|83| • Everest
I'd always heard this phrase about relationships, it went like this: 'Sometimes obstacles in a relationship are a good thing because if you overcome it, you'd come back twice as strong.' And to be honest? It couldn't be more true.
It had been two weeks since I and Amelia settled the entire issue and we were better than before — it was as though we were newlyweds.
She'd become more intentional, doing things like making breakfast whenever she could for the both of us, coming to my room so we could sleep in each other's arms, and calling me whenever we weren't together.
I still couldn't get over how amazing the past two weeks had been.
Of course, I was also intentional.
The bouquet I'd gotten was in the car while I was in Gabe's apartment, sipping a glass of orange juice while my best friend went on about the stress of preparing for his wedding.
Even though Gabe had proposed to Penelope, they agreed to set a wedding date when ready.
Seeing him this stressed yet ecstatic made me happy for him.
I guess this was the 'good kind' of stress; if there was a kind of thing in the first place.
"You should take things one step at a time. Remember, I'm always here to give a hand." I told him, pouring out more orange juice. Amelia would definitely love this, it was as sweet as they came. I made a mental note to pick one up on the way home.
Home...whenever I mentioned that now, I didn't think of my apartment; I thought of my woman.
"I know man, I know. Thank you." Gave said with a sigh, running a hand through his hair.
"I am thinking of putting our court wedding two week from now.
I want us to be official, you know?" He explained, laying back on the couch with a sigh.
Penelope was at work right now, and though Gabe was in between jobs, he was considering setting up a business.
He told me about his interest in graphic designing and was looking to start freelancing before venturing out into a company of his own.
"I know." I seconded with a nod. The time that had passed made me sure of what I wanted with Amelia. I wanted her to be mine, legally and all. I wanted her to be my wife; and someday...someday the mother of our children.
Goodness.
Was that looking too far?
"How about you? Hm? Still not sure of proposing?
" Gabe asked, reading my expression as he usually did.
Chuckling at his question, I sat up. "You know, her birthday is coming up soon.
" I decided to start with and Gabe's eyebrows went up in surprise.
"For real? When is it?" An idea had passed my mind a few times, I wanted her birthday to be special — to be with me.
"In a week from now."
"Oh? It's so close! Tell me what do you have planned?"
I laughed, taking a gulp from the orange juice. "Stop me if I sound too ambitious." I began and this cracked him up. "Too ambitious? Go on man, I'm intrigued now."
"I want it to be for three days."
"What? Her birthday? Oh man! Someone's feeling fancy." He teased and I waved my hands at his taunt. "I'm not done." Gabe smirked, gesturing for me to continue. "The first day, I want it to be kind of a shopping spree for her, you know? Like get anything you want, on me."
"I keep forgetting you saved a lot."
"If you interrupt me again-"
"Okay, okay lover boy. Continue."
"Now you sound like Cas." I groaned, "Anyways, the second day, which is ok here birthday, I'm thinking of inviting her friends, family and mine to celebrate with her.
Just a night out on the beach — and I better see you there.
" With a pointed glare at the laughing man, I continued.
"The third day...well, I actually want to propose to her. "
Gabe sat up, "For real?! Oh you've thought this out!
Damn!" He seemed giddier than me. For those two weeks, I'd been judiciously going for the therapy session and I also had some time to think; what was the reason for waiting so long to propose?
Her age didn't bother me and I knew mine didn't bother her either.
I wanted us to be official; the fear held me down before.
What if we ended up always fighting or divorce each other?
But from what my therapist said — instead of always thinking of fights that could happen, you should be more intentional about the relationship and how to settle disagreements when they do come up.
Doing this right mattered a lot to me.
Not just the proposal.
The marriage too.
"Well I don't think that's too ambitious. I think it's pretty damn cute." Gabe uttered while relaxing back into the couch. "So, what do you need my help with? And how do you plan on getting her friends and family together without letting her know? It is a surprise right?"
"Leave that part to me, you just come with Penelope. As for the preparations, we could go buy the decorations we'd use for the beach party, and I also want to set a reservation in a restaurant."
"The proposal is at a restaurant?"
"I'll tell you the details later."
· some time later ·
"I'm home!" I call out seeing as the door was unlocked; the scent of stir fry hitting my nose as I turned to lock the door. Was she cooking again? The sound of potter patter feet drew a smile on my feet.
"Evie? Good afternoon Evie!" My woman's voice sounded, followed with her arms wrapping around my abdomen.
Oh, she was definitely cooking again; she had on her little apron, beads of sweat on her forehead and her braid wrapped in an up-do which gave her a few inches on me.
"Good afternoon, darling." She was so pretty like this, I couldn't help but cup her cheeks with my free hand and place a kiss on it.
"How's my woman doing today?" I asked and she giggled, moving back.
It didn't take long for her to notice the bouquet and paper bag in my hand.
"I'm very well, are these for me?" Amelia asked expectantly, clapping her hands.
Nodding, I levelled the bouquet to her gaze, moving it closer to her. "Of course, they're for you."
"Aw! It would look so pretty on the dining table! Thank you Evie!" She gushed, inspecting it with a smile. "Come on!" Amelia said, holding my hand in hers and pulling me towards the kitchen.
I dropped the paper bag on the kitchen counter; it was the orange juice I said I'd buy.
"What's cooking, good looking?" I teased as I washed my hands.
Helping her put the flowers into the flower vase, Amelia laughed at my words.
