Forever Yours

Chapter 23: Evan Campbell

I was more than sure about what I wanted to do. Marcus was in my future and no matter what we had to jump over together, I was going to make sure that he knew I was always going to be there. I made my mind up about us very quickly in these past couple of months but I knew I had to do this in order to make sure all my plans go accordingly.

I had invited everyone that was important to Marcus to lunch, to ask them for their blessing so I could propose to him.

Last time, we were a secret and I wanted to do it right this time. We were already eating and the guys seemed already suspicious of why I invited them. To break the ice I said, "So I invited you all here today to ask you something."

Darrius, Chris, Kevin, and Uncle Lawerence all stared back at me from across the restaurant table as I continued, "Just letting you know, you are paying for your own meals."

"We all knew that," Darrius commented making the table laugh. All eyes were on me again once the laughing died down and for the first time in a long time, I was nervous in front of them. Marcus cared about everyone at this table so much and it was important that they were okay with what I wanted to do. The easiest way to explain was to just put it on the table.

Swiftly I brought out the small turquoise box and placed it at the center. They were silent except for Chris who had caught on almost immediately, "Oh my God! The box you had two years ago!"

"You saw it?" I asked him surprised.

"What does this mean?" Darrius questioned upset that he was out of the loop.

"Shows what detective you are," Chris replied rolling his eyes but what he answered had me slapping my forehead, "That my friend is a gift he got for Marcus from two years back that he wants to give to him. He is looking for our approval."

"Ooooo," Darrius said thinking he was caught up, "You don't need our approval man. You know my brother well."

"Y'all are so slow," Kevin interjected with Uncle Lawerence laughing at his nephew and possible stepson. They turned to glare at him but he didn't pay attention as he gave me an all-knowing smile before answering, "It's an engagement ring."

"What!" Chris smiled as Darrius looked genuinely surprised.

"Thank you Kevin," I said now turning to meet everyone's gaze, "After the past couple of months of being around him, I figured out that I don't want to spend the rest of my life with anyone but him."

"But isn't it too early to tell?" Uncle Lawerence spoke up, "I mean...he has just gotten back and I know I shouldn't be speaking for him- "

"No Unc," Darrius interrupted rubbing his uncle's shoulder, "You guys spent a lot of time together his senior year and he called you when he was ready to come home. You are important to him just like everyone at this table."

He smiled taking Darrius's words in before speaking again, "Thanks but I'm just thinking about his mental health right now. He is working, he is still trying to settle back in, and he has his junior year in the fall. Do you think an engagement is right at this moment?"

"Yeah man I have to agree with Lawerence," Chris states catching me by surprised, "Right now, all we want to do is focus on him getting better. I mean you know how we got after the incident."

"But he is in therapy and he is making great progress," I mentioned almost wanting to pull the ring from the table.

"Yes, but with all that approaching, who knows what's going to happen to his mental state," Lawerence added, "I just think it's best to wait."

I sat back in my chair again. I was hearing what everyone was saying but it did dwindle my confidence a bit. Was I rushing? Was I being selfish and only thinking about how much I wanted to spend my life with him? His health always mattered to me and maybe the guys were right but it was still a gut punch to hear them dismiss what I wanted to do.