The Dirt

17. I Promise To Love Her

"So how long have you and Austin been an item?" Cass laughed wiggling her eyebrows. As she sat across from me on my bed.

"Since the beginning of the school year." I smiled, "Just after I moved and things went down with Derek." She made a gagging nose and pointed her finger in her mouth making me laugh.
We snapped out of it when there was a knock at the door.
"Pizza." Lisa smiled, we thanked her and dug in while laughing about people at the school.
"You know this school year sucks a lot less since I met you." She laughed. We spent all night laughing and telling stories. She drove home in the morning and promised to text and call during christmas break.

Later that day Austin took me to pops and started a fire. He made us dinner and told me stories from his childhood with Pop.

"Pops wife's name was Amanda. She died before he met me when I was little. She couldn't have kids hence why Pop didn't have any. After she passed he didn't remarry. He'd say we're still married, just running on different time lines." Austin smiled as he talked. "He would've liked you."

I smiled at him and he chuckled. We ate quietly then I helped him with the dishes.

"So I have a surprise for you." He smiled wide as he grabbed my hand. Laughing when I threw the dish towel on the counter behind me as he pulled me up to his room.

"Okay close your eyes." He said nervously as he watched me put my hands over my eyes.

"No peeking Kourt." I laughed as he lead me through the door way.

"So I wasn't sure what to get you. But Pop said I'd know when the times right. I think it's right now. I'm sorry if I'm rambling I'm really nervous. You can look now." He set up twinkly lights and had a laptop open on the bed and a bunch of snacks out for a movie night in. But I couldn't see him. I turned around and he was on a knee.

"Austin." I whispered. He smiled wide.

"Kourtney I love you. I am 100% in love with you. I am making you a promise. I won't leave you when things get hard. I won't ever lay a hand on you in anger. I will fight for us every day. I will work hard to make you happy and I will protect you. This ring was Amanda's. Pop told me to give it to the girl I want to spend the rest of my life with. He also told me I'd know the girl who it belongs to when I met her. I knew the moment I was throwing your bags in the box of my truck. That I want to be with you for the rest of my life. I asked Caleb and Lisa, they gave me their blessing. I know we are young but will you marry me?" My jaw dropped before I quickly grinned. I nodded as he slipped the ring onto my finger. I looked at the oval shaped diamond then looked down at Austin. His eyes glittered up at me. He stood up and wrapped me in his arms while I smiled and cried. He kissed my lips then my forehead.
"I love you Kourtney."
"I love you too." I smiled as he dried my eyes with his sleeve. He lead me into our fort and we spent the night watching movies and cuddling.

"Let me see it!" Lisa nearly screamed when we walked into the house. Austin chuckled and I ran over to Lisa showing her my ring. She patted Austin on the back and chuckled heading back into the kitchen to finish supper.
Christmas Eve for us was mellow. Austin, Lisa and Caleb surrounded me sitting on the couches as we watched how the grinch stole Christmas eating popcorn in the matching pyjamas Lisa bought us all.

This was the most hallmark Christmas I ever got to have. Even tho my grandparents tried to make Christmas festive for me, it lacked the warmth.

Austin allowed me to nuzzle head into his neck as I cuddled into him. I was about to pass out due to excessive hot chocolates when there was a sharp knock at the door.

Lisa got up to answer it, she smiled as she opened the door but it quickly fell.

"Aren't you going to let us in." A familiar voice cooed. Caleb tensed up and my heart started racing.