"I decided to make some stir fry pasta! You'll have some, right?
" She had her back turned to the stove, stirring the pasta in the boiling saltwater.
"I am pretty hungry." I called out, centring the vase.
She was right, it did give the dining table a bright aura.
Sighing in satisfaction, I walked back to the kitchen.
"So, how was classes today?" I didn't know time had gone so much while me and Gabe were talking, the entire day had gone by in his apartment.
"Oh it was great! We'll be having our tests soon, so I'm going to be a bit late during those days. I think the chef said it'll start next week Friday."
Friday was the day before her birthday. The day I wanted to take her shopping.
"How late are we talking?" I asked, hoping it wouldn't be so late to go.
She drained the pasta, gently pouring it into the stir fry while turning.
Her concentrated face made me chuckle, she must really want the dish to be perfect.
"Hm? Oh, about five in the afternoon? Since I'll be using the bus, I'd probably be back before seven."
"I'll pick you up."
"Really? You don't have to. You don't even know if you'll be free that day.
" She giggled, turning off the stove. "Besides, I can handle myself Evie.
" I loved the sound of that, she'd been showing more independence lately, it was a good look on her.
"I know you can, baby. But I want to, I miss picking you up. "
"I hope you won't throw another punch when you do.
" She was teasing me, her lips tilting in a smirk as she dished the food for both of us.
"Depends." I played along as she laughed.
"You better not! You're lucky people forgot about that in time.
" When she dropped the pan in the sink; she went to wash her face.
So I took the opportunity to trail behind her.
"Oh, Kaji and Arnold said to tell you hi. They've been so curious about you. I think it would be cool if we all met up together once in a while— oh!"
Her words ended in a gasp when she felt my hands around her waist. "Hey there," I teased, pulling her closer.
"Let me take this off for you." Sliding the apron off after untying it, I tossed it on the counter.
One thing I realised about was how much I loved to have her in my arms. Hugging her from the back, I placed my chin on her shoulder.
"I missed you today." Amelia whispered gently, her hand going to play with my hair.
When she did that, it calmed me down. Humming, I closed my eyes.
Who didn't like being missed by their lady?
I certainly did. "You did? That's music to my ears, baby.
" With a gentle tug, I moved her body to face mine, our face inches apart.
"Thanks for the meal, baby." My voice was low, her hands went up to hold my shoulders. "You haven't even eaten yet." She responded lightly, her words teasing. Humming, I leaned in so our lips were inches apart. With a smirk, she seemed to get the message because she laughed, pulling me in closer.
"You're quite cheesy, Mister Simon." Amelia said in a hushed tone, her lips curling up in a small smile.
"What can I say? It's your fault." She hummed, tiptoeing as our lips touched.
The kiss was slow, I could feel her lips on mine, her breath fanning my upper lip.
Since when did she learn to be such a tease?
Smiling into the kiss; I deepened it. My hands steadying her against the counter. "Looks like someone missed me too." She muttered in between the kiss. "Of course I missed you."
It was hard not to do anything other than kiss but I'd made a promise to myself; I wasn't going to sleep with her until we sealed the deal — now I knew when I was going to propose, I guess you could say that was one thing I was damn looking forward to. Having her — all of her, to myself.
Kissing down her neck; I nibbled against it.
"W-wait, I might be sweaty there." She said, her words barely coherent.
Sweaty? Who cared about that? Ignoring her words, it didn't take long for her to start making sounds that made my body tense.
Calm down. I told myself, it was hard to do so; this alone made me stop.
Taking a deep breath, I kissed the reddened spot on her neck.
I liked the look of that.
Amelia bit her lips, fluttering an innocent gaze my way.
I smirked, wanting to pull her in and do it a thousand times over.
Goodness, had it always been this hot in here?
"One day I'll give you one." She said with a scheming smile, making me chuckle.
"I'll await that day, baby. I'm all yours after all.
" Lowering my head, I slowly pecked her lips, then her forehead.
"So how about I taste the second meal of the day?"
She gasped, pushing my shoulders with a laugh. Her laugh was a sound I always loved to hear. "Pervert." Amelia sassed and I pulled her in before she could leave. "Proudly."
She rolled her eyes playfully, her cheeks beaming with that pretty smile of hers.
"Let's go." I took her hand in mine, leading her to the dining table where she'd kept the plates filled with stir fry pasta.
It looked delicious by the glance of it.
Judging by how concentrated she was, I'm sure it tasted wonderful.
I pulled her chair next to mine, letting her sit down before tucking her in. "Thank you for the food, baby." She nodded happily.
Thanking God for the food, I took the fork, twirling the pasta in it. It wasn't as hot as before so I dived right in and as expected, it tasted delicious. Humming in delight, my tastebuds detected the right amount of seasoning and spice, buzzing in excitement.
"So?" I only then realised she was yet to eat, staring at me with her eyes wide in excitement. Gulping it down, I nodded. "This is lovely."
"Really? It is?" Her beaming face caused my chest to swell in joy. Caressing my laps, I nodded. "It really is, well done darling."
Amelia grinned. "Thank you."
It was then she began eating, nodding her head in approval, that smile still on her face. This woman was really something else. Good thing she was going to be my wife pretty soon — if she said yes that is.
A part of me hoped she wouldn't be scared off when I got down on one knee; I hoped she also wanted me to be her husband. That would make me one of the giddiest men on earth.