|90| • Everest
"You almost blew the secret?" Gabe asked, cackling at the fact that I almost said the word 'wife' around Amelia.
I wanted this proposal to come as a shock to her, I didn't want her to suspect or it'd be a bit underwhelming.
Gosh, I hope I wasn't processing this wrong.
Rolling my eyes, I leaned back on his couch, sighing.
The birthday party yesterday was a success if I do say so myself; I was so grateful Amelia loved it.
We didn't finish until it was dark and I'd sent everybody on their way.
Most of them had to pay for a motel to sleep in because it was so late.
They outdid themselves, and Amelia couldn't stop shedding tears as we got home.
I had to tell her we were more than happy to do it again and get her to bed.
She was so emotional, it made my heart swell.
"So, are you ready for the big day today?
" He asked and I tended up again. As much as I was comfortable around Amelia, the thought of proposing made my nerves high.
What would she say? Would she think it was too soon?
Do you see why I was so nervous?! Huffing, I sat up, far too tensed to relax again.
Thank you Gabe. "As ready as I'll ever be," I said and he chuckled, slapping my shoulders and rubbing it in a consoling manner.
"You'll be tensed until she says yes, trust me." He says gently like that was supposed to be better. Grimacing at him, I shook off his hand. "Wow, that makes it so much better!" I told him in a sarcastic tone that made him cackle again.
"Hey, take it from an engaged man! Besides you should know this.
" He said, referring to Florescent. The truth was, I wasn't half as nervous as I am now compared to then.
"Anyways, just rehearse your speech so you don't become a rambling mess — I doubt she'd mind but for the sake of your tender ego. "
"My ego is not tender." I deadpanned and he snickered. "No judgment bro, mine is too, and wear shoes that you can take a knee in." He said, giving me tips that I honestly appreciated. It had been so long, I felt like a rookie.
"I'm telling you, man, it's like time is running," I said, looking at my phone to see that it was now noon and I'd planned the date for six in the evening.
The restaurant was reserved and the waiters knew what to do.
I'd sent the ring to them for safekeeping and all that was left was my lines. ..and my beautiful future bride.
I hope.
"So, how are you preparing for your wedding?
" I asked Gabe, wanting to ease my nerves.
He hummed, taking his glass of beer. "Well, who knew weddings were so expensive?
" He said, making me laugh. "Pen wants a church wedding that would be enough to take her entire generation.
" He half-joked, "I mean, obviously I'm not against it, I want it to be a large as well — but darn it would cost a lot. "
"Says the guy who hasn't made a dent in his savings," I say, knowing fully well that his family was sponsoring the bills that were accumulating during his coma.
Which meant he still had a lot to go. Gabe smirked nudging my side.
"Yeah, but I have big plans for me and my wifey.
Wouldn't want to spend it all on the wedding. "
"Need us to chip in for ya?" I ask, referring to our other friends from the military.
He scorned, "Nah, I'll handle it. Focus on your wedding.
I'm sure you'd want to give her one fit for a princess.
Lovesick puppy." He teased making me laugh.
Here we were talking about my wedding and I hadn't proposed yet.
"Says the whipped man over here." I bit back, smirking at him.
Gabe laughed, "I can't deny that." He said, raising his hand in surrender.
I couldn't help but smile at him, proud of how he'd finally found the one for him — the woman who was willing to stay by his side even when it wasn't set in stone that he was going to wake up; when he was a motionless body stuck with tubes and a breathing mask—our dear Penelope.
He'd been head over heels for his last girlfriend, but when he woke up, he realized she couldn't wait for him — and I didn't blame her. Gabe didn't either; he was just...sad. I guess her no became Pen's yes.
Stretching out, I sighed, standing to my feet. "I should get going, I want to spend some time with Amelia. I'm sure she's awake by now."
"I don't call her sleeping beauty for nothing," Gabe said, laughing.
He knew that Amelia slept in most of the time when she wasn't at culinary school.
She'd wake up, dreading that it was already so late.
I didn't mind, she had to get some sleep, I was sure culinary school wasn't exactly a walk in the park.
