Impractical Jokers, Practically

Chapter Twenty-Eight

I panic and look around, hoping that by focusing on my surroundings, it will help to replace my memory.

Stupid, Alexa. So stupid. How could you not remember one of the biggest, special moments of your life?

I mean, it's obvious we got engaged some time yesterday. The ring on my finger proves it. And apparently we live in this foreign house now. Okay, okay. What else happened? Well...if we're naked, does that mean...? Did we...? You can't be serious. I drink a couple of bottles and I suddenly forget the new place, the sex, the engagement?! 

Stupid alcohol. 

Sal stirs beside me. Oh shit, oh shit. He's waking up and I don't remember anything.

Sal, my fiance, opens his eyes, breathes deeply, and then looks at me with an adoring expression. 

Play it cool. Act like nothing is out of the ordinary. I definitely don't want him catching on that I forgot what happened last evening. When he admitted he had feelings for me, I ended up forgetting for a second, but now this. This is us being engaged. Bigger deal. I don't even want to imagine the look on his face if I told him I don't remember anything that happened past 2 p.m. yesterday. Especially after I said no when he proposed the first time. Huh, I think to myself. I finally got him to propose again, and I don't remember it. On a scale of one-to-ten, how bad do I suck right now? 

"Alexa? Are you--Is everything okay?" Sal's eyes prob my face, trying to read what I'm thinking. 

Act like nothing's wrong. Everything is fine. My memory came back pretty quickly the first time. Kind of. A half hour, give or take. Maybe this time, it'll be the same way. I'll tread lightly, say general statements, and then poof, I'll remember exactly how we got engaged again. 

I guess I was silent for too long.

Sal's more urgent. He sits up and his eyes cloud over. "...Alexa? Please don't tell me that--"

"I'm fine. Just taking it all in." I stare at my finger. "I'm just in shock. Like, I thought I was going to wake up from a dream or something." 

"Oh. Oh, thank goodness. I thought--Anyways, it's real baby. It's all real. You don't even know how happy I am right now." He hugs me, squeezing me into him, then lets go. "I'm going to make us breakfast. I made sure we had enough food in the house, before moving in." As he gets up and stretches, I recall that we both are naked, and I do my best to look at anything but him. "When you get up, can you pick up the bottles of alcohol?" Sal's glaring at the empty bottles that vacant the nightstand and floor. He puts on some clothes that were lying by the bed--must have been what he was wearing last night--and then leaves the room, leaving me alone with my thoughts. 

I have to pretend that I remember. I have to. Because, for a second, there was a moment that Sal was afraid that I did indeed forget. Oh, how that fearful expression turned into a joyful one when I pretended I knew what was going on. This is why I have to do it. Don't hurt Sal. That's going to be my new motto. 

I slowly get up out of bed, look around for my clothes, and, putting them on, I notice I'm trembling. I need to act like everything's fine. I don't want to hurt him anymore than I already have. And being his fiancee and living with him, just us alone, is a big step. Of course I'm happy, I'd just be happier if I actually remembered it happening. 

Cleaning up the mess we made from last night, I roll my eyes realizing that some things never change. Sal can't go without long periods of time without making sure everything's clean. It's a wonder how he got along living with the boys. 

Wiping my hands, I look around the room. I'm curious as to when he found the time to buy a house and pick out the bed, nightstand, dresser, etc. I know I dropped hints and stuff, but I didn't think he'd get a place this fast and without me knowing about it. The last thing I remember about yesterday is feeling down, thinking that he doesn't want to marry me because we haven't had sex yet. Clearly, though there's a blockage of time in my head, something transpired from yesterday to today.