Jingle Bells

Silver Bells

** Fair warning... this is a LONG ASS CHAPTER. So, sorry!
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Her words stay with him all day. He repeats her question to himself like a haunting mantra: When was the last time you did something just because you wanted to?

Her voice teases him and taunts him as he packs up his things to leave work in the afternoon as the sun already starts setting in the sky outside his window. He does his best to ignore it, but it's not easy. He knows she has a point. When was the last time he did something for the sole purpose of doing it? Is there even anything he wants to do, but might be holding back on because he's too afraid of the consequences?

He finds himself answering his own question when he awakens from some sort of trance in the middle of a Tiffany jewelry store with his nose pressed against the glass encasing a variety of diamond rings. He knits his eyebrows and stands up straight, looking around and wondering how he ended up driving here when he was positive, he was going home.

Then he looks back at the specific ring he was staring at. Oh.

The ring is elegant, with tiny diamonds set into the band surrounding the beautiful cushion-cut diamond in the center. It reflects the store's lighting and creates a million rainbows, all bouncing off each other on the large diamond.

He swallows and looks around for someone working there, and he waves over the first person he sees.

"This one," he manages, his voice shaking with nerves after his realization. He points to the ring. "I want this one."

"Alright... uh, you okay?" the middle-aged man asks him.

He swallows and nods. "Y-yeah," he says. "Just- um, can I get the ring, please?"

"I need a size," the man says, walking around behind the counter.

Ricky doesn't even hear what size he tells the guy because of how much his mind is reeling. He's never even asked Nini her ring size before, yet somehow, he knows he's right.

He goes into another daze. He's vaguely aware of the man wishing him luck as he leaves the store after buying the ring, but he doesn't come back to his senses again until he's sitting in his parked car at home.

He tries to calm his pounding heart as he opens and closes the tiny velvet box, as if he might find that the ring magically disappeared in the few seconds he had it closed. But, the ring is still going to say if he really goes through with this.

Benjamin Mazzara might think he'll be less committed to his company and their partnership if he has a wedding to worry about. His father will most likely be beyond disappointed. He can already see the distasteful look behind Nini's back.

He shakes his head quickly, trying to channel his inner Nini. She doesn't care what anyone else thinks. She doesn't worry about the consequences. She does things because she wants to. She enjoys life.

He opens the box again and stares at the ring, taking a deep breath.

He doesn't realize how long he sits there with the open ring box until his phone ringing breaks him out of his daze. He jumps and closes the box quickly when he sees it's Nini calling him, as if she might see the ring when he answers the phone.

"Hello?"

"Hey, where are you? I made dinner."

He checks the time. He's been sitting out here for an hour.

"O-oh. Sorry. I'll be there in two minutes."

"Is everything okay?" She asks, her voice laced with concern.

"Yeah, why?"

"You seem... jumpy."

"Oh. I'm fine. Everything's great. I'll see you in a few, okay?"

"Okay..."

"Love you, bye."

He hangs up on her quickly and checks on the ring one more time before hiding the box in his briefcase and getting out of the car.

He has to wipe his sweaty hands in his pants ten times on the elevator ride. You'd think he was heading for his execution or something.

When he walks into the apartment, he's met with the smell of pancakes and a reindeer at the stove. He swallows as she turns around and smiles at him.

"You like?" She asks.

"You know how I feel about that onesie," he tells her, trying to keep his voice even.

"You tell me you don't like it, but I know you think it's adorable." She tells him, narrowing her eyes. "Go change. We're having breakfast for dinner, your favorite."

He nods and starts walking away, but suddenly she's in front of him, blocking his path, looking up at him expectantly with her arms crossed. He stares at the red nose on her onesie to avoid her expectant gaze.

"What happened."

"Nothing happened."

"Something's wrong."

"Nothing's wrong."

"You won't even look me in the eyes."

"How can I look at you in the eyes when you're a grown twenty-five-year old woman wearing a reindeer onesie?"

She narrows her eyes at him, and he brushes past her to walk upstairs.

"Ricky," Nini whines, grabbing his arm with both hands to stop him. "Is this about this morning? Because I didn't mean t-"

"Nothing's wrong, baby," he tells her. "I'm just going upstairs to change. Like you just told me to."

She pouts at him. "I feel like you're mad at me."

He rolls his eyes. "I'm not mad at you." I'm about to ask you to marry me, for crying out loud.

"Promise?"

"I promise. Now can I go change so we can em stuff our faces with pancakes?"

She gives him a small smile, still looking unsure, but nods, and walks upstairs, kissing her forehead as he passes her.

He walks into their room and locks the door before quickly changing into a pair of dark jeans and a t-shirt. He knows she'll probably get after him for not dressing "comfy" enough, but he refuses to propose to her wearing sweatpants.

I'm going to propose to her.

He opens his briefcase and takes out the small blue velvet box. He opens it gingerly to make sure the ring is still there.

It is. Just like every other time he's opened it today.

He closes it carefully, his heart pounding. The next time he opens it, he'll be on one knee. He hopes the ring will still be there when he does it.

He puts the box in his back pocket and sets his briefcase on the dresser before taking a deep breath and walking back downstairs.

"Took you long enough," she says as he walks back into the kitchen. When she looks at him, she frowns.

"Took you long enough," she says as he walks back into the kitchen. When she looks at him, she frowns.

"I don't want to put on pajamas just yet," he tells her.

"But-"

"I'm gonna shower later so I'll just put them on then."

She sighs. "Fine."
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** This will be a two partner because it's just too long lol