𝙈𝙀𝘿𝘿𝙇𝙄𝙉𝙂 𝙆𝙄𝘿𝙎━━━ 𝘖𝘉𝘟!

𝘱𝘰𝘱𝘦

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𝗦𝗬𝗡𝗢𝗣𝗦𝗜𝗦(𝗦);
❝𝐉𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐛𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐟!❞

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word count; 546

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I watched carefully as Pope straightened out his black and white tuxedo. A slightly tattered set of fabrics that we're fraying at the seams in certain places. He fidgeted with his collar and tie a bit more before rounding to me, anxiousness trickling from every part of his demeanor.

"What if they hate me y/n?" Pope sighed solemnly at the mere thought.

"They're not going to," I replied bluntly, striding over to him and resting a gentle hand over his bicep.

He brushed me off and swiveled back to his full, body-length mirror, "How do you know. What if they think I'm not good for them."

"They're going to love you. Everyone loves you. JJ, Kiara, and John B love you. Your parents love you. I love you."

I turned him around again to face me, one would guess we were playing pin the tail on the donkey. My hands untied the bowtie he had pulled too tight and looped it to fit snugly in his over folded collar before I readjusted that too.

"But-"

"Ah!" I caught his lips with a pointed finger and hushed him, "Calm down, babe. If they're foolish enough to not accept you, which I know they won't be, then it's their loss. If they miss out on a smart, funny, charming, hunk like you, then that's their problem and you can always find another college who would be more than willing to have you."

"This is my only ticket outta here. I could have a life beyond the Outer Banks. Farther than running my dad's shrimp business." As he said this his voice and eyes were filled with a twinkling hope.

"You do Pope. Even if you don't make this interview you have a life away from here. You are so smart and so talented, you can do anything you put your mind to. I will be with you every step of the way. And when you do become a big shot billionaire, I will still be waiting here for you to come to get me. And then we can blow this popsicle stand together and have the most beautiful wedding and buy a house to flip in the most beautiful place and we can fill it with the most beautiful kids. I believe in you, Pope. Everyone who has eyes and a brain knows you have worked so hard for this and you deserve it more than anyone."

He just stood there with a stupid smile on his face gazing down at me for a moment.

Giddy, school girl like giggles joined the sheepish heat rising in my cheeks, "What?"

"You wanna marry me?" He repeated to me excitedly, "And have my kids."

"Of course."

My large grin mirrored his own as I was sure the shading on my cheeks had gone from a nice spring pink to a deep cherry red. Pope's large calloused hands cupped my cheeks and brought our faces closer together so he could kiss me passionately.

"Well, wish me luck!"

I shouted after him as he headed out the door, "Good luck! I love you!"

I waved eagerly and blew kisses through the living room windows as Mr. Hayward tore out of the driveway.