Burning Sea Green

10

A few days after have the engagement discussion with Dinah, we were hanging out with Normani at a restaurant in Cape Town. The other girls decided to join Ally in a shopping and explore and we would love to be with them but Dinah insisted a meeting regarding my plans for engagement.

"So, our little sap's really serious about our badass, huh?" Normani said with a smirk.

"I've been serious all along about her, Mani," I told her before rolling my eyes.

The girl only laughed, causing her girlfriend to giggle as well. Ugh. These bitches. It would've been better if Lauren was here so I wouldn't be feeling a little jealous.

"Anyways, I suggest that you get a ring from James Allen," Normani said excitedly, her eyes almost sparkling as she spoke. "They have a website online so, you can check whatever you want and you can order it there right away. The shipping might take some time though. But if you want to pick a ring personally, they have a store in New York. We'll go with you if you're up to visit."

"Okay, wait, wait, wait, wait," I said as she didn't even notice that she was going too fast. "Mani, I appreciate the effort and information that you've given me but can we sort things out first before selecting a ring?"

"But isn't engagement about getting the perfect ring too?"

"It is but I don't know where, when, and how I'm going to propose." I felt a rush of anxiety and excitement run through my veins at the thought of actually proposing to Lauren.

"Well, when do you want to do it?" Dinah asked easily, talking about it like I was only going to ask Lauren out for a date.

"I have no fucking idea," I admitted, brushing my hands against my temples. "I want to it to happen during our show though. Like, we'd prepare a surprise or something. I also want it to happen when we're in Europe because after I propose, I was hoping to have some time alone with her just walking around the town or something romantic."

"Jerry has given us the tour dates, right? Look it up and choose where."

"London would be the answer," Normani said, already scrolling through her phone. "They've got the best architecture in England and Lauren's a sucker for that kind of shit."

I couldn't help but laugh, nodding my head nevertheless. "Alright. I'll do it in London."

"We'll be performing in London for, like, six consecutive days . . . um, let's see. We're on stage from September twenty-four to thirty, but we won't be performing during the twenty-seventh," Normani said, looking up to meet my gaze. "What's your pick?"

"If we're going to perform from twenty-four to thirty, the middle date would be twenty-six?"

"Yeah. The twenty-sixth, and the next day is going to be a rest day so, it's a perfect time to, you know, get busy with each other."