"Babe! Could you give me a hand?", I asked as I was folding the laundry. No answer. "Babe?!" I sighed when there once again, was no answer. I carried two baskets of folded laundry to our bedroom and dropped them on the bed.
I pulled open a drawer and put her shirts in it, nice and tight.
I pulled open another drawer, for her underwear.
"Such a mess", I said to myself. I took everything out and began tightening it up when something fell out. I frowned as I saw a small, shiny thing laying on the floor. I picked it up, realizing it was a ring. My eyes widened and I looked up.
"Hey babe, sorry I-" I cut her off by jumping into her arms. "What's going on?", she asked. "Alex Jocelyn Jones, of course I'll marry you!", I said. She frowned. "Wait what?" I held up the ring. "I found it!" "Oh, babe I'm sorry but that's not for you", she said. The smile disappeared from my face. "What do you mean?" "I mean that, this is my mom's ring. She gave it to me before she died", she said. "Oh." I gave her the ring. "I lost it a while ago, where did you find it?" "If you'd clean up your fucking mess, you wouldn't have lost it in the first place", I said before walking out the room and down the stairs.
"Babe", she said following me downstairs. I ignored her. "Riley", she said. "Just let me go, okay? I'll be back." I grabbed my keys and headed out.
I walked down the street, ignoring the vibrating phone in my pocket. I rolled my eyes as I turned it off.
I knew I was probably overreacting but I'd been waiting for this for about two years. I've been patient and I've been thinking about asking her myself but everytime the topic came up, somehow she avoided it. So I brushed it off and thought she'd ask when she was ready. But that time never came.
I passed around the corner, walking down a busy street. Lots of people were out at parties, having a drink or being on their first date. A young couple sat at a table, acting all nervous. I smiled to myself, thinking about the time where they were Alex and me a few years ago. I kept walking, going in circles around the block. I didn't wanna go too far, just in case it got too late and Alex started looking for me.
When a few hours had passed, I headed back home.
On the way I thought about what I was going to say to her. I owed her an apology for the way I reacted and they way I burst out. Her face when I said the things I said, was something I was never going to forget. The fear in her eyes and just the way she seemed helpless. That's not what I wanted.
I hurried home and stepped inside. As soon as I shut the door behind me, I heard footsteps running down the stairs.
"You're back", she said before swinging her arms around me. "Why did you take so long? You got me worried." I wrapped my arms around her waist before she could let go. "I'm sorry", I said. I felt her hands going through my hair. "It's okay." I shook my head. "It's not. I overreacted. I was out of line", I said.
She lead me to the couch and we sat down.
"Why did you leave?", she asked. I shrugged my shoulders. "I think I just needed some time to think", I said. "You think? You can talk to me about these things. If something is bothering you, tell me. But don't even scare me like that again. I thought I was going to lose you", she said. I shook my head. "Never." She smiled.
"I didn't know you wanted to get married", Alex said after a while. "We've been together for 8 years. Of course I want to get married. I think I mentioned that a few times over the past few years." She shrugged her shoulders. "Must've missed that", she said. "And I'm sorry for that. I honestly thought you weren't ready." "Me? Maybe you weren't ready", I said. "Maybe. Well, no I wasn't." I nodded and looked down to my hands. "But I am now", she said. She slipped a ring in my sight.
I looked up at her and back to the ring.
"I was actually planning on asking tomorrow night but I hate seeing you upset", she said. "I'm sorry", I said frowning. She brushed a strain of hair out of my face. "Don't be. I should've hidden it better." I smiled.
She just look at me.
"What?", I asked. "I still didn't get an answer", she said hopefully. I smiled. "You didn't really ask me anything." She chuckled and cleared her throat before sliding off the couch and getting down on one knee. "Riley, will you please, please, please marry me?", she asked.
I chuckled. "I thought it was obvious." I swung my arms around her neck. "Of course!" I covered her face in kisses and couldn't stop smiling. She slipped the ring on my fingers and planted a kiss on my lips.
"I'm really sorry I ruined your plan", I said. She shrugged her shoulders. "It's okay. This was better anyway. I was too nervous about my actual plan and I definitely would've failed." "What was the plan?", I asked. She looked away, a little embarrassed. "It's stupid. Forget about it." "Tell me", I said. "It's the most basic thing ever. I wanted to take you to our spot. You know, at the old ferris wheel?" I nodded. "Of course I know." She smiled before continuing. "I wanted to set up a picnic or something and light some candles. Then pop the question." I smiled. "That would've been so great", I said. "You think so?" I nodded. "Maybe we can still go on that date?" "If you'd like that, of course", she said.
"Now you don't have to be nervous because we're already engaged." She chuckled. "That sounds weird", she said. I nodded.
"But it sounds so good."
