Friends Without Benefits

Epilogue

Epilogue               

Three Years Later            

          

                “Why do you look so nervous?”

                “What? Me? Nervous? No, I’m not nervous,” I replied, clearly flustered.

                Matt raised an eyebrow, not buying my obvious lie. I sighed and moved my hair out of my face.

                “Okay, maybe I’m a little nervous,” I blurted.

                “Why? We’re seeing all our friends again,” Matt said, until he noticed I was playing with the diamond ring on my finger. “You’re nervous about telling them?”

                My eyes flashed to Matt’s. “Of course not! I’m excited to tell them that we’re engaged! I’m just a little nervous about their reaction I guess. I don’t know, I’m weird, okay?”

                Matt grinned, which had an oddly calming effect on me. “Yes, I know. That’s just one of the reasons I love you and want to marry you.”

                “But not for a while, remember?” I added with a smile. There was no doubt in my mind that Matt was the one for me. Yet I didn’t want to get married until after we graduated college. I liked to take the big life milestones one step at a time.

                Matt laughed lightly. “I remember.” I shook my head, smiling. If he had his way, we would’ve already gotten married somewhere in Las Vegas or at a nearby court house. That didn’t exactly scream ‘dream wedding’ to me.

                A minute later, we pulled in front of Elaine’s house. Every summer, Elaine hosted a huge barbeque for Independence Day, even though she usually held it the day before the actual holiday. When we were in high school, almost the entire student body would attend the summer celebration. She continued to do it while we were home each summer from college, except now the crowd of people was much smaller. And filled with local college students, not high school students.

                Before I got out of the car, Matt stopped me by putting his hand on mine. “Darcy, I’ll understand if you don’t want to tell them at this barbeque. I can hold the ring for you until it’s over,” he suggested. From the look on his face, he wasn’t too happy to suggest this. And I was equally unhappy with this suggestion. Of course I wanted to tell them! I waited a whole week just to tell them in person!

                I leaned forward and crashed my lips against his. Matt’s hand went to the back of my head, holding me in our passionate kiss. Honestly, he didn’t have to hold me; I was more than a willing participant. When we parted, I looked into his eyes with a serious expression.

                “Don’t think you’re getting out of this engagement that fast, Mr. Williams. Now that this ring is on my finger, it’s never coming off,” I teased, grinning at Matt. He automatically smiled back and kissed me again, though this kiss was short and sweet.

                “I was hoping you’d say that,” he breathed. He kissed my forehead before getting out of the car. I got out as well and grabbed the plate of patriotic-looking cupcakes I made. Matt supported me as we walked to Elaine’s backyard, putting his hand on the small of my back. Although his touch was barely there, that was all the support I needed from him. I felt like I could go up against anything when Matt was standing right there with me.