“Yeah,” he sighed, “Why wouldn’t I be? I’m on a date with the best, most beautiful, funny, and amazing girlfriend in the world.” I heard the hostess bringing more people out, but I was too worried about why he was nervous to listen closely to the conversations. He said there, trying to get me to focus back on the menu, but I kept peeking up at him, trying to see if he’d relaxed. Soon, the patio was full of voices, while I closed my menu and stared at Sebastian, who was looking at the menu like he couldn’t decide what he wanted to eat.
“Bastian. We can go somewhere else if you don’t want to eat here,” I smiled up at him, “I’m happy as long as I'm with you.”
He took a deep breath, exhaling, “Let’s do this.”
Let’s do what?
N I N E: New Adventures
Sebastian’s POV
Taking a deep breath, I looked around at all the friends and family who I had secretly gathered here with us. Alex, my parents, her dad, Andrew, the women she considered her family, Emily, Raven, Raven’s son, Ryder, and our friend Danielle from the coffee shop in town. I looked at my girl. The woman I’d fallen in lust with when she walked in, and fell in love with as I watched her heal from her trauma and betrayal. She looked concerned, worried about me, and why I was so nervous. I knew if I didn’t pull it together, she’d be ready to leave after this glass of wine.
The waiter came over, and once I’d reassured Stormi that, yes, I did want to eat here, we ordered our entrees and I asked for tiramisu for dessert. Taking one final deep breath, I stood up.
The whole patio started to murmur louder, then they started to quiet down as I walked over to Stormi. I kept my eyes on Stormi’s beautiful green eyes that pulled me in the minute she stepped into that coffee shop to meet me two and a half years ago. Standing in front of her side of the table, feeling awkward for staring at her, unable to look away, I bent down and took her hand. I kissed it once, as I bent down further and took a knee. She gasped, hand covering her mouth, tears springing to her eyes.
“Stormi Buchcannan,” My voice only cracking once, tears filling my eyes as I prepared to bare my soul to this woman, “You stole my breath and my heart the moment I saw you step into the coffee shop two and a half years ago. You looked perfect walking in with your all-black outfit and green coat. Your smile blinded me, and your eyes pulled me in. Getting to know has been the greatest privilege of my life, thus far. Your laugh is my favoritesong, and talking to you is the best part of my day. I never knew I could love someone this much, and this deeply. It may seem like a quick six months of being together, but I’ve had this ring burning a hole in my pocket, waiting for you to be ready for me, for the last two years and five months.” A collective gasp went around the patio, but I soldiered on, determined to give her the best proposal.
“I knew you were the one for me, and I waited for you. So, now, in front of our friends and family,” at that bit of information, she looked around, letting the tears slide down her cheeks, as she smiled at all of them, before she looked back at me with all of the love in her eyes.
“I am asking,” I said, reaching into my trouser pocket.
“Yes.” She breathed out, earning a few chuckles from our audience and me.
“I haven’t asked yet,” I smiled at her, and she blushed, “Stormi, will you make me the happiest man in the world, and marry me? Be my wife?” With a smile that I’m sure you could see from outer space, tears steadily falling down her face, she nodded.
“Yes,” she breathed out. I slid the ring on her finger, and she flung herself into my arms. Arms, I’d hold her in forever, that would always be open to her. The crowd of our loved ones rang out in happy cheers. Everyone came up to congratulate us, and a fresh wave of tears formed and flowed from my fiancée. She introduced me officially, live and in person, to Raven, Ryder, and Emily. I could see what she meant when she called them ‘my older sister from another mister, and my real mom.’ They were exactly like that with her. Emily gushing over her, and when they’d go dress shopping, already talking wedding plans. Raven was sobbing, incredibly happy for her, while Ryder wasa bit quieter and more reserved, giving me a fist bump as a congratulations. Alex had champagne brought out for everyone, though Stormi declined, saying she didn’t want to get drunk tonight.
“It’s a special night, I want to remember it and not wake up with a pounding headache, thank you very much,” she said, smirking at him. Alex just rolled his eyes, happy as hell that I was ‘finally taking the plunge’. Stormi walked back to our table, picking up her glass and tapping her fork against it.
“Could I please have your attention? Everyone? Please! I have an announcement to make,” she shouted out to the crowd of our loved ones. The crowd quieted. She looked around at everyone as she began.
“I wanted to thank you all for being here for this, as this…this is the best day of my life so far,” her voice trembled at that, tears lining her eyes, “and since you’re all here, the gift I was going to give Bastian, just the two of us, has turned into a group gift. I guess.” She handed me a beautifully wrapped white box with a rainbow bow tied to it. She stood there as I unwrapped it. Opening the box and taking out some of the tissue paper, what lay in the box had me frozen.
“What is it?!” Alex shouted from his table, three glasses of champagne deep already.
I looked up at her, tears in my eyes, the unasked question on my lips, and she nodded. I held up a shirt that said, ‘Regional Manager’from my favorite show, The Office. And showed everyone, we got some cheers from fans of the show. But then I held up the tiny little onesie that said, ‘Assistant to the Regional Manager,’and the crowd erupted again! My mother and Emily were screaming like schoolgirls, hugging each other and sobbing, two happy mothers. Stormi’s dad wrapped hertightly in a hug, crying into her hair, as she hugged him back. Alex and my dad shook my hands and slapped my back.
“This is the best day ever!” I exclaimed, pushing past everyone, grabbing Stormi from her father, wrapping her in a hug.
Could life be any sweeter?
I was going to be a dad, and I was about to marry my absolute best friend.
Let’s do this!
T E N:
Sebastian’s POV
One year later…
A whole year had gone by. Our first anniversary was coming up next month, the same month our little girl turned six months old, and I had a surprise planned for my little family. We were going to be going to Alaska on a whale watching trip. I knew Stevie wouldn’t remember it, but we would have lots of pictures and lots of memories to share with her as she grew older. Plus, we could always go again. It was something Stormi had kept on her bucket list. For our tenth anniversary, I have a trip to Europe planned for the family, her mom, Emily, and sister, and soon-to-be brother-in-law included if they wanted to come. Family was family. Stormi had started her list of countries she wanted to visit and things she wanted to do and see in each of the countries on that list.
Life had been amazing. We got married the month after I proposed because Stormi didn’t want to be too pregnant in our wedding photos, but if you looked really closely, you could see a tiny little bump on her lower abdomen.
It was the perfect day, surrounded by our friends and family. The reception was at the little Italian restaurant I proposed to her at. Everyone had come back out the month after the proposal for the wedding, which I think Stormi really appreciated. I don’t think she would have married me had Emily, Ryder, and Raven not been able to make it. Though I think Emily was talking about either making the move permanent or somehow splitting her time between her girls. She had said she was missing too much of her grandkids growing up and wanted us all to be closer. The idea was nice, but we weren’tsure what we’d do because our lives were here, and hers was there.
