Aida
Ben’s suggestion has my mind swirling with all the ideas we might get from this book he has in mind, and to say I haven’t enjoyed everything we’ve tried would be an understatement. I’m having the best sex of my life, and as much as I hate to admit this, it all stemmed from Miriam’s book club invite, which seemed ridiculous at the time, but has now become one of our favorite hobbies. Certainly not the book club itself because those ladies are a little too wild when it comes to discussions, and some things really do need to be kept private, but the books have become a great addition to our bedroom antics.
I’m ready to tell him we should sneak away, the fireworks glowing brightly in the sky, the noise of all the people would drown us out, but that’s when Ben’s mom and dad walk over.
“How’s the night going?” Ben’s dad asks, giving Ben a wink that I just can’t quite read.
Their relationship has changed so much over the last year with Ben’s dad finally accepting that Ben is happier outside of the family business. And if anything, it seems like he’s happier not having to push Ben to be something he’s not.
“Great,” Ben replies. “Party is in full swing, and for the first time, you actually know about it.” Ben lets out a laugh. “Glad you could be here to celebrate with us.”
“Had to keep an eye on my house. And it’s not like I didn’t know you were throwing parties, Ben,” his dad teases back. “I just let it happen, hoping you’d grow out of your party phase.”
“Never.”
“I have to echo Ben’s sentiments. I’m not sure he’s ever going to outgrow his Fourth of July parties. They really are the best on the beach,” I say, slipping an arm around Ben’s waist, pulling him close.
“This is true, and I have to say, it has been fun,” Ben’s dad replies. “But you know what would be more fun?”
“No, what?” I ask, his question piquing my curiosity, but obviously Ben knows where this is going when I hear him let out a bit of a scoff mixed with a chuckle.
“Dad,” Ben warns, and I watch as Ben’s mom shakes her head, resting a hand on her husband’s arm. “I told you to wait till after the party, and I also told you to leave Aida alone.”
“What is going on?” I ask, now thoroughly curious and confused.
“How’d you like to move into corporate law when you graduate?” Ben’s dad asks, directing his question at me, a huge smile on his face. “We could always use another lawyer at the firm.”
“Robert, that’s a really kind offer, but I’m focusing on environmental law. Seeing this beautiful beach, and getting to spend not only two summers here, but hopefully lots more, I want to fight to protect it.”
“Told you, Dad,” Ben chides playfully. “She can’t be sucked into doing anything she doesn’t want to do. Trust me. And she’s going to make an amazing lawyer no matter what because I’ve never met anyone who can’t lose like her.”
“Me?” I shriek, my eyes wide, my mouth falling open. “I’m not sure you’ve met yourself then. From memory, everything is a competition with you. Just ten minutes ago…”
“Okay, okay, I got it,” Ben says, laughing. “We’ll call it even. How’s that?” But I know he doesn’t mean it. Just like me, he wants to win even if it’s something as simple as who can set off the most fireworks in a minute or eat the most shrimp or catch the most fish.
It’s ridiculous and stupid, but oh my god, I totally love that about him, and it keeps our relationship fun. I never know what little competition he’s going to cook up next.
“Fine,” Robert says, shaking his head, feigning disappointment, but I know he’s not. He’s learned so much from his relationship with Ben that I know he’d never truly be disappointed in my decision. If anything, Ben’s family has been as supportive as my own when it comes to law school and my future.
“We’re going to head off the island tonight,” Ben’s mom says, linking an arm with her husband. “You’ll have the house all to yourselves.” She smiles at me, and I don’t know if I should be grateful or embarrassed. I’m not sure my parents would respond this way if my boyfriend and I were living in their house.
“Sounds good,” Ben replies without even missing a beat. “But you need to hang around for just a little longer. Check it out.”
Ben points out toward the water where a boat, fully covered in red, white and blue light, floats in the distance.
Seconds later, a firework shoots off from the boat, erupting in the sky, the sound echoing in the night as the flare glows brightly in the sky.
“Just the beginning,” Ben whispers in my ear, leaning close, he pulls me in for a kiss, taking all the air from my lungs when his lips touch mine.
I love that even after a year together, he can still sweep me off my feet. Miriam would be proud of him for wooing me the way he does. He never fails to amaze me with all the little ways he makes my heart stutter in my chest. I know it’s not a real thing, but he seriously makes my heart feel like it skips a beat, missing it because I’m just so damn happy.
“Keep watching,” he now says, and the sky continues to light up with the multicolored fireworks, this time coming a little more frequently.
“A grand finale?” I ask, my eyes focused on the sky as the crowd of people ooh and ahh at the sight in front of them.
I’ve never been that impressed with fireworks, but I will say, there is something about watching them while standing on this deck, on this beach, with this guy that makes it all perfect.
“Better,” Ben says, shifting so he’s now standing behind me, and I lean back, his arms wrapping around me in a comforting embrace.
“What’s better than tons of fireworks going off at a fireworks display?” I ask jokingly and just as I do, five go off in succession, followed by two more.
M-A-R-R-Y M-E
Silhouetted against the black sky are the letters, bold and bright, each letter a different color, and I quickly spin in Ben’s arms, taking in his face.
I have no idea if these letters are for me. They could be for anyone on this beach, and I really don’t want to overreact, but the anticipation is killing me.
Without dropping to his knee, all unconventional like he is, Ben reaches into his pocket and pulls out a ring.
“Aida, will you marry me?” he simply says, a smile on his face as if he already knows my answer. He leans close, pressing a soft kiss to my lips as my mouth matches the smile on his. “It’s Miriam’s ring,” he whispers, and this only adds to my happiness when I look down and take it in.
Just like when he told me he loved me, I know I need to answer, but I’m committing this amazing moment to my memory, burning it into my brain so that when we have grandkids, I can tell them this story. I just keep hoping someone is taking a video of this, that this is why Ben told his parents to stay, so we can document this and I can watch it over and over.
I have no idea how he kept this a secret because he really lets everything he’s thinking show on his face. He set this whole thing up without me knowing, and that’s when it hits me, wondering if my parents and my sister know.
“Does my family know you’re doing this?” I ask, wrapping my arms around his neck and pulling him as close as I possibly can, forgetting that he’s waiting for an answer, forgetting that he’s holding this gorgeous family ring in his hand.
“Aida,” Ben croons, his brows going up. “I’m waiting for an answer.” Gone is the nervousness that was there when he told me he loved me, replaced by an excitement and anxiousness.
“Ben, if you don’t know that I want to marry you too, then you’re crazier than I thought,” I reply, nearly repeating the same words I said at this time last year.
“Is that a yes?”
“Of course it’s a yes!” I shout, jumping into his arms, my legs wrapping around his waist as he lifts me off the ground. Spinning around, he kisses me deeply.
Pulling back, Ben calls out, “She said yes!”
And as if they’ve been here the entire time, my parents and my sister join us on the deck overlooking the water.
“Did you set this all up on your own?” I ask Ben, tears pooling in my eyes. I can’t even believe in a year how much my life has changed, changed for the better.
“Might have had a little help from my grandma, but otherwise, pretty much,” he tells me, while our families begin wishing us a congratulations.
I can’t think of a better way to spend the Fourth of July, which will now go down as my favorite holiday ever.
“Happy Fourth of July from me and my amazing fiancée!” Ben yells, slipping the ring onto my finger. My sister hands us both a drink that appears to be Miriam’s Long Island Iced Tea. “Drink till you see stars…and stripes!”
“Love it!”