Fooled by Perfection

Chapter 37: Toast to That

When we arrived at our next destination, we were at Vinny's. I wondered why it looked so deserted, which was unusual, as it's never empty, no matter what time it is. I ask Dezman if he's sure that they aren't closed.

*Dezman*

They're closed for everybody else, but they're open for us.

*Ciana*

"You got Vinny's to shut down the place just for us? Is that what you're telling me?"

He looked over and winked at me, and I knew that there was no limit to what he could do. We walked around to the outside area, and I stopped in my tracks once again at what I was seeing. The whole outside area of Vinny's was decorated with string lights all over. Some of the lights were on the tables, and some were on the shading that covered the area. There were even some on the nearby trees and bushes, and some wrapped around the railings and the poles.

It was unbelievable, and I knew what he had done. The whole night replayed a part of our past. We were here at Vinny's because it was where we had initially made contact for the first time. I stood there, looking from the sidewalk, as other people were passing by, staring at us, wondering what was going on with the setup. Dezman pulled me over to the railing, where he was able to put one of his legs over and then lift me off my feet so that I didn't have to climb over to get on the other side.

There was a crowd of people starting to watch us now, and they were starting to say things like "aww." We walked over to the same exact table that I was sitting at when he introduced himself to me. He pulls the chair out for me to sit in, and Vinny himself comes out to greet us. I knew it was him because Dezman introduced him to me. We ordered everything like we normally would, and he went back inside. Dezman asked me how I was feeling, and I told him that words couldn't express it.

As we were sitting there waiting, a lady stopped to look over at us, and she must have noticed my ring because she yelled out and asked us if we had just gotten engaged. I shook my head yes, and everyone that was standing there clapped and started saying congratulations. It made me feel shy. I covered my face and started giggling in my hands. I wasn't embarrassed; I was just overwhelmed with happiness. Dezman asked if I wanted to go inside, and I told him that I didn't because I felt like I was in a movie or in a really good dream. I told him that I loved the look of everything, like it was magical, and I could sit there forever. He told me he had done all the decorating himself, and it made it all that more special to me.

"When did you have the time to do all of this?"

*Dezman*

Think about it.

*Ciana*

Think about what?

*Dezman*

About when I would have been able to do all of this.

*Ciana*

I don't know.

*Dezman*

Well, I was doing all the lights and shit when you called me last night upset. Then I was doing all the lil shit today when you wanted to chill. It was crazy 'cause you were so mad at me, but I couldn't tell you, so I just had to take the heat from you.

*Ciana*

I'm sorry. I didn't get that mad, though, but it doesn't matter now because I'm so happy that this is what you were up to. I just got a little worried that you were changing on me.

*Dezman*

I'm not gon' ever change on you.

*Ciana*

"Let's toast to that... No changing for the worse."