LexiAre you home?
RhettUm…yeah. Why haven’t you responded to my texts?
RhettIt’s been a month, Lex.
LexiGuess what?
RhettWhat?
LexiI’m coming home!
RhettYou haven’t been back since your mom sold the ranch.
RhettAre you finally going to tell me why you’ve gone off the grid?
LexiI’ll explain when I get there.
LexiI’ve got a surprise.
RhettWhat is it?
LexiIt’s a SURPRISE!
RhettYou’ve known me since I was 15 — I can keep a secret.
Lexi is typing.
RhettCome on, I’m your best friend. Stop keeping me in the dark.
LexiI’M GETTING MARRIED!!!
Lexi💍 🍾 🎉
RhettWow.
LexiThat’s all you can say?!
RhettSorry, I’m still processing.
LexiYou can’t say anything yet.
LexiEspecially not to my mama.
RhettWhen will you be here?
LexiMy plane just landed. Grabbing a rental now…
LexiSo 2 hours?
RhettCome see me at the ranch before you go anywhere else.
LexiWhy?
RhettI have a surprise of my own.
LexiOh, yeah?
Lexi waits for his reply while she starts up her rental car.
LexiRhett?
RhettYeah?
LexiTELL ME!
RhettHaha, when you get to my house.
LexiThat’s not fair. I told you my surprise.
RhettYou know me well enough to expect that I won’t always play fair.
LexiHaha, you don’t fool me — you’re a softie under that tough rancher look.
LexiAre you getting married, too?
RhettNice try.
LexiCome on!
RhettIs your fiancé with you?
LexiNo, he couldn’t make it.
LexiStop stalling and tell me!
RhettSee you when you get here.
LexiRhett!
RhettDrive safe.
Lexi😡
RhettHaha! Love you, too.
2 hours later, Lexi pulls into Rhett’s driveway.
She rushes through the raindrops and up onto the porch.
Before she can ring the bell, the door flies open—
Revealing a smiling Rhett standing behind the screen door.
RhettYou’re drenched.
Lexi laughs.
LexiShut up and let me in.
She throws her wet arms around him and hugs him tightly.
He smells so good, so familiar…so much like home.
Tears prick her eyes, but she blinks them away.
RhettYou’re soaking me.
LexiServes you right for not telling me your surprise.
RhettLet me get you a towel.
Alone, Lexi glances around the open entryway and living room.
Rhett comes back and hands her a towel.
LexiWhat are all these boxes doing here?
RhettI’m moving.
LexiWhat? Where?
LexiWhen were you going to tell me?
RhettI tried, remember? You ignored my texts.
LexiI was busy. It wasn’t like I was ignoring you.
RhettBusy with your fiancé?
LexiThat, and my job.
RhettWe always said nothing would come between our friendship.
LexiNothing will. I’m here now, aren’t I?
The sight of those boxes stirs something inside her…
And Lexi doesn’t like this feeling.
LexiWhere are you moving?
RhettThat’s part of the surprise, so I can’t say anything just yet.
LexiYou’ve got to be kidding me.
LexiI came all the way over here to have you tell me nothing?
Lexi dries her hair and hands the towel back to Rhett.
Rhett’s eyes go to her left hand.
RhettWhat the hell is that?
LexiIs it too much?
RhettIt needs its own zip code.
LexiOh, come on. It’s not that big.
RhettI’d never pick that out for you.
LexiReally?
RhettToo flashy.
LexiSo what ring would you pick out for me?
RhettWhy are you asking?
LexiBecause you know me so well. I’m curious.
RhettFor starters, it wouldn’t be something as common as a diamond.
LexiWhat’s wrong with a diamond?
RhettNothing, but…
RhettYou’re unique.
LexiI assume that’s a compliment.
RhettOf course it is.
LexiOkay, so what ring would you get me?
RhettSomething simple, yet one-of-a-kind.
LexiAre you saying I’m simple?
RhettI’m saying you’re classic.
RhettSpecial.
Lexi’s heart flips…which is odd.
Rhett is her best friend.
Why is she having this strange reaction to his declaration?
Maybe it’s because she’s seeing him after 2 years…and it’s messing with her emotions.
RhettI’d get you an emerald.
Lexi looks down at her hand.
An emerald would look perfect there.
RhettBut this conversation is pointless, right?
LexiUm…right. Because you’d never buy me a ring.
His jaw clenches…
As does her belly, full of sudden nerves.
RhettWhen are you going to your mama’s?
LexiShe doesn’t know I’m here yet.
RhettYou didn’t tell her you were coming?
LexiI like surprises, remember?
RhettSo you’re going now?
LexiI was going to wait until she met Scott in person…
LexiBut I just had to tell her about the engagement.
RhettScott. The new guy.
LexiYes. You’ll love him.
RhettThat’s debatable.
LexiPlease. That’s just because you always have an issue with anyone I date.
RhettNo one has ever been good enough.
LexiSays you.
RhettAnd you, since they’re no longer around.
LexiScott is. He’s a good guy.
LexiPromise.
Rhett mutters something under his breath.
LexiWhat was that?
RhettNothing.
LexiDon’t be snarly.
RhettMe? Snarly?
LexiLet me take you to dinner after I see Mama.
RhettYou’ve been traveling. You’re tired.
LexiHave you ever known me to skip a meal?
RhettFine. Why don’t you see your mama and come back here?
RhettI’ll make us dinner.
LexiYou’re making me dinner? Will it be edible?
RhettYou’ll never let me live down that casserole, will you?
LexiNever. And neither will the fire department.
RhettWhat if I grilled steaks?
LexiI’ll only come back on one condition.
RhettWhat’s that?
LexiWe discuss this mysterious move.
RhettI’ll think about it.
LexiYou’re killing me.
RhettYou like surprises, remember?
LexiNot when I have to wait for them forever.
RhettSome things are worth waiting for.
LexiWhat’s that supposed to mean?
RhettYou’ll have to come back later to find out.
LexiDo you even have dishes or are they in the boxes?
RhettYou’re not too good to eat off a paper plate, are you?
LexiHave you ever know me to care?
RhettI haven’t seen you in a long time…
RhettMaybe you’ve changed from that laid-back country girl I used to know.
LexiI’m still the same girl.
RhettThen come back in a few hours.
RhettYou’ll get the best dinner you’ve ever had.
LexiThat’s quite a promise.
Rhett reaches out and smooths her damp hair behind her ear.
Why is he looking at her that way?
It’s making her wonder what he’s thinking…
And has her questioning why she’s stayed away so long…
RhettI think you know I always deliver on a promise.
LexiSo that means a steak and the big reveal.
Rhett’s smile makes her heart clench.
As she opens the door, the sound of his deep voice makes her glance back at him.
RhettHurry back.