More Than Friends

Chapter 30: New Beginnings, New Promises

The days after Devin's surprise proposal felt like a dream to Nicole. Every time she looked down at the sparkling ring on her finger, it was like she was reminded of how far they'd come. All the fear, all the darkness—they had pushed through it, and now they were standin' on the other side with nothin' but love and their whole future ahead of them.

Devin had been playin' it cool, but Nicole knew he was just as excited as she was. They had both talked about marriage before, but now that it was official, everything felt more real. They were about to start a whole new chapter together.

One night, a few days after the proposal, Nicole and Devin were sittin' on the couch, goin' through some wedding ideas. The energy was light, full of laughter, and the love between them felt even stronger than before. Nicole flipped through her phone, scrollin' through different venues, lookin' at dresses, and imaginin' what their day would look like.

"I think we should keep it small," Nicole said, lookin' up at Devin. "You know, somethin' intimate with just the people we care about the most."

Devin nodded, leanin' back on the couch, his arm around her. "Yeah, I'm feelin' that. We don't need nothin' crazy, just somethin' that feels like us."

Nicole smiled, her heart warm. She loved that Devin always knew how to keep things simple and real. He never needed the flash or the extra, just what mattered.

"What kinda vibe you thinkin'?" Devin asked, glancin' at the pictures Nicole was scrollin' through.

Nicole paused, thinkin'. "Maybe somethin' outside, like what you did for the proposal. A garden or a park, somethin' natural and beautiful. Just like that night."

Devin grinned. "I knew you liked that setup."

Nicole laughed, nudgin' him playfully. "You already know I loved it."

As they sat there, talkin' about their future, Nicole couldn't help but feel grateful. Not just for the love they shared, but for the journey they had taken to get here. They had gone through so much, but every struggle had brought them closer.

The Next Morning

Nicole woke up to the soft sound of rain outside the window. It was one of those peaceful mornings where everything felt calm and still. She rolled over in bed, her hand instinctively restin' on the spot where Devin usually slept, but it was empty. Curious, she got up and headed to the kitchen.

Devin was already up, standin' by the stove, makin' breakfast. The smell of eggs and toast filled the air, and Nicole smiled to herself as she watched him. She had always loved these little moments—the quiet mornings where it was just the two of them, livin' their life together.

"Mornin'," she said softly, walkin' over to him.

Devin turned, flashin' her a smile. "Mornin', beautiful. You sleep good?"

Nicole nodded, wrappin' her arms around him from behind. "Always do when I'm with you."

Devin chuckled, flippin' the eggs onto a plate before turnin' to face her. "I was thinkin'—since we got the wedding comin' up, maybe we take a little trip before all the crazy starts. Just me and you."

Nicole raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "A trip? Where you thinkin'?"

Devin shrugged, a mischievous grin on his face. "Somewhere quiet. A little getaway to celebrate us. Nothin' fancy, just somethin' chill."

Nicole smiled, lovin' the idea. "I like the sound of that. We definitely deserve a break after everything."

"Exactly," Devin said, kissin' her forehead. "Plus, we should enjoy this engagement phase before we dive into weddin' madness."

Nicole laughed, knowin' he was right. Wedding plannin' could get stressful, but with Devin by her side, she knew it would be worth it.

A Week Later

True to Devin's word, they packed up and took a quick trip to a small, cozy cabin by the lake. It was the perfect escape—quiet, peaceful, and surrounded by nature. They spent their days walkin' along the water, talkin' about their future, and just enjoyin' each other's company without the distractions of everyday life.

One evening, as they sat by the fireplace, Devin leaned back in his chair, lookin' over at Nicole with a soft smile.

"You know, Nic, I never thought I'd be here," he said quietly. "After everything we went through, I didn't know if I'd ever get the chance to feel this...this happy."

Nicole looked at him, her heart full. "Me neither, Dev. But we made it. And I think we stronger because of it."

Devin nodded, his eyes full of love. "We are. And I'm ready to build somethin' real with you, somethin' that lasts."

Nicole smiled, feelin' the weight of his words. They had already been buildin' somethin' real, but now, they were takin' it to the next level—startin' a life together, as husband and wife.

As they sat there, with the fire cracklin' softly in the background and the stars twinklin' outside the window, Nicole knew this was exactly where she was meant to be. Right here, with Devin, buildin' a future full of love, strength, and unbreakable bonds.