Hometown

Monday

    Betty walks in the house after work and I lift her into my arms, kissing her and she quickly pulls away. I put her down feeling dread fall over me.
    "What's wrong?" I ask.
    She looks at her feet before looking back up at me with tears sparkling in her eyes.
    "Betts, you're scaring me, what's wrong?"
    "Just a bad day I guess." She shrugs.
    "Are you sure?"
    She nods, kissing me. "Wanna order pizza for dinner?" She asks.
    I fidget with the engagement ring in my pocket and follow her into the kitchen. "Yeah, I invited Cheryl over for dinner too."
    "Oh, okay. Are you okay? You look sick." She says, pressing the back of her hand against my forehead.
    "No, I'm fine. I was just worried about you, that's all."
    "Okay, I love you."
    I smile. "Love you too."
    "I'm here." Cheryl announces, walking into the apartment.
    "Great, we're ordering pizza, what do you want on it?" Betty asks.
    "Pepperoni is good." She says.
    Betty nods and goes into the bedroom to call the pizza place. Cheryl turns to me and grins.
    "So, you're finally going to do it?"
    "Yeah."
    "You look like you're going to puke."
    "What if she says no?"
    "What if she says yes? Now go drink some water and calm down."
    I grab a bottle of water and take a sip before sitting down on the couch.
    "Why don't you guys live together? I mean, you're basically married. You seem to act like it."
    "I don't know, we just never got around to it. Why?"
    "Just thinking."
    Betty comes and sits next to me on the couch. "Juggie, maybe you should go lay down."
    "No, I'm okay. I'm more worried about you, what happened today?"
    "Nothing, it was just an off day."
    I kiss her on the head and my fear melts away. The way she's looking at me is all I need for the rest of my life. Cheryl widens her eyes looking from my face to my pocket.
    "Hey, Betts?"
    "Yeah?"
    I cough nervously and there's a knock on the door. Betty gets up and opens the door. When she walks back in she's holding the box of pizza. She puts it down and I walk up behind her, spinning her into my chest.
    "Betty, I love you so much."
    She smiles. "I love you too."
    I reach into my pocket. "Elizabeth Cooper, will you marry me?" I ask, pulling out the ring.
    "Yes!" She squeals, jumping in my arms.
    "She said yes!" Cheryl screams into her phone and all of our friends run in screaming.
    Betty kisses me. "I love you so much." She says, pressing her lips back against mine.
    "I love you more."
    "I've loved you longer."
    I smile. "Shut up."
    She giggles, jumping off of me. I slide the ring on her finger.
    "Someone is getting laid tonight." Veronica says, looking at the ring.
    "I get laid every night." I cross my arms.
    "Damn straight." Betty said with a chuckle.