First Crush, My Forever

Chapter 87

  It's early, just after 6:30 am, and the sun's barely started stretching over the treetops. The air's cool but feels good on my face. I finish my last mile, slow to a jog, and swipe the sweat from my forehead with the bottom of my shirt. My lungs are burning, legs sore in that good way, but my head is clear.

  I pull my earbuds out as I walk up the driveway and across the short stretch of grass between our house and my moms'. Their porch light's still on even though the sun's climbing fast. I knock twice before getting my key out and letting myself in.

  "Morning," Mama calls from the kitchen.

  "Hey baby," my mom says as she is propped against the kitchen island. She's got her glasses on and her iPad in her hand but lays it down to help mama.

  I set my empty water bottle on the counter and kick off my sneakers. "Y'all got Gatorade?"

  Mama raises her eyebrows and points to the fridge. "Always."

  I grab a bottle, still breathing heavily from the run and lean against the counter.

  "You hungry?" my mom asks.

  I shake my head no and watch them move around each other like they've done for decades. Easy and steady. Home.

  They both look at me like they already know something's coming.

  I take a sip, then say it straight: "I'm ready to propose to Dani."

  Neither one of them look surprised.

  My mom's lips twitch like she's trying not to smile. Mama just nods slowly, like she's waiting.

  "Obviously I've been thinking about it for a while now," I go on. "After I got the ring, I didn't wanna rush. I wanted to wait until it felt... solid, felt right."

  "You two are solid," Mama says, like she's stating a fact.

  "I know," I say. "I feel it every day. Especially now and I wanna do this right."

  My mom leans forward. "So do you have a plan?"

  I nod my head yes, "I..." Then I stop talking and grin as my brain, completely uninvited, serves me something better.

  Something way more us, something Dani wouldn't see coming.

  I blink a few times. My moms are looking at me like I've glitched out.

  "You okay?" Mama asks.

  I laugh once, out loud, loud enough to startle them. "Wait... wait. Oh my god."

  My mom raises both brows. "What?"

  "I just had an idea," I say, jumping up like I can't sit still. "Holy shit, it's perfect."

  "Are you going to tell us?" My moms ask at the same time.

  I start pacing.

  "Okay so, I'm gonna write her something. A letter. Something that sounds like me but is about her, about us."

  My mama's already smiling, covering her mouth with her hand.

  "And I'll be in the same room while she's reading it," I go on. "At the very end, when she gets to the last line... when she looks up, I'll be on one knee with the ring."

  My heart's pounding harder than it was after that run.

  Mom leans back, arms crossed, smiling. "That's all you're giving us?"

  "There's more," I say, barely able to stand still. "I want KK involved."

  "Of course," mama says.