An Exchange

Chapter Sixty-Three - Dinner Date

Penny

Ryan picked me up for dinner. I dressed for the fireside afterward, which also seemed appropriate for their setting. I had grown to love Ryan's family, and as I sat at their table, I couldn't help noticing the differences in how things were with them from the last time we had dinner together. It was wonderful.

After the meal, Ryan took me to the pool house where we sat beside the pool in silence. He seemed apprehensive about something, and he kept glancing at me. I shifted uncomfortably and looked at my watch: 6:30.

Suddenly he sat up and turned to face me. "I want to know what you think about coming to UCLA with me."

I sighed. "I know you do, and I know I've been thinking about it for a long time-"

He knelt in front of me and grasped my hands. "Penny, I want to do right by you, and I want to be with you. I love you so much and I want you to come with me because, well, because..." He squeezed my hands and looked into my eyes. "Because I want to marry you. I want to always be with you."

I gaping at him, completely surprised. Giles had been right; Ryan did know what he was doing and I had yet again been blissfully ignorant. "You want to marry me?"

"Yes, I want to marry you."

"Are you serious? But we're so young."

"It doesn't matter. What matters is that I love you."

I smiled and let out a quick giggle. "Really?"

"Yes." He leaned in and kissed me. "We'd have to get you an immigration visa, which could take several months, but it would be worth it."

I couldn't help smiling in shock. He wanted to marry me! I guided him into the small living area to a couch where we could talk it through. "How would we manage it?"

A wide smile spread across his face and he began setting out a plan of action. It was very well thought through. He must have been thinking about it for quite some time.

When he finished, I leaned forward and kissed him softly. "This is all so surreal. You have it all planned out, how could I say no?"

He grabbed me tightly and kissed me passionately. We made out for quite some time before he stopped and rested his head in my lap. "This is incredible. This is exactly how I've pictured my life to be. Going to college to play football, marrying a beautiful girl who I love more than anything. It's all too good to be true."

I smiled, stroking his hair. He closed his eyes and sighed contentedly. I thought about what kind of life we would lead and I was fairly certain it would be a glamorous and exciting one. But there were a few things I wanted to run by him, things I wanted out of my life, and out of the marriage. "So, when do you think we'll start having kids? Maybe in two years?"

To my surprise he laughed. "Try maybe ten."

"What?" I was taken aback. "But I'll be like twenty-eight, and I want at least three or four."

"I want to have a life with you without bratty kids stealing all your time and attention. Maybe two, hey? But later on."

I was stunned. I wanted a family. I wanted children. I remembered talking with Giles about how many children I wanted and how I wanted to start right away once I was married. He had wanted the same thing. He had always wanted the same things I did.

"What about church?" I whispered, beginning to doubt my decision.

"I won't stop you from going. You can do whatever you like."

"But what about you? Couldn't you just-"

He opened his eyes and looked up at me. "Church isn't for me."