29. Baylee #2
With that I leave him sitting there, staring at me as I make my way through the restaurant.
I decide to head home, the cold a smack to the face the minute I take a step outside.
Danny found out about the nuptials at the hospital after overhearing my parents, because he’d forgotten his bag for work at their house and had stopped by before that shift.
When he walked inside unannounced, he overheard them talking about that night and what we had done.
They hadn’t known Danny was in the house when he snuck out as quickly as he had shown up, he went straight to the firehouse, looking to confront Tucker. Everything blew up from there.
I end up ordering a ride and the moment I step inside the apartment, I realize it’s still quiet.
Tucker had some errands to run while I was out with Danny.
I decide to grab some of my books and laptop and sit at the kitchen table to get ahead on my studying.
Finals are coming up quickly after Thanksgiving.
I’m an hour into this chapter when Tucker gets home and my eyes are heavy. I stand and stretch my arms in the air.
“It is beyond cold out today.” He shivers.
“I know, I was glad to get home,” I say.
“I wasn’t expecting you home before me,” he says, a concerned look on his face.
“Yeah, it didn’t go so well,” I say, scrunching my face.
“I’m sorry, baby,” he says, pulling me to his chest, then planting a soft kiss to my lips. “Maybe I can make it better?”
“Yeah? What did you have in mind?” I smile up at him.
“You go hide in the bedroom and I’ll get things ready out here. I’ll call when you can come out.” He smacks my ass, and I yelp with a giggle.
I make my way to the room and decide to take a shower and get into pajamas. Sounds like a night in is the perfect way to spend the rest of the evening.
As soon as I get myself dressed in some warm PJs, there’s a knock on the door.
“You ready?” I hear Tucker’s muffled voice.
“Yes,” I answer.
“Good. I’m all set out here,” he says as he opens the bedroom door. I’m all moved into his master bedroom now and I make my way through our shared bedroom and into the living room.
When I walk out to the space, my jaw drops. “You did all this while I was in there?”
“Yep,” he answers, all satisfied with himself.
“Tucker, in no way did you do this by yourself.” I smack his shoulder.
“Ouch! Why don’t you women understand that I bruise easily!” He rubs the spot.
I roll my eyes and make my way through. He put out snacks for a movie night in the living room, along with a makeshift cotton tent and twinkle lights.
He also ordered my favorite pizza and has some LED candles out on the table.
I look over at the television and see Sixteen Candles cued up, which is my favorite movie.
It’s a pretty old choice, but my mom loves it and I fell in love with it too.
“Happy early birthday, Bay.” He motions for me to sit down.
“Wow, pulled out all the stops. I’m impressed.” I sit down. “Admit it, though—you had help.”
“A man never divulges all his secrets.” He winks.
“Uh huh.” I give him a side eye. “I know you had help and it was a woman’s help. No way River or Clay did this. Nor Hunter,” I say, looking around. “I say Abby. Or Kennedy.”
“Wanna make it interesting and put some money on it?” he says, serving a slice of pizza on my plate.
“Obviously,” I answer, “my final vote is Abby.”
He gets this mischievous look on his face, but doesn’t say anything else and presses play on the remote.
“Hey, who was it? Did I win?” I yell.
“Shhh, the movie is going to start,” he says.
“You’re infuriating,” I say as I take a bite of my pizza.
“You love me,” he says. “Happy birthday, baby. ”
“Thank you for this,” I tell him.
Everything about the evening feels like a dream. After the disastrous encounter with my brother, I thought my night was ruined, but this makes up for it.
After we eat and I enjoy too many snacks, I snuggle into Tucker’s side. But when the movie comes close to the end, I can’t help but sit up and watch attentively.
“Oh, it’s the best part,” I declare.
“Why is this such a big deal each time you watch it?”
“Shush.” I wave at him as I watch the screen as if I don’t know what’s about to happen.
I watch as Molly Ringwald comes out of the church to find Jake Ryan standing at the Porsche waiting for her. Oh, my heart.
“Oh, how romantic.” I nearly melt into a puddle.
“Are you fucking kidding me?” Tucker shifts and complains behind me.
“Tucker, why don’t you—” I look over to make him pay attention, but that’s when I see him positioned down on one knee, holding an open box with a ring for me.
“Oh my fucking God,” I whisper.
“Baylee Grace Rios,” he begins, “I’ve known you most of my life and all of yours.
And in each second of knowing you, you’ve held a piece of a memory, capturing a part of my heart and making it brighter.
You’ve surprised me now by showing me that our love is ever-evolving.
It’s messy, captivating, honest, fun, difficult—but, most importantly, it’s going to shift in ways we least expect.
And I want to be the person you shift with in this life forever. Will you marry me?”
“Yes, always yes!” I jump into him, toppling him over and kissing him, tears flowing down my cheeks.
“I love you so much and I’m so happy right now. I was already happy, but now I’m even happier because of you and our forever,” I tell him, peppering his face with kisses all over .
“I love you, Baylee-almost-Malloy, for real this time,” he tells me.
“For real this time.” I smile at him.