So Gabe began calling her sleeping beauty when I brought her up sometimes.
"Aye, she needs her sleep, alright?" I defend, "So, tell me how it goes tomorrow okay? I'll be cheering you on from here." I nodded, of course, I would tell him how it goes. When he stood up, I hugged him.
"Thank you so much for how much you've helped these past few weeks." I meant that he'd been of so much help and I deeply appreciated him. Gabe hummed, patting my back. "Of course man, you're always welcome."
"Call me when you need some help with your community wedding." I teased, meaning every word and he smiled, nodding. "I sure will."
I walked into the scent of pancakes and strawberries.
Curious, I closed the door louder so Amelia would know I was around; in seconds I heard footsteps running into the living room before revealing Amelia in an apron with a spatula in her hand.
"Good morning baby, welcome home!" She said excitedly, her smile contagious.
Welcome home, I loved hearing that. "Good morning sweetheart.
I see you got up early today." I tease, pulling her in by her waist to kiss her forehead. She giggled, nudging me.
"I'm making a habit of waking up early. Also, I made us breakfast. I hope you're hungry.
" She whispered in my ear, leaving a quick peck on my cheeks before wiggling out of my hold to attend to the pancakes in the pan.
I followed her trail, going to see the pancakes which filled the air with their scent.
As she flipped it over, it revealed the golden brown fluffy goodness making me smile proudly.
As expected from my culinary beauty. "It looks amazing," I say, hugging her from the back.
It was as though her body were a magnet and I was being drawn to her.
She laughed, leaning a bit on me. "Thank you, and the pan is hot you know?
Don't let me burn myself." She sassed, bumping me so I'd move.
Whining, I didn't want to let her go. I simply followed her movements when she stretched to get the batter from the counter, pouring in two spoons on the now empty spots on the pan.
"Who'd you go see today?" Amelia asked, stepping away from the stove and turning to meet my eye.
Having her attention all to myself made me smile.
"Gabe, I went to see how he was doing." I give her the short version.
I went to plan out my proposal, I completed it in my mind.
"Oh, how is he? And Penelope? I love that woman, she's such a sweetheart!
You know she even called us sisters?" Amelia said, sighing dreamily as she twirled.
"Gabe is a lucky man." My lady uttered. Holding my hand out, I twirled her back to my space making her squeal.
"They're good. Gabe sends his greetings." I told her and she nodded.
Pen called them sisters? This thought caused my heart to swell, I considered Gabe as a brother I never had, I guess that would make them sisters.
How adorable. "Speaking of lucky, I am quite the lucky one too.
I got to see all my loved ones yesterday.
It was amazing! Thank you, Everest, I mean it.
" Amelia's words were genuine, she squeezed my palms as though telling me she meant every word.
"I'm glad you enjoyed it, you're always welcome."
She grinned, stretching to peck my cheeks but this time I turned my head so she'd meet my lips.
We both smiled, mine a bit more devious.
Amelia playfully rolled her eyes, "You're a sneaky one aren't you?
" She wrapped her arms around my neck, my hands snaking her waist. "I mean, I wouldn't mind another peck.
" I brought up lightly. "And let my pancakes burn?
No way." She teased with a soft chuckle, moving out of my grasp to take the spatula and pulp the pancake on the other side so it could continue cooking.
"You need some help?" I ask, shaking off the tension.
She turned her head slightly. "Well, I was thinking of making sausages and scrambled eggs to go with this.
But you don't have to, I got it." Walking to the fridge, I got out four eggs and took out the frozen sausages from the freezer. "Oh common, I want to," I tell her.
"This makes me remember the time at Margret's Delight when I was on kitchen duty for a bit.
The twins almost blew a fuse because I was s close to burning myself.
" Amelia said, laughing lightly. " 'Where are your gloves, you rookie?
!' They both yelled in unison. I was just so excited to be in the kitchen again after so long.
" She continued with a wistful smile on her face. I just listened, smiling as well.
"Do you keep in touch with them?" I asked her and she shrugged.
