Picture Perfect?

DEVLIN'S POV :

"I'd really like to know what they're up to ." , Holli grumbles as we head over to our birthday dinner .
"Yeah , me too . I couldn't even get it out of Paul by threatening to make him sleep on the floor ." , Darcy tells us .
I laugh , and say , "Well , at least you know he can keep a secret ."
The guys have been acting a bit weird for the last couple of days , including Dad , so apparently he's in on whatever it is . I assume that we'll find out tonight at dinner .Ash said that he's reserved the private dining area , so I guess we're having a full - blown party .
The day has been great so far . Ashley and I started out the day with a bang , so to speak . (Birthday sex ; one of the best gifts ever !) Then we got together with everyone else and took a boat ride on the lake , and did some swimming . After lunch , we all went horseback riding , which was almost comical . Ash and his family can do this stuff blindfolded , but the only ones in my family that had a clue were Darcy and Paul , because her grandparents actually own a breeding farm . We all had to pair off with someone in Ashley's family to make sure that none of us did ourselves any damage .
Afterwards , he asked me if I would be willing to consider taking lessons when we went back home , because it's something he really enjoys , and he'd like for us to be able to do it together . This is the first thing he's ever actually asked me for , and I told him that I'm perfectly willing to try , since it's that important to him . I just hope I don't kill myself doing it .
Now that we've reached the dining area , we can see part of the room through the windows , and Holli suddenly puts on this obviously fake "excited face" , and squeals "Oh , goody ! JJ 's here !" , which causes Darcy and I to crack up .
This is how they've started referring to the blonde bartender who keeps flirting with Ash . JJ being short for Jesse Jane . Or alternately , the "overinflated hussy" , as his aunt calls her . I actually find it sort of amusing , seeing how frustrated she gets when he keeps ignoring her .
As we step inside , I am immediately greeted by a shout of , "Devvy !" in my ear , and swooped up off the floor in a bear hug .
Darcy jumps back , shouting , "What the hell ?"
" Perfectly OK , Darce . Nothing unusual here ." , I laugh . "OK , C , you can put me down now ."
"Yeah , let the rest of us have a turn , Christian ." , Tiff says , and gives me a squeeze when he puts me down .
I'm then greeted by the rest of the band , Juliet , Alice , Blasko , and Jon . Apparently , this is part of the surprise , because Ash didn't say anything about them being here . I introduce my family to everyone , and we all finally go in and everyone starts attacking the food . Ash had them set up a buffet , so everyone can find something they like , and then after everyone is finished with dinner , the staff wheels out several carts , and there are four different birthday cakes , so each of us gets our favorite ; chocolate , red velvet , lemon , and banana . We blow out the candles , then cut the cakes so everyone can choose what they want , and open some gifts .
After this , everyone stands up and makes some sort of remark , with Ash waiting til last . When it's finally his turn , he stands up and says , "Before I get started , I'm gonna do something I should have done awhile ago ." He then walks over to Juliet , kisses her on the cheek , and says:
"Thank you for lighting a fire under me , and getting me off my ass .If you hadn't , I might have missed out on the best thing in my life ."
She grins at Andy , and says , "I told you it would work , didn't I ?"
Ash looks at her and says , "You mean you weren't really planning to set her up with some other guy ?"
"Oh , I would have if you'd kept being stupid . I just figured that you needed to be properly motivated ."
He looks over at Andy , who says , "It was all her idea , I just played along ."
Ash laughs , and says , "So I guess I should thank both of you , then ."
Andy cocks an eyebrow at him , and says , "You're welcome , dude . But I'll tell you right now that if you even THINK about trying to kiss me , I'll punch you ."
This cracks everyone up , and after he stops laughing , Ashley gives Juliet another kiss on the cheek , and tells Andy , "There you go . She can pass it on later ."
Then he turn around and looks around the room ,and says , "I see almost everyone I really care about in this room right now , and I can't tell you how glad I am that you're here ."
"My family has been there for me my entire life , and they've always supported whatever I decide to do ."
"My bandmates are the brothers I never had , and I suppose that makes you girls my sisters . I really appreciate the way that you guys have always had my back ."
"And finally , Dev's family has accepted me from the first time we met , first as her friend , and now as her boyfriend . You've all been behind me for everything else , so now I hope you'll do the same for me now ."

What the HELL is going on here ?

Then he turns toward me and says , "Dev , we've known each other for a little over a year , now . I knew from the first time we met that you were going to be a great friend , but it took me entirely too long to see how much more you really are ."
"You're so smart , and talented , and so incredibly beautiful , and I spend every day wondering how I got so damn lucky . I love how you seem to be able to adapt to just about any situation without losing your cool , and I love that big tender heart that hates to see anyone unhappy or in pain ."
He walks up right next to my chair , and continues , saying , "You are the most important part of my world . You're what makes me want to get up every day , just to see what we can accomplish together . I honestly don't know anymore if I could function without you , and I don't ever want to find out ."
At this point , he drops to one knee in front of me , and says , "Devlin Grace Farrel , I love you more than I ever thought I was capable of , and I would consider myself the luckiest man in the universe if you would agree to become Devlin Purdy . I love you , Dev . Will you marry me ?"
My heart feels like it's about to hammer it's way through my ribcage , and I can't form words , so I just fling my arms around him and kiss him for everything I'm worth , actually winding up on the floor with him .
When I finally let him up for air , he brushes my hair away from my face , and asks , "Can I assume that's a yes ?"
"Ashley Purdy , you are the best thing that's ever happened to me , I love you more than anything on this earth , and yes , I will absolutely marry you !" I tell him .
When I say this , he takes my hand and slides an absolutely gorgeous ring onto my finger . It's a rectangular diamond , in a rose - gold setting , placed almost on a diagonal , with three small diamonds on either side , and the ends of the band attaching at the short ends of the diamond , and it fits perfectly .
Everyone is clapping , yelling , and whistling as we get up off of the floor , and we're immediately surrounded by everyone trying to hug us all at once .
"You do know that I have dibs on making the wedding cake , right ?" Tony inquires .
"Thank God the boy finally developed some taste in women !" one of his uncles says .
"You know , if I didn't know how you felt about it , Ash , I'd be seriously tempted to post the picture I took when she came off the chair into your lap ." , Jake tells him .
"Dude , send it to my phone , willya ?" , Ash asks him .
Jake takes out his phone and says , "Sure thing , man . Why , though ?"
Ashley starts pushing buttons as soon as he has the picture , and replies , "I'm going to do it myself . This is the best day of my life , and I want everyone to know it !"

Notes