Strangers, Friends and All the In Between

Chapter 17

A few hours later, I woke up to Sam having jumped onto the bed, crushing me into a hug. It terrified me at first, causing me to worry who it was that jumped on me. My eyes shoot open, breath rapid and heart feeling as though it were going to jump out of my chest. The moment I registered who it was, my lips formed a huge smile.

"Oh, baby, you're so amazing! How long to take you to do all of that?" Sam asks me, referring to the rest of the apartment.

"Only a few hours," I respond.

"So, when you were taking a walk you were actually-"

"Putting our apartment together? Yeah, pretty much," I interrupt. Sam hugs me tighter.

"Thank you so much!" she exclaims. I wrap my arms around her to return the hug. She stands up, grabbing my hand and pulling me up with her. She rushes us out of the bedroom, into the main room where just about every part of the apartment was visible. "It looks great, Aaron. You did a phenomenal job with it, babe."

"Thanks. I tried to recreate it how you and I discussed it yesterday," I remark.

But that was about a year ago. The most important parts of Sam and I's relationship. Well, that is, up until this point. I'm planning on asking her to marry me today. I already went out and bought the ring last month. I've been keeping it safe and where she would never find it. I have how I'm going to ask her all planned out as well. I'll let you guys in on what happens after the day's over.

Sam is just waking up. She's still so adorable. I've not gotten used to seeing her wake up and I don't think I ever will.

"Morning, gorgeous," I tell her. I see the most beautiful smile creep onto her face.

"Morning, sexy," she greets me, eyes open and looking up at me. I lean down and kiss her forehead.

"How'd you sleep?" I ask her as she sits up and leans against my chest.

"I had this awful dream," she responds, face contorted into a frown as I assume she recalls the dream from last night.

"What was it about?" I ask, genuinely concerned about what it was.

"Well, I dreamed that you didn't wanna be with me anymore. Then, after you went to walk away, I chased after you, but right before I get to you..." her voice trails off. I look down at her, seeing tears begin to fall from her eyes.

"Hey...hey, it's okay," I say, pulling her closer to my chest. She buries her face into my neck.

"Some idiot was driving too fast and didn't see you when you went to cross the street and..."

"Sh, sh, sh. You don't have to say. Listen to me. I'm right here. You don't have to worry about that. I don't plan on leaving you. I'm here to stay," I say as I begin to rub her back lightly.

"I was so worried that you were gone. I didn't know what to do. I was so happy to see you when I opened my eyes. Thank God you're alright," she exclaims before climbing onto my lap and kissing me roughly. I smile into the kiss, holding her in place.

"We're alright, babe. I promise. I'm not leaving you. I'm not biting the dust just yet," I say once we pull away.

"You're right. You have too thick of a skull to let life take you yet," Sam replies, laughing. I laugh alongside her.

"Yeah, anyways, I have a plan for tonight," I inform her.

"Oh yeah? What's that?" she asks, donning on a bit of a smile. I smirk back at her.

"Yep. I'm taking you out on a date," I respond, puffing out my chest a bit. She laughs again before giving me another kiss and standing up.

"Well, if that's the case, I should go get ready, shouldn't I?" she asks rhetorically, walking into the washroom. I smirk to myself as I sit there, hearing the shower turn on.