Love Drunk

Chapter 24

(The ring ^)

Shale

As soon as we step foot in Central Park, I feel Cole tense up beside me. I open my mouth to say something, but then let out a startled gasp at the sight in front of me.

The trees of central park are lit with dangling lights, casting the park in a beautiful white glow, putting the stars to shame. There is a candle lie path, leading up to a weeping willow, the low hanging branches held open by rings, made of lights. The inside of the willow is decorated with more lights, and candles placed in a circle around the trunk.

Unable to do anything but follow, I let Cole lead me into the weeping willow. Hidden under the branches, I hear him take a deep breathe before dropping to one knee and holding out a black velvet box in his hands.

My hand clamps over my mouth as my eyes start to sting, watching and waiting for him to do or say something.

"Shale, the past couple of months have been the best of my life. I don't know what I would have done if I hadn't found you and I thank god I did. I know this may seem soon, but it feels right. I love you, and you love me...I hope...and I want to spend the rest of my life with you. I know I can do that as your boyfriend, but I want to call you my wife, and I selfishly want to hear you call me your husband," he pauses to shoot me a dazzling smile. "I want to be with you, with you as my wife and grow old together, maybe even start a family, go on our own adventures, I want to have everything with you. So...Shale Jones, will you do me the greatest honor of the world in making me the happiest man in the world by becoming my wife?"

I stare at him, bewildered and shocked, not knowing what to say, as my eyes well up with tears. How do you respond to something so beautiful?

"Yes," is all I manage to say, through my shocked state. "Yes! Of course I will marry you!"

I watch as he slides the beautiful ring on my finger, tears sliding down my cheeks. As soon as my ring is on, he jumps up, wrapping his arms around my waist and spinning me around in the air. I let out a squeal of surprise, wrapping my arms around his neck as he continues to spin me in the air.

He places me down gently on the ground, looking into my eyes with a bright smile on my face. He was looking at me as if I was the only thing in the world.

Cole gently gripped my chin, angling my face up to his and leaning down to kiss me. I meet his lips halfway, pulling him down towards me as I throw all of my love for him into the kiss.

Cole

As my lips move against Shale's allow myself to bask in the moment, committing it to memory. She said yes!

As Shale pulls away, panting and breathless, leaning her forehead against mine, I smile.

"This is the best day of my life," I whisper to her, watching as a smile stretches across her beautiful face.

"I love you Cole, more than anything," she says, causing my heart to momentarily stop beating in my chest. "Which is good, because you love me just as much," she smirks, pecking my lips.

"No, I love you more," I say, kissing her again, leaving no room for arguments.

***

I wake up, looking down at the beautiful hand laying on my bare chest, an engagement ring on the ring finger.

I follow the bare arm until I'm looking at Shale, sleeping peacefully, tucked into my side. I lean in and kiss her forehead, before worming my way out of bed.

I walk into my closet and pull on a pair of boxers before sliding on a pair of sweatpants, before walking out into our bedroom again.

"Where are you going?" Shale's sleepy voice asks, causing me to turn around and come back to her.

"I'm just going to make breakfast, go back to sleep," I say, kissing her lips quickly, before pulling the blanket up over her.

"Love you," she says, as I walk out.

I turn around at the door to see her already asleep. A smile finds its way onto my face as I remember that she's going to be my wife. She's my Fiancé.

Shale

"Yes, he proposed!" I exclaim into the phone, telling the good news to Dravin.

I hear her high pitched squeal on the other end, causing me to pull the phone away from my ear until she's done. As soon as I hear her start talking again, I put the phone near my ear.

"...I knew it was going to happen! I'm so happy for you, Shale! Did you call Olivia yet?"

"No, I tried, but of course she didn't pick up, and I thought about sending a letter, but I have no idea where to send it,†I sigh, pacing the living room.

"Well, she'd be just as excited as me, if not more. I just know it. Anyway, how did he do it? Was it beautiful?"

"Yeah, he took me to Central Park and proposed to me under a weeping willow and the park was all lit up beautifully and we were the only ones there. It was..." I pause looking at the open kitchen and Cole's bare muscled back as he cooked. "It was so sweat. He's perfect," I gush into the phone, causing Cole to turn around with a knowing smirk on his face.

Damnit! He was listening!

"Okay, I've got to go spend time with my fiancé," I smile into the phone.

"Okay, go! Love you," she yells into the phone before hanging up on me.

I smile to myself before walking over to where Cole is once again hunched over the stove. I place my phone down on the island before coming up behind him and wrapping my arms around his waist, resting my cheek on his back.

I smile, closing my eyes, basking in how perfect and natural this feels. Suddenly, he turns around facing me with a smirk. Before I can say anything, an egg lands on my head, dripping down my face.

I open my mouth in horror and surprise. What the hell did he just do!

I stare at his laughing form as I take in what he just did to me. He fucking smashed a raw egg on my head.

"What the fuck, Cole!" I exclaim, causing him to sober up and lo9ok at me, but his shoulders still shaking with laughter.

Suddenly getting an idea, I turn my back to him in a huff and stalk over to the fridge, pulling out a carton of milk, and grabbing a glass from the cabinet, keeping my back to him.

"Shale? I was just messing around," he explains, sounded like a small child apologizing to its mom.

I let out another huff, pouring the milk into the glass, waiting patiently. As soon as I feel him come up behind me, I spin around, pouring the milk on his head, watching as it drips down his shocked face and tones torso.

I grip my stomach as laughter tears through my throat. He looked like a hurt child, before his mouth turns into a devilish smirk, causing me to stop laughing and start backing up.

"You shouldn't have done that, fiancé," he smirks, stalking closer to me.

I let out a squeal as he lunges for me, dashing through the apartment and into my bathroom. Before I can close the door behind me, he's already in, locking the door.

"I think you owe me a shower," he says, getting closer to me.

"Oh, well, the showers right there," I swallow, pointing to the glass shower.

"No, I think I need you to join me."

"Oh...um..." I start, but he's already stripping down.

I should be blushing or looking away, but he is my fiancé, right? With a sudden boost of confidence, I tear off Cole's oversized shirt that I had thrown on and strut towards the shower, purposely swaying my hips.

Two can play at this game.

Just as the hot water comes on, I'm shoved into the shower, turned to face Cole as water slides down the both of us.

"This marriage is definitely going to last," he smirks, before crashing his lips against mine, pressing me against the cool tiles.

I couldn't agree more.

The End!