Counting Stars (Hollywood Connections Book 2)

by Renee Porter

  “Now, let’s see if I can get you to cry again. But my name this time,” Charlie breathed out the final thought as she worshipped the body she loved.

  Epilogue

  “Did you watch Charlie Brown when you were a kid?” Jonathan interrupted and Ryan raised a brow.

  “Yes.”

  “You know how the teacher was like ‘womp womp womp’?” Ryan laughed as she nodded her head. “That’s what you sound like right now.” Jonathan deadpanned and dodged a grape that was thrown at his head.

  “You’re such a jerk.”

  “I’m such a loveable jerk though.” Jonathan smiled as he lay in the hammock, the light breeze from the beach flowing through the patio. “But really, Ryan, why are you even so nervous about this? You know she’s going to say ‘yes’.”

  “What if she sees the ring and is like, ‘oh that’s nice, honey, but let’s go get a bigger one.’”

  Jonathan laughed and rolled his eyes. “Wow, you know her so well. You’d think that after two years of being together, three years might I add, of knowing everything about her, you’d get it through your skull that you could literally give her an onion ring and she’d wear it. She told you she loved you in front of millions of people for God’s sake.”

  “Okay, I know she’s not like that. She’s never been. But I’m just…being me. You know?”

  “I still can’t believe you asked for my permission to marry her.”

  “I can’t believe you told me ‘no’ at first.” Ryan pursed her lips together narrowing her eyes at her friend.

  Jonathan chuckled. “It was so priceless to see you stammering, though. Worth every second.”

  “When is Bryan getting back in town?” Ryan smiled as she saw Jonathan’s eyes light up at the sound of his boyfriend’s name.

  “Tuesday.” He sighed. “I love him, you know.” Ryan nodded her head and laughed.

  “Yes, I remember you telling me, panicking and putting your head between your legs. I mean who does that?” Ryan teased herself and Jonathan laughed.

  “Well thank you for literally socking me out of it.”

  “At least you’re still my friend.”

  “That’s love, baby.” Jonathan chuckled along with his friend. “So when are you doing this?”

  Ryan looked up and released a breath. “Saturday. I’m going to take her to a nice dinner for her birthday and then pop the question.”

  “Really?” Ryan saw his nose scrunch up.

  “What? Too corny?” He shrugged his shoulders.

  “Just so traditional. I would think you’d do something different. Since you two are anything but traditional.” Ryan bit the bottom of her lip.

  “You’re right. She hates fancy dinners anyway.”

  “You could always take her to Jack in the Box and propose with an onion ring.” That deserved another grape to the head and Jonathan laughed.

  “What are you two doing out here?” Ryan stiffened and looked at Jonathan who had a wide eyed glance. All eyes looked from Charlie to Jonathan to Ryan and back. The tension increased as Charlie narrowed her eyes at Ryan. “What are you planning?” Ryan gulped as she looked at Jonathan who shrugged his shoulders.

  Ryan started to flounder. She was never good at lying and she looked to Jonathan for help. Jonathan sighed dramatically.

  “I’m planning to propose to Bryan.” Jonathan flopped down on the hammock and Ryan silently thanked him for the ruse.

  “Jon that’s great! When are you doing it?” Jonathan glared at Ryan and then back at Charlie, steeling his face.

  “Soon.” He said.

  “How are you going to do it?” Charlie sat down excitedly next to her girlfriend, giving her a quick peck on the lips before turning her attention back to her cousin.

  “Oh, I was thinking of taking him out to a nice dinner and then just…popping the question.” He smiled at Ryan who rolled her eyes.

  “Really? That’s how you’re going to do it?” Jonathan chuckled as Ryan looked at Charlie, her face reddening. “I mean that’s sweet but you should do something…I don’t know…more surprising. He’s going to know right away what you’re up to.”

  Jonathan smiled. “How should I do it then?” He sat up on the hammock, balancing his weight as to not fall. He looked toward Ryan and smiled. She loved this man, he was getting Charlie to give her invaluable information.

  “Well,” Charlie moved in her seat, “how about a flash mob?”

  “A flash mob?” Ryan spurted out and Jonathan chuckled.

  “No, I don’t dance.”

  Charlie laughed with them and then thought for a moment. “Okay…” she said slowly, “When I think of a proposal I think of having the people who are close to your partner there. People who have been very supportive in their life.”

  “Yeah that’s a good one,” Jonathan said excitedly. He looked at Ryan making sure she was making a mental note.

  “And it should be somewhere with a beautiful backdrop. Like the beach maybe, in the evening, the sun setting.” Ryan stared out to the ocean, the setting sun giving the wisps of clouds a purple and orange glow. “And it would be nice if wherever you are there are lights, almost like stars shining above, I think that would be really romantic.” At the end of her sentence the patio lit up with what seemed like thousands of small lights. Ryan’s heart started to pound. When did Charlie put those up? Where they on a timer? She looked at both Charlie and Jonathan, gaging their reactions but they didn’t even seem to notice.

  “And there should definitely be a photographer, or maybe a friend taking pictures to capture the moment.” Ryan heard steps behind her walk through the open door. Her eyes started to tear as she saw Katie walk through with a camera smiling widely, and a handsomely dressed George following behind with his own toy camera in his hand. Ryan’s heart started to beat wildly as she realized what was happening. She turned quickly as Charlie smiled, her eyes glowing a bright blue.

  “And then what, Charlie?” She heard Jonathan ask. Charlie cleared her throat as she stood. “Then you get down on one knee,” Charlie slowly smiled and kneeled down in front of Ryan, “and you say something along the lines of…” Ryan teared as Charlie took the hand from her face and held it tightly. “Ryan, you are the most important person in my life and I want to spend every waking moment showing you how much I love you. I need you more than I need to breathe and I know if you walk with me by my side through life I will be forever the luckiest woman in the world. So…” Charlie reached behind her, grabbing a small velvet box. “Ryan Stark, will you marry me?” Ryan sat stunned, hot tears running down her face. She stared not at the ring but in Charlie’s eyes, a moment that seemed stuck in time.

  “And then Ryan says…” Jonathan’s voice cut through the silence and Ryan finally blinked, laughing through a sob.

  “Yes! Oh my god, yes, Charlie I will marry you.” Charlie stood with Ryan as she grabbed her, twirling her around the patio. The group clapped and whistled, as Ryan kissed Charlie hard on the lips. She felt Charlie place the modest ring on her finger and finally Ryan took a look at it. It was perfect.

  “Give her the onion ring, Ryan!” Ryan laughed as she drew the ring from her back pocket. Charlie smiled as Ryan placed the engagement ring on Charlie’s finger.

  “Oh, Ryan, it’s perfect,” Charlie allowed one tear to fall as both women stared, transfixed on one another.

  “We’re getting married ! , ”

  “Did you ever have a doubt?”