"Just a bit, but culinary school is taking a chunk of my time," I remembered how sad she was moving because she'd have to quit her job.
"You should come to them one of these days, maybe even go visit them on the weekend.
Life won't get any less busy." She nodded, "You're right.
I should. I'm sure they'd be glad to see me.
And Mrs. M! I hope she's doing good as well. "
"I'm thinking of taking some courses on business analysis," I tell her while scrabbling the eggs skillfully - if I do say so myself/ She seemed intrigued, turning to face me. "Really? That's amazing!" She sounded even more excited than I was.
"I was thinking of going into consulting, you know, something that's more challenging." I knew I wasn't going to work with Abel for a long time, I just wanted to get back into the working force since it had been quite a while.
"Oh, so you're into white-collar jobs now?" She teased, caressing my arm. "Funny enough, I've not tried a white color job. Consulting is more...mobile." I didn't want a job where I'd be sitting around in front of a computer, I wanted a job where I'd have to go to places."
"That's good. I'll research it so we can check on the firms you could work in.
After the courses you're doing that is." smiled, "You'll research?
I repeated her words and she laughed. "Of course!
I want to help out any way I can!" She set all the pancakes on two plates, one had eight pancakes and the other had four.
Turning off the stove, I moved to scoop the eggs and sausages out.
"I'll appreciate that." I took the plates to the dining while she went to the fridge to take out a bottle of water and juice.
When we had settled everything, I sat down beside her, pulling her closer to me. I saw her smile from the corner of her eyes. Amelia clasped her hands together, "Thank you Lord for this food." Quickly, I closed my eyes as well, buttering my prayers. "Amen." We said in unison before digging in."
"Oh this is good." I say, the pancakes light and fluffy on my tongue, the vanilla taste was hitting all the right places.
She hummed, face stuffed as well. "It is, right?
Gosh, chef Gaston would be proud." She mused, moving her head excitedly from side to side.
I chuckled, "I'm proud of you too, sweetheart.
" No, I didn't say that because I was jealous of some famous chef.
Amelia cheesed, leaning on my shoulder. "Thank you baby.
" She'd gotten more confident calling me that, and darn were my insides doing flips at that name she gently cooed.
Baby.
I'd take it, heck, I loved it.
Smiling to myself, I continued to eat. How could I bring up the date without her being suspicious?
The thought lingered in my mind. Pursing my lips, I turned to my oblivious lady.
She hummed, doing her happy dance as she continued to eat.
I knew the food was good when she danced.
"Amelia?" I asked, suddenly getting nervous.
"Yes, baby?"
"There's this restaurant I've been meaning to check out, Gabe introduced me to it and I think you'd like it as well.
" I started cooly, Amelia nodded, turning to face me.
"A restaurant? We hardly go to those, but I'd love to check it out with you!
Like a dinner date or something? That's so awesome!
Oh wait...you did want us to check it out, right?
" She winced, drawing back. I cracked a smile, of course she'd make this easier for me. Laughing lightly, I nodded.
"I know it's little notice but do you want to check it out tonight?
You can wear that lovely gown I bought you a while back.
" Her eyes lit up. "Tonight? Really? I thought you've spent too much money already.
Considering my birthday and the shopping we did two days ago.
Evie, I love you, you don't need to do so much.
.." She whispered the last part lowly, twirling her finger.
I smiled, my ears heating up.
Do so much? I hadn't even started. "Don't worry about it, you just come with me and enjoy yourself. If it makes you feel better, you can pay for the napkins." I teased.
"They don't pay for that!"
"Exactly my love. You've made us lunch, let's go out for dinner. Is that fine with you?" Amelia pouted, the thinking lines of her forehead deepened. She stabbed the sausages, cutely munching on it. "No more spending after this?"
Smirking, I shrugged. "Whatever makes you happy."
"Then we got a date!" She cheered, turning back to continue her food. I didn't realize I was smiling and stroking her hair like some creep (ahem, man in love) until she tilted her head and gave me one of those sweet smiles of hers. "Eat your food, Evie." Amelia trailed off gently.
Chuckling, I nodded.
"Yes ma'am."