"Everyone!" Lauren's screaming through her house with a shit-eating grin that won't budge. The thud, thud, thud of her pattering down the steps as quickly as she can is far faster than mine because of these heels.
"Lauren!" I scream her name and add, "Don't you dare!" as I bend down on the third step to grab my heels so I can catch her barefoot before she can go shouting to everyone what she just saw. I have half a mind to throw them at her as she lands on the bottom step.
"Guys!" Lauren squeals as she rounds the corner, leaving me in a view of only her hand. My chest is heaving in air by the time I catch up to her in the small living room crowded with James and four more friends for years and years. Friends who have been my family and know every detail of my life. Including the bits about Michael. The very large bits that have made up most of my life since the tenth grade.
All of their eyes are on me, I can feel them burning into me as I hold up a heel at Lauren, ready to tell her to shut it just as she announces, "He totally gave it to her already!"
Gave it to her. My mouth drops just like the shoe in my hand. How could she? Betrayal rips through me like I've never experienced in my life and instantly tears prick my eyes. Were they betting on how long it would take before I fell back into bed with him? Fuck. That hurts more than anything ever has. Embarrassment doesn't even register. It just hurts.
"Lauren, I didn't ask yet!" Michael's voice booms down the stair case. I barely notice the thumps pounding down the steps and coming up behind me.
"Fuck," Lauren covers her mouth before closing the distance between us and grabbing my shoulders. "That sounded so wrong. I thought you two were up there because he asked you. I'm so sorry. Don't take those words like the way they sounded.
"You really put your foot in your mouth," James laughs at Lauren, no sense at all
"I thought he asked her!" Lauren raises her voice and directs her guilt on James who shakes his head comically. "You're a mess," he jokes and my friends in the room chuckle. Everyone still jovial as if nothing's wrong in the least.
"Ask me what?" I breathe the words and turn around to face Michael, his soft blue eyes piercing me like they always do.
"Oh my God he's going to do it now," I hear Lauren's words rush out of her mouth as she steps away, giving us room and letting everyone else see the two of us.
My heart beats fast, my body heats and my lungs stay perfectly still, refusing to let me breathe as Michael takes my hand with one of his, running the rough pad of his thumb over my wrist and reaches into his pocket to pull out a small black velvet box.
Oh, my fucking God.
My bottom lip wobbles slightly as my eyes glance at the box, then back to his eyes.
Michael lets out an uneasy breath, "I wanted to ask you in private." He clears the nervousness from her voice with a small cough before continuing. "I wasn't sure what you'd say, but I guess in front of all of our friends is a perfectly fine way to do it."
"You remember how you asked me what my holiday wish was?" he asks me but my mind still isn't functioning quite right and I can only stare back at him, feeling so much excitement, nervousness, so much hope that this means he wants the same as me. Michael glances at everyone behind me before leaning forward and reminding me, "Last week when I saw you, do you remember when I asked you and then you asked me back?"
Blinking away the buzz of this frenzy I nod vigorously and Michael smiles at me, it's a lop sided grin that makes him that much more charming. "You've got to help me here," he whispers just for me, "I'm nervous."
Rocking onto my tip toes I steal a quick kiss from him, feeling the blush rise into my cheeks, "Sorry, I swear I'm paying attention." He laughs as I rock back down onto my heels and look up at him with a warmth flooding every bit of me.
"You're my holiday wish." He stares into my eyes. "I just want you and this can be whatever you want it to be, if you want me too." His words come out faster as he goes on until he takes a moment to breathe, opening up the small velvet box for me to see. "A promise ring or more, I'm not sure," he lets out a long breath as I peek at the sparkling ring.
Tears cloud my vision of the rose gold diamond ring with floral details surrounding it. Or more? I never expected this.
"I'm not sure what you want, proposal or a promise, or to get married tonight. I just want you and this is for you."
"Tonight!" the word shrieks with glee from behind me and I look over my shoulder to see Lauren barely being held back by James. She covers her mouth with both hands and I have to laugh at her antics. She's always said we were meant to be together, that even a thousand miles wouldn't keep us apart.
"Not tonight," I say mostly to get that thought out of Lauren's head before looking back at Michael. "Not tonight," I repeat and hold his hand tighter. "And if it means I get another, this is just a promise ring," I bite down on my lower lip to keep my grin at bay, but it doesn't work.
Michael's shoulders shake as the tension around us eases and our friends laugh from my answer.
"Told you!" this time it's James who pipes up.
"I'll get you another then." Michael's voice is soothing, and the look in his eyes is everything right now. Devotion, love, the way he looked at me when we shared our first kiss, our first time, all of our firsts. And the way he looked at me when I left him, thinking I couldn't be the only one who felt this between us, but too scared to ask. "When you're ready."
"Let's just be us, for now."
"That's all I want." He lowers his nose to mine, and gives me another kiss as the chatter and cheers pick up behind us. It turns to white noise when he whispers though, "I love you Carla. I always have and I always will."
My lips press against his for a short kiss and then I whisper in the warm air between us, "I love you too."
Enjoyed meeting Carla & Michael? You can find more sexy shorts and exclusive teases and so much more over on my Patreon ~ https://www.patreon.com/WillowWintersAuthor
