out of time ~ cliff booth

rings

one month later

it was our final day moving into the house. cliff and i had done pretty well. we got couches, beds for the bedrooms, a tv for the living room, and a bunch of other things to make our house a home.

cliff had been doing stunts on a new movie recently, which left me home with brandi during the day. tonight we decided to invite over rick and fran for drinks.

i was in the kitchen washing up some new dishes and silverware as i feel a pair of arms slither around my waist. i jump a bit but realize it was cliff "i didn't even hear you walk in!" i turn around, placing a kiss to his lips.

"you would've if the door was locked..." he raises his eyebrows at me. ever since the incident at ricks house he really pushed for me to keep the doors locked when he wasn't here "you're right you're right" i put my hands up as i walk over to the fridge.

"where's that dog of mine?" he asks looking around "backyard" he walks over to the sliding door that i had open. the breeze was flooding the house as cliff stands in the door "brandi! come on inside" he steps to the side as brandi runs in with her toy.

"am i gonna hear you speak some of that italian tonight?" cliff asks from the living room. i walk out of the kitchen, squinting my eyes at him "yes, and don't go crazy when you hear it either-" "can't promise that miss castro" the door bell rings, interrupting our conversation.

i open the door and greet rick and francesca with a smile "hi!" francesca and i embrace before rick and i do "your girlfriend might just be stealin my wife a bit more everyday" rick chuckles as him and cliff hug. francesca rolls her eyes playfully as we all walk to the kitchen.

francesca and i start making some drinks as cliff and rick walk out to the backyard to smoke. i knit my eyebrows as i noticed a new ring on francesca's finger "what happened to your other one!" i frown "i was doing the dishes and lost it in the garbage disposal. i was so upset, i couldn't believe i had done it" we converse in italian. i did my best speaking italian to make francesca feel as comfortable as she could.

"what are you two gossiping about now?" cliff teases as he walks in "francesca's ring-" "what, do you want one?" i could feel my cheeks heat up "what! no- she lost it down the drain when doing the dishes!" cliff smirks at my reaction before taking a look at francesca's ring "very beautiful- now lets go enjoy our drinks and watch the sunset" i laugh to myself as we walk out to the back yard with drinks in hand.

after several drinks and cigarettes smoked to the filter, rick and francesca call it a night, taking a short walk back home. i wash up the glasses, along with brandi's food and water bowl. cliff walks in with a happy sigh freshly showered "better?" i ask. he walks by and places a kiss on my cheek "much" he grabs brandi's bowls, drying them off before putting water in one and dry food in the other.

"you know..." he groans as he sets down brandi's bowls "i was thinkin-" "uh oh..." i joke, earning an eye roll from cliff "i was thinkin about rick and fran- how she lost her ring doing the dishes-" "i know! i feel so bad for her, it was such a beautiful ring" i frown thinking about it.

"well yes, but, i'm gettin real tired of callin you miss castro..." he steps closer to me, placing his hands on my hips "call me miss cynthia then" i widen my eyes sarcastically as i rest my arms on cliffs shoulders.

"well i was thinkin of calling you mrs booth..." i shake my head slightly. cliff sighs a bit "well... i tried-" "no! i'm not saying no cliff i just... you... you want too?" he pulls his head back "of course i do" he chuckles "id like to wake up next to you every morning, fall asleep next to you everynight, and spend every possible minute with you in between. of course i wanna marry you- i've been wanting to marry you ever since i got back from italy, it's just the damn timing has never been right to ask you. the whole ring thing tonight made me realize i had to do it tonight..." he sighs.

i pull him in by the back of his neck into a kiss. his hand finds my cheek as he deepens the kiss even more. we pull away, cliff resting his forehead on mine "so... will you do me the honors of bein my wife?" he whispers.

"absolutely- but what if i wanted to ask you to be my husband?" he throws his head back in a laugh "you still can... but after" i knit my eyebrows at him "after what?" i let out a yelp as he picks me up bridal style "you'll see" he says as we get to the bedroom.

i giggle knowing i was in for a wild ride in life with cliff booth by my side.