring at the ceiling like she's seeing outer space. She could be the Mona Lisa if the Mona Lisa had a prettier face."



lauralcanyonlovinpeace69: Man, do you know how to pick pictures

Therapuss: So cute!







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Liked by rolemodel and others

melinascott MDILTP (Man do I love Tucker Pillsbury, and I have a new song all my ghost out this friday ;)

rolemodel: All my ghosts are with me

↳melinascott: I know you feel them too

Liked by rolemodel and 10,028 others

LivMiranda9: I feel like a proud mother.

↳melinascott: My maid of honor





@lauralcanyonlovinpeace69 has posted...









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lauralcanyonlovinpeace69: I love you, livy. You changed my life for the better. AND... NEW SONG OUT FRIDAY XO! Dedicated to Liv. <3



Livmiranda9: I love you, already planning the wedding!

↳lauralcanyonlovinpeace69: Thats my girl

Saintlaurantcowboy: the women behind it all.