Harassenger: Backseat Admirer ✔️

Chapter Forty

Chapter Forty

As the summer reared it's end, Mick and I spent most afternoons together when he got off of work. My shell was cracking day by day, and I was learning to let myself love for once. Holt and I spent some time together, but with the company of Trixie and her raved boyfriend, that I finally got to meet. Della called me every now and then, which surprised me the most. She's back in school come September for culinary arts, where she plans on making a name for herself away from Salty Edge and picking up her life after a messy marriage. Mom and Desmond, who I once thought would be romantically involved, were nothing other than workout buddies, or so Mom says. Maybe she friendzoned Desmond since that seems to run in the family. My sister, Jamie, spent the rest of the summer at her favorite park with her 'boyfriend' and the two plan on getting married after college. It's cute, in a weird sort of way. For her sake, I hope love is that easy! As for me, I planned on expanding the gym during the fall and from there, maybe opening another gym in the next town over. Of course, with the encouragement from my boyfriend, Mick, I believed anything was possible.

"Hey, babe. I just love calling you that; it never gets old." Mick kissed me on the cheek as I followed him out on the lawn, my sister following my shadow.

"Hey, so where are we going today?" He was taking me out on a special date, but as usual, my question would be ignored. The element of surprise and all that bull crap. Okay, okay...it's secretely romantic.

"We're going some place special. But first, I bought my favorite ladies each a gift. Follow me out to my truck."

"Ooh, I get a gift!" Jamie clapped her hands together with feelings of excitement. Mick made it a priority to spoil me and my sister before every one or our dates. Usually, he'd give me a single red rose, and my sister a cute teddy bear.

"Mick, I don't know how much more space we have for more stuffed animals." I said, following him to his truck.

"Well, this time, you might want to make some room." Opening his door, in a small, brown box was a real puppy.

"Oh my gosh!" Jamie yelled, trying with all her might to hop into the truck and throw the whimpering puppy into her arms. She held onto the dog so close that I couldn't tell the difference between her hair and the dog's fur coat.

"You got her a puppy?" I said, astonished.

"Yeah, she missed her old dog so much I figured we should give her a chance to bond with another. Don't worry, your mom has already approved."

"You talked to my mom?"

"Yeah. Besides, I had to ask her for something else." He smiled.

"What about?"

"Well, hold on; I'm getting to that. That's part of your surprise."

"Do I get a puppy, too?" I joked.

"No, but it does have something to do with the puppy." He nodded towards the puppy my sister was holding, and my eyes squinted in confusion.

I looked closer at the cute puppy, but found nothing.

"I don't get it." Looking closer, Mick followed my gaze but then he looked confused, frantic even.

"Isn't this ring pretty? It'll go great with my tiara." Jamie gave a toothy grin, shining a beautiful princess cut, diamond in my face.

Mick slapped his face with his hand, stumbling back.

"Well, this isn't how it was supposed to go. You were supposed to find the ring around the collar of the dog, and you were supposed to be shocked, not confused. Dammit to hell!"

"You're...you're proposing?"

"Say yes, Natt!" Jamie squealed.

Mick grabbed onto my hands and pulled me closer, clearing his throat.

"It's my grandmother's ring. I know it's early, but my feelings are very real, and you can't time love, don't you agree? I'm not saying we have to get married tomorrow or even next year, but I want you to know I plan on making my future plans all around you. I want you to be mine and one day we will start a future, I promise you that. Whether you want a big house on the lake with tiny kids, a double-wide trailer with a litter of puppies, or traveling the open road in that Jeep of yours. I'll do whatever you want, because I want to do whatever with you for a really long time. There will be hardships, and half the time you'll be grumpy for something I've done wrong, but that only means I'll have a lot to make up for and those will be the times I enjoy the most. Like that couple at the bar in Destin; I want to grow old with you no matter the challenges, because it'll be worth it. Please say yes, Natalie Fisher."

"Mick, you know I have a tendency to be indecisive. But this...this is probably the only answer I'll ever know for sure: I love you, and I want to marry you."

Lifting me into his arms, he planted a dozen kisses on my lips.

"It's about time!" Staring at us from the gym door was Desmond and my mother. Both had been in on this?

"I love you, future Mrs. Conrad."

"I love you too, Mick."