Howie looked down at Cait and smiled. She was fast asleep, her head resting on his chest. He tightened his arms around her and leaned down and kissed her. She sighed softly in her sleep and snuggled closer to him.
His eyes shone as he remember everything that had happened in the last six months. He thought back to the night in Toronto when he'd met her. He'd looked over and seen her and Anna talking to AJ. His breath had caught in his throat when he looked at her. She was the most beautiful girl he'd ever seen. He had long since realized that he'd fallen head over heels in love with her the minute he'd laid eyes on her. One look at her long strawberry blonde hair; one look into her beautiful blue eyes and he'd fallen so much in love with her. He'd never felt anything like this before. More than ever he believed that she was the girl he was meant to spend the rest of his life with.
Although technically they'd only been together for a little less than six months, the thought of spending the rest of his life with her was prevelant in his mind. The more he thought about it the more he knew that's what he wanted. That realized, he closed his eyes and arms wrapped around Cait, fell asleep.
"You want to go where?!" AJ exclaimed.
"Jeez! AJ, I don't want the whole world to know before Cait!"
"Sorry, man. But are you totally sure about this?" AJ asked.
"I've never been this sure about anything in my life. I love Cait with all of my heart and I want to spend the rest of my life with her." Howie gave his friend a meaningful look.
AJ grinned, "Just checkin', man."
"So, you going to help me?" Howie asked.
"You better believe it!"
"Can I help you two gentlemen?" Asked the clerk of the jewelry store.
"Yes, actually, I'm looking for an engagement ring." Howie explained.
"Any preferences?"
"She loves white gold." AJ chimed in. "Anna told me."
"In that case, if you'll just follow me." The clerk motioned them to follow. "Over here we have a selection of diamond solitaires in white gold."
"Hmmm." Howie looked in the jewelry case and inspected the rings. "Sonething simple, something simple." He murmured.
"Hey, Howie. Check this one, man." AJ pointed to a ring in the case.
"Hey. That's perfect." Howie breathed.
The ring was a simple band of white gold with a classic setting holding a 1/2 carat diamond.
"I'd like to look at this one." Howie motioned the clerk.
"Excellent choice, sir." He opened the case and took out the ring. "This is a flawless 1/2 carat diamond from South Africa."
"What's the ring size?" Howie inquired.
"It's a size 6." The clerk replied.
"That's perfect." Howie grinned. "I'll take it."
Outside the store Howie took the ring box out of his jacket pocket and opened it. The gold shone and the diamond glittered in the sunlight.
"How am I going to ask her, that's the question." Howie mused, closing the box and placing it back in his pocket.
"Well, one thing's for sure." AJ grinned. "Now there are three Backstreet Boys permanently off the market!"
Howie lightly smacked him upside the head. "McLean, sometimes I wonder about you."
