Rhett
Um…yeah. Why haven’t you responded to my texts?
Rhett
It’s been a month, Lex.
Rhett
You haven’t been back since your mom sold the ranch.
Rhett
Are you finally going to tell me why you’ve gone off the grid?
Lexi
I’ll explain when I get there.
Lexi
I’ve got a surprise.
Rhett
You’ve known me since I was 15 — I can keep a secret.
Rhett
Come on, I’m your best friend. Stop keeping me in the dark.
Lexi
I’M GETTING MARRIED!!!
Lexi
That’s all you can say?!
Rhett
Sorry, I’m still processing.
Lexi
You can’t say anything yet.
Lexi
Especially not to my mama.
Rhett
When will you be here?
Lexi
My plane just landed. Grabbing a rental now…
Rhett
Come see me at the ranch before you go anywhere else.
Rhett
I have a surprise of my own.
Lexi waits for his reply while she starts up her rental car.
Rhett
Haha, when you get to my house.
Lexi
That’s not fair. I told you my surprise.
Rhett
You know me well enough to expect that I won’t always play fair.
Lexi
Haha, you don’t fool me — you’re a softie under that tough rancher look.
Lexi
Are you getting married, too?
Rhett
Is your fiancé with you?
Lexi
No, he couldn’t make it.
Lexi
Stop stalling and tell me!
Rhett
See you when you get here.
Rhett
Haha! 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.
Lexi
Shut 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.
Lexi
Serves you right for not telling me your surprise.
Rhett
Let me get you a towel.
Alone, Lexi glances around the open entryway and living room.
Rhett comes back and hands her a towel.
Lexi
What are all these boxes doing here?
Lexi
When were you going to tell me?
Rhett
I tried, remember? You ignored my texts.
Lexi
I was busy. It wasn’t like I was ignoring you.
Rhett
Busy with your fiancé?
Rhett
We always said nothing would come between our friendship.
Lexi
Nothing will. I’m here now, aren’t I?
The sight of those boxes stirs something inside her…
And Lexi doesn’t like this feeling.
Lexi
Where are you moving?
Rhett
That’s part of the surprise, so I can’t say anything just yet.
Lexi
You’ve got to be kidding me.
Lexi
I 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.
Rhett
What the hell is that?
Rhett
It needs its own zip code.
Lexi
Oh, come on. It’s not that big.
Rhett
I’d never pick that out for you.
Lexi
So what ring would you pick out for me?
Rhett
Why are you asking?
Lexi
Because you know me so well. I’m curious.
Rhett
For starters, it wouldn’t be something as common as a diamond.
Lexi
What’s wrong with a diamond?
Lexi
I assume that’s a compliment.
Lexi
Okay, so what ring would you get me?
Rhett
Something simple, yet one-of-a-kind.
Lexi
Are you saying I’m simple?
Rhett
I’m saying you’re classic.
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.
Rhett
I’d get you an emerald.
Lexi looks down at her hand.
An emerald would look perfect there.
Rhett
But this conversation is pointless, right?
Lexi
Um…right. Because you’d never buy me a ring.
As does her belly, full of sudden nerves.
Rhett
When are you going to your mama’s?
Lexi
She doesn’t know I’m here yet.
Rhett
You didn’t tell her you were coming?
Lexi
I like surprises, remember?
Rhett
So you’re going now?
Lexi
I was going to wait until she met Scott in person…
Lexi
But I just had to tell her about the engagement.
Rhett
Scott. The new guy.
Lexi
Yes. You’ll love him.
Lexi
Please. That’s just because you always have an issue with anyone I date.
Rhett
No one has ever been good enough.
Rhett
And you, since they’re no longer around.
Lexi
Scott is. He’s a good guy.
Rhett mutters something under his breath.
Lexi
Let me take you to dinner after I see Mama.
Rhett
You’ve been traveling. You’re tired.
Lexi
Have you ever known me to skip a meal?
Rhett
Fine. Why don’t you see your mama and come back here?
Rhett
I’ll make us dinner.
Lexi
You’re making me dinner? Will it be edible?
Rhett
You’ll never let me live down that casserole, will you?
Lexi
Never. And neither will the fire department.
Rhett
What if I grilled steaks?
Lexi
I’ll only come back on one condition.
Lexi
We discuss this mysterious move.
Rhett
I’ll think about it.
Rhett
You like surprises, remember?
Lexi
Not when I have to wait for them forever.
Rhett
Some things are worth waiting for.
Lexi
What’s that supposed to mean?
Rhett
You’ll have to come back later to find out.
Lexi
Do you even have dishes or are they in the boxes?
Rhett
You’re not too good to eat off a paper plate, are you?
Lexi
Have you ever know me to care?
Rhett
I haven’t seen you in a long time…
Rhett
Maybe you’ve changed from that laid-back country girl I used to know.
Lexi
I’m still the same girl.
Rhett
Then come back in a few hours.
Rhett
You’ll get the best dinner you’ve ever had.
Lexi
That’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…
Rhett
I think you know I always deliver on a promise.
Lexi
So 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.
