Obstacles (A Sequel)

Chapter Four

Thanking Mark as he pulled my chair out for me to sit down, I smiled to myself as I saw him adjust his shirt collar before taking a seat opposite me.

"Are you okay?" He looked at me puzzled and took my hands across the table. "I know I asked before, but you just seem nervous or something..." I observed and he rubbed his thumbs over my hands.

"I'm fine," Seeing my unconvinced look, he continued. "If I seem nervous, it's only because I want to make sure this is the best date for you!" He grinned as I blushed and looked down, embarrassed. Letting go of my hands, he picked up his menu and searched for drinks to order. "What do you want?"

"I'll just have a coke." I said, placing my menu down in front of me as our waiter came over to take our orders.

"A coke and a water, please," He smiled over at me as the waiter jotted down the orders. "Are you ready for food?"

"Can I have a few more minutes?" The waiter nodded politely and moved away from the table as I picked up the food menu. "So, are we going anywhere after this?"

Mark placed his finger to his lips slowly and shook his head. "That's a surprise! Order your food." He grinned slyly and I raised my eyebrow suspiciously as I continued reading the menu.

We finished our meals slowly, enjoying each other's company and the atmosphere. Mark wouldn't budge about what we were doing or where we were going afterwards, so I'd stopped nagging him after about five minutes of playful arguing. I fished my purse out of my bag when the bill for the meal came, but I was stopped quickly and so slowly put my money away, resting my hands on my chin and finding myself involuntarily becoming lost in my boyfriend's eyes.

"I'll get it, don't worry," He looked up after getting his money out and raised an eyebrow as he saw me looking. "What?"

I shrugged as the waiter came back over to take our payment. "I just love you and everything you do..." I giggled quietly to myself as I caught the waiter smile at my words before thanking and leaving. "Are you still not budging?"

"No!" He laughed. "Grab your stuff, and just follow me." He stood up and rolled his shoulders to stretch. "Hurry up!!" He joked and held out his hand for me to take as he led me away from the restaurant. As I caught up with him, I interlocked my fingers with his and he squeezed my hand, kissing my forehead as I leaned into him.

After following Mark without question, we reached a dirt footpath surrounded by trees. "Is this the surprise?" He stopped and looked at me startled, beginning to stutter that I didn't like it, but I shook my head with a smile, resting my hand on his cheek and pecking him on the lips. "If I'm with you, it's perfect." He motioned being sick to relax the mood, and I shoved him on the shoulder - quite hard, apparently, as he was pushed to the side.

I frowned as I walked behind Mark to see him breathing heavier, and almost bumped into him as he stopped in a spot by a big oak tree. He turned to face me, and I again saw the nervousness in his eyes, to which I became concerned. "What's wrong, babe? Don't try to bullshit your way out of this one!" I smiled weakly and looked down, confused, as he took both of my hands and closed the distance between us.

"I love you," He started, to which I immediately smiled and blushed. "More than you could ever know. The distance has been hard at times, I'll admit it, but every time I see you, I forget all of that, and I don't want to spend a day away from you..." He brought my hands up to his chest and I felt tears rise before beginning to silently fall down my cheeks.

"I want to do everything with you, now and always, and I want you to always be my side. I've never felt about anyone the way I feel about you, and that sounds so cliché, but it's true, so-" I folded at the waist and my breathing became shallower as he dropped to one knee. "Georgia Emily Moone, will you marry me?"

Too overcome with emotions to say anything, I nodded furiously and shakily offered my hand to have my finger fitted with a beautiful silver ring encrusted with diamonds in the centre. "I love-" I was cut off as Mark picked me up quickly and kissed me passionately and swung me around, prompting me to wrap my legs around his waist as he hugged me tightly and I nuzzled into his neck, letting my tears soak his shirt.

"I'm probably staining your shirt," I mumbled into his beck before he placed me back on my feet. "You did scrub up well, before emotional women ruined it." I giggled quietly and pulled myself close to him again, linking my hands together behind his waist.

"I'll let you off on this occasion." He laughed, and kissed me again.

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