One addition that Erin had made to Eagle's Nest after buying the place was a hot tub, installed out on the deck that overlooked the jaw-droppingly beautiful valley below. It gave her and Jay the chance to enjoy their wonderful surroundings without being stuck inside the house, even when the weather turned cold as it was now.
Several days had passed since their short vacation to Chicago. Erin had grown closer to Jay on that trip. Somehow getting closer to him had been possible, which surprised her. Hearing about the harrowing abuse he had been subjected to had made her wish she could take all of that pain and all of those hideous memories away for him. But of course that was not possible.
Jay was currently inside the house, fetching them a drink. While she waited for him, Erin closed her eyes. The hot tub was very relaxing, and that made it feel amazing for her. Anything that reduced her stress levels was most welcome of late. Even now though, her brain wouldn't turn off from work.
She was feeling a lot of frustration in that regard. There had been no news as yet regarding when Hank would be signing over the WWE stocks to her. She and Jay were going over to Hank's place for dinner the next night, so she hoped there might be some news coming.
On the Clementine front, there was also no progress. Erin hadn't heard a word from her about the contract situation since the meeting where Erin had revealed that she would be taking over the company soon, and had promised to make positive changes. She really needed to know what Clem was thinking, so she resolved to make a phone call the following day and make contact. Keeping dialogue open was important.
"Here you go," Jay said.
Erin opened one eye as his arm came over her shoulder from behind, a glass of wine in his hand.
"Thank you," she said, taking the glass and closing her eyes again.
"You look very relaxed," Jay said as he carefully got into the tub with her. Erin knew he didn't have his bad arm in a sling, but it was all bandaged up so he had to make sure not to get it wet.
"I am relaxed. A lovely hot tub, an amazing view, a glass of wine, and my man. What more could I want?"
"An amazing view? You've got your eyes closed," he pointed out with a laugh.
Erin laughed also. "The view is still there. I'm just not looking at it right now."
"Maybe you could look at this instead?"
She opened one eye to see what he was talking about and got the shock of her life, so much so that she literally jumped. Jay was holding a little black ring case, opened, with a silver ring encrusted with white diamonds inside. "Jay, what's that?" she asked, sitting up straighter and looking at him.
There was a very nervous smile on his face. "It's a ring. I was trying to think where might be a perfect place, and I decided here was perfect. It's where we're both happiest. It's where it's just us and no one else."
"I think you're supposed to start by asking me as certain question, Jay," she pointed out, smiling. Somewhat getting over the initial shock, Erin knew what her answer was going to be. This wasn't the perfect proposal, but she didn't hold that against him. He was doing his best, and that was what mattered. His little speech showed that.
"Oh, right," he said, looking awkward for a moment. "Erin, you'd make me the happiest man in the world if you'll... Will you marry me? That's what I'm trying to say."
Erin couldn't contain a huge smile. She still felt surprised by what was happening, but she also felt on top of the world. "Yes! Yes, Jay, I'll marry you."
"Woah. I expected you to say no. Uh, should I try the ring on your finger?"
Giggling at his reaction, Erin stood up. "I'm going to get out of the tub first. Don't trust myself not to let it drop in there." She took a big hit from her wine glass before stepping out of the tub.
"I've been in a panic all day, thinking about asking you," Jay said as he also got out of the tub. He hadn't brought a drink out with him, so he was only carrying the little black box.
Erin rushed into the house to get out of the cold. She grabbed Jay in a tight hug when he followed her inside. Neither of them cared that they were dripping water all over the floor.
"I love you, Erin. With my whole heart. That's one thing I'll never struggle to say."
"Oh, Jay, I really don't deserve you," she said, her eyes tearing up as the embrace ended and Jay took her left hand in preparation to try the ring on her finger.
"It's me who doesn't deserve you. But I'm so glad I have you in my life. You make it worth living. Let's see if this fits."
"Did you buy it by yourself? How did you choose the size?"
"Raquel helped me," he admitted. "I knew I wanted to get a ring and what I wanted it to look like. But I wouldn't have had a clue on size. Honey, we're going to get married," he finished, as if the reality of it was only now dawning on him.
"We're getting married," she said excitedly before giving him a fulsome kiss on the lips. "Forget the hot tub. I'm going to get changed and we can sit and cuddle. Put the ring on me."
"Right," Jay said, forcing himself into action. He slipped the ring onto her finger. It was a good fit, but not a perfect one.
"It's slightly loose, but we can easily get that fixed," Erin said as she admired the ring. "Wow, Jay. It's absolutely stunning. Beautiful. You chose the perfect ring for me, I swear."
"You look incredible wearing it." He gave her a kiss.
"Thank you. I can't wait to tell everyone. Wonder what my dad will say?"
Jay winced. "Don't. That's what I'm dreading. I feel like he's going to blow up at me. Part of me thought I should ask him first, but you know I'd never have the confidence to approach him and have that conversation."
"Let me handle him," Erin said, not worried about the prospect of doing so. "I'm going to change, I'm freezing."
"Of course. Go. And throw me a towel, would you?"
Erin gave him another kiss. "Of course. Thank you so much for always making me feel so special. I'm so lucky to have you."
"No, I'm lucky to have you. I'm just an emotionally damaged guy who knows how to throw people around a wrestling ring, and you're..."
"Stop trying to put yourself down," Erin scolded him. "It's me who's lucky to have you. Now, I'm really going to put my clothes back on before I die."
"Yes, don't die," Jay said, laughing more than her silly joke deserved, such was his happiness in the moment.
Erin went into the bathroom, grabbed a towel, threw it to Jay, then went back inside, closed the door and started to dry herself off. While she was doing it, she heard Jay speaking quietly, on the phone to someone. She stopped drying herself so that she could listen in.
"Yes, I asked her. A few minutes ago," he was saying.
"She said yes!"
"Thank you, mami. Yes, I know you told me she would. I'm so happy right now. I feel like I could just run around the place or something."
Erin grinned in delight. Hearing how on top of the world he was struck her as the most lovely thing. She was so pleased that she could make him feel that way, after what had been such a hard life for him so far. She was determined that her man would never be unhappy again. That, even above getting WWE running the way she wanted from top to bottom, was her biggest priority in life.
"I will send you a picture, don't worry," Jay was saying.
"Yes, okay. Bye."
Erin got dressed, deciding to act like she hadn't heard his conversation with Raquel. When she left the bathroom, she found Jay standing in the living area, also now dressed. "It's going to take some time to get used to having this on my finger. I've pretty much never worn rings. It looks so good though," she added, studying her hand. The ring gleamed and twinkled under the bright lights.
"It does look incredible on you," Jay said, admiring it with her. "Can I take a picture? Raquel and Z want to see it."
"Sure. But tell them to keep quiet. We don't want our private lives all over the internet, especially before we talk to my dad."
Jay busied himself with his phone. "I really am dreading that, Erin."
She looked at him and offered a reassuring smile. "Don't worry about him. It'll be fine."
A/N: Erin thinks everything will be fine when they tell Hank, but is she right?