A Newly-Engaged Tactical Officer
Posted on May 2nd, 2019 by Ryleigh Grey

During one of her shore leaves, Ryleigh had met her boyfriend at his apartment, helping him around the hospital he worked at, and playing the social game. However, what she didn’t expect was to wake up the next morning and find that their apartment was empty. Only thing that was left was their newest German Shepherd puppy sleeping at the foot of their bed.

Ryleigh slowly sat up, sliding out of bed, and gently bending to pick up the puppy, cradling him close to her chest, and exiting into the living room/kitchen combo, finding a note with a bright yellow rose attached to it on the table. Curiousness got the better of her, and she moved to read the note, head cocked to the side as she deciphered his messy handwriting.

‘My dear,
Loving you is always been a best part of our lives together… and it is quite interesting to see how our relationship changed from being friends to being boyfriend/girlfriend. We’ve been dating and been together since sophomore year of high school, and I want to ask you something… follow the path of the yellow roses and you’ll find me at the end. Bring Solandis with you, I think you’d appreciate her presence.

-Ethan’

Ryleigh chuckled at her boyfriend’s note, turning to grab her breakfast and feed the demanding yipping puppy at her ankles before going to get ready and dressed for the day, hair pulled back into a tight bun and Solandis leashed and ready to go, bouncing around the apartment with high volumed barks.

“Ready to go?” She questioned, picking up the yellow rose and letting Solandis pull her out the door, moving to where she saw the flash of yellow. Passing by their neighbor, Ryleigh was stopped by a little boy, handing her a yellow rose with a bright grin before he ran back to his parents.

She shook her head in amusement of her boyfriend’s actions and continued into town. As she passed the shops and cafes they frequented, a staff member outside had handed her a yellow rose.

By the time she had hit the woods just outside the town, she had about ten yellow roses in her hand, with the leash of Solandis in the other as the puppy bounced around, sniffing at everything. Ryleigh looked around before her eyes fell on the distantly lighted trail leading into the woods. Clicking her tongue to call Solandis to her, the two headed deeper into the woods.

Slowly, the trail turned from pavement to forested pine needles, and the light slowly grew brighter the closer she got. Ryleigh looked down at the ground, seeing yellow petals sprinkled in with the greenery of the pine needles, smiling as she continued to walk, the roses in her other hand.

Finally, rounding a corner, she almost stopped dead at seeing fairy lights strung over the trees, brightening the small clearing, with a mat of mixed yellow and blue petals covering the ground. Her gaze slowly moved up to land on the tall form of her boyfriend, holding a yellow rose in his hand and a bright smile focused on her.

“Glad to see you made it. And brought Solar with you.” Ethan’s deep voice was calming, peaceful, as he watched his girlfriend come closer, reaching her other hand to take the offered yellow rose and add it to the bouquet in her hand, head cocked cutely to the side in curiousity.

“I will have to admit, I am interested in all the planning… what do you have planned, Ethan?” Ryleigh questioned with a faint laugh.

He smiled at the beautiful woman, leaning in to whisper something into her ear before whistling for Solandis.

Almost immediately, the puppy bounded over, sending petals flying as she bounced into a sitting position, head tilting up to look at her owners with an eager expression.

“Read her collar.” Ethan whispered into Ryleigh’s ear, pressing a kiss before pulling away. Confused, but trusting her boyfriend, she knelt to gently look at the tag on the puppy’s collar. In quite fancy handwriting, the tag was large, but elegantly written. ‘Will you marry my daddy?’

Ryleigh’s expression went wide in surprise as she straightened, only to find Ethan on one knee, a box open with a beautiful diamond ring surrounded by white silk, smile bright. “So…? Will you?”

Covering her mouth with a hand, the hand not holding the flowers, she nodded slowly, then quicker. Ethan straightened, removing the ring from the box to slide it onto her right ring finger, pulling her into a deep kiss.

Solandis barked, almost startling the two as Ryleigh bent to pick her up, being enfolded into a tight hug by her now-fiancèe.

“What were the yellow roses for?” Ryleigh asked Ethan, still unsure at this moment. He chuckled.

“Count them.” Doing so, she realized the total came up to twelve, and her mind immediately put the pieces together.

“For each year we’ve been together…”

“Exactly.”

“And why yellow roses, when you know blue’s my favorite color?” Ryleigh questioned, a smile forming.

“Because you’re a yellow rose of Texas.” Ethan answered, offering an arm and leading the newly-engaged Ryleigh out of the clearing and back to the town, Solandis eagerly barking and wriggling in excitement.

“Love you.” She presses a kiss to his cheek as he turned his head to capture a kiss pressed to her lips.

“Love you more.”