One last time/Zauren

5.

Today was the big day and to say I wasn't nervous was an understatement. It was a pleasant nervous, however. I knew Lauren would say yes. I couldn't think of a reason she would say no, she'd always dreamt of it and it's all we ever seemed to talk about these days. I was just nervous because this was going to be the next journey into our lives together.

There was a loud knock at the door and I stopped eating these gummy candies Lauren had in a bowl on the table and toward the large black metal door. I was expecting Harry, but it could've been anyone and I was feeling particularly lazy at the moment. Lauren walked out the door and grabbed her car keys. "Did you not hear the door?" she sarcastically asked. I smirked and shook my head.

"No? Someones at the door?" Lauren made a face at me and kissed my lips leaving me longing for more. "I'll be back in an hour tops, I'm going to pick up Normani because she's having car issues and she's going to make the baked mac and cheese here. That okay?" The knocking continued on. "Do you hear it now?" she teased. Lauren caressed my face. "I love you, bye."

"I love you too," I watched as Lauren walked away and pulled the door open. "Lauren! Hey!" Harry excitedly greeted her. "Hey. Bye. Gotta go." she called out brushing past him and toward the elevator.

Harry walked in and closed the door behind him. "Is it ready, mate?" he asked rubbing his hands together. I nodded pulling my eyes away from the confirmation email I got. "I've got it. Let's go. We've got an hour, maybe even less because Lauren's so busy getting everything set up." I practically grabbed Harry by the collar of his shirt as we made our journey to Diamonte's Diamonds.

"Right on time!" The woman called, Deborah said when we walked through the door. "I'm assuming you're here for your ring. Just give me a second," she smiled rushing off to the back. I looked around at other men ring shopping and I started to feel a knot in my stomach. These men and I all have the same story, we found the person we want to spend the entirety of our lives with. Harry must have noticed how I froze in place because he shook me by my shoulder. "You okay? Don't tell me you're getting cold feet." I looked at Harry and laughed.

"Cold feet? No. This is exactly what I want. I'm anxious. I want to get this ring on her finger." I turned around and saw Deborah coming toward me with a satin bow in her hand and a grin on her face. "It's all yours." she said. I opened the box up and my breath caught in my throat for a few seconds as I marveled at the diamonds, I lifted it closer and saw engraved inside, cigarettes and apple beer. Lauren was going to love this. "Do you like it?" Deborah asked. I nodded.

"It's absolutely incredible, wow. Thank you so much."

"You are so very welcome. Best of luck to you and your future mrs."
****
Harry and I weren't even out for close to an hour and Lauren was already back, Normani was sloshing around the baked mac and cheese in the pan and Lauren was placing candles on the table. "Where'd you go?" she asked.

"Harry and I just went out for some air." I shrugged. "And I would give you a kiss but I've really got to use the loo, so.." I went rushing toward the bathroom and closed the door, locking it since Lauren purposely walked in sometimes. I pulled the ring box out of my pocket and started looking around for a spot to hide it. Lauren's voice asking babe, can you reach that? rang in my voice and I looked up at the cabinet that we kept our extra toilet paper in that Lauren couldn't reach. I opened the cabinet and pushed it inside and let out a breath before heading out of the bathroom and back to the kitchen.

Lauren raised an eyebrow at me. "I didn't hear you use the bathroom?" I laughed at her.

"False alarm," I kissed her lips before she spoke. Two years and every kiss felt like the first time. I walked over to Normani who was adding more chunks of cheese in and stirring the pot. "What's up?" I asked making conversation. Normani and Camila were some of Lauren's first friends I met and they were absolutely incredible people as well as Dinah and Ally who I met over videochat. They all had nothing but Lauren's best interests in mind. "Making this mac and cheese. I know how much you love it." I rubbed my hands together my mouth already watering. "Aren't you going on some buisness trip?" she questioned.

"I am actually. In a couple of days."

"And he's leaving me all alone here." Lauren said walking over and wrapping her arms around my waist. I kissed the top of her head. "We can all have a sleepover here. You gotta see the positives in this." Normani said placing the pan into the oven. "And you know how exciting it is to see each other even if it's a few days later, if you know what I mean." she winked.

"A whole week. I don't know what I'm going to do." Lauren said.

"Four days. You'll survive. You know, you should've went to school for theatre because you've got the dramatics down to a tee." I joked. Lauren giggled and gently pushed my arm.

"Get married already." Normani teased. Lauren looked at me and waggled her eyebrows. "I've been trying." she winked.

"Also should've taken a course on patience." Lauren laughed and squeezed me in a hug.

"You know I love you." Lauren looked past me and then said, "Shit. I'd better start getting ready because we all know with the amount of hair I have I'm gonna be on that forever."

"So, how many years until you make her Mrs. Lauren Malik?" Normani asked sitting across from me at the table. "Only time will tell little undercover spy."

"Undercover spy?! Whaaat. Psh. Never."

"So when."

"You're gonna have to wait and see."

"Is it going to be soon or what? Are we talking a week, a month, a year?"

"You guys are definetely Lauren's best friends." I laughed standing up from the table.