Lauren had been out yesterday to get some new vases so she didn't have to throw the old flowers away, so when the letter and the flowers arrived today she put the new bunch straight out. Looking around at the room filled with colour made her so happy. It was a reminder that Joey was always thinking of her, and a reminder of how much he loved her. Not that he would ever let her forget it.
Whatever she was expecting to read when she opened the letter, it wasn't this.
Dear Lo,
Ten. That's the number of times I've thought about proposing to you. I wasn't sure whether to tell you this or not, at first. When I proposed to you I wanted it to be a complete surprise. But then I realised that what mattered more to me was you knowing that I'm serious about you. That I really and truly do want to spend the rest of my life with you. I know you know that anyway, and it doesn't matter if we're married or not. But I just wanted to make sure.
The first time the idea of proposing to you came to me was the very first day we met, when I told that stupid joke and you laughed louder than anyone else, and that's when I first imagined marrying you and living with you and growing old with you. I can still remember the details of every single time since, but I won't bore you with them.
The tenth time I thought about proposing to you was ten days ago, when I last saw you. You looked so beautiful even though you'd been crying and I wanted more than anything to ask you to marry me because I didn't want to leave without making sure you knew how happy I am to get to spend the rest of my life with you. You're one of the most compassionate and genuine and intelligent people I know and I feel so lucky that you chose this idiot to be with. God Lo, I could write an essay on all the things I love about you. Or maybe not, I'd be there forever. You are perfect, and I hope you know just how much I love you.
You know what, make that eleven. Eleven times I've thought about proposing to you now.
Love Jojo xxx
She didn't even bother texting him this time. He answered her FaceTime request immediately, as if he'd been waiting for it.
"That had better not be your idea of proposing to me, Joey!" she shouted.
"Of course it's not," he laughed. "Don't you know me better than that? My actual proposal is going to be much better."
She shot him a glare. It wasn't that she didn't want to marry him, it's just that it had taken her very much by surprise. She'd had no idea it had even crossed his mind. The fact was, she admitted to herself, she really did want to marry him, because she loved him in a way she knew she could never love anyone else, and it seemed only natural for this to be their next step.
"Stop worrying Lo, just because I've thought about it doesn't mean I'm actually going to propose. Not just yet, anyway," he promised her.
"Okay then," she allowed. "You know, I really do love you Jojo."
"I love you too Lo."
Three words stuck in her brain for the rest of the day: 'not just yet'.
