"She damn sure better be," He says through a laugh. "Just think, what if you go through all this, and she tells you no? She may just get one look at me and push your sorry ass to the side."
Silas and I have always gotten along well because his dark sense of humor matches mine.
I laugh darkly, "Well, you sure as hell know how to boost a man's confidence. Also, don't even think about it."
Silas returns my laugh.
"Ah- I'm just fucking with you, Bear. In all seriousness, it's perfect. My hostess, Erika, is working on finishing everything up. She says she should be done in about an hour and a half."
"That's perfect; we should be there in a little less than two hours."
Silence cuts through the line for a beat before Silas speaks up.
"Bear. . ."
"Yeah?"
"Is thisthe girl?The girl you've always been hung up on? The one your songs have been about?"
"Yeah, man, it's her." I can't contain the pride filling my voice.
"I hoped so. I always hoped you'd find your way back to her—a love like that, man. You can't let that shit go. . . Anyways, these pictures are sappy as fuck, but all the girls over here are oohing and ahhing and gushing over this shit, so your lady should be impressed. Although, I do have one question?"
"What's the question?" I ask through a deep chuckle.
"You gonna clean up all this random fucking sand off my roof?" He asks, belting out laughter through his words. Laughter that I can't help but to return.
I bought giant light-up marquee letters that say "Marry Me." I also got pictures from my mom of Via and me growing up through the years. I printed all our old texts, which I've held onto for all of these years—the texts about our feelings for one another and even some of our messages that were just stupid jokes back and forth. I had them all placed in the marquee letters.
Around the letters, I wanted mounds of sand to represent where we met and our journey together. On the table, I wanted a vase of flowers—not just any flowers, but specificallydandelions.I hope every wish she makes on them involves me, and I'll do anything to make sure it comes true.
"I'll shoot you a text when we're close."
I hang up with Silas as I pull up into Maverick's driveway, and instantly, a wave of nerves rushes over me. You'd think I'd be nervous about proposing, but I'm not.
I've wanted this for years. I've wantedherfor far too long to be nervous about that. No, this feeling is different; it is like something terrible is happening. I can feel it in my gut but can't place it.
I don't fucking like it. Not one bit.
I push the feeling down, get out of the truck, and reach Maverick's front door. As I close in, I can hear laughter and talking from inside. I look around, just seeing Mav's truck in the drive, so I'm a little confused. I hope I'm not intruding. I want to check in on him. I know this shit with Izzy must be getting to him.
I knock on the door, and before my hand falls, the door swings open. I come face to face with someone so unexpected that my knees buckle.
"Oh hey, Ander, what are you doing here?"
"What the. . ."
Izzy arches her eyebrows, plants a hand on her hip, and the question spreads on her face. The door pushes open further as Mav walks up behind her and places a hand on her shoulder, throwing me a look of confusion that matches Izzy's.
"Damn, Bear, don't you look spiffy," Maverick says, breaking the awkward silence.
"Ander, what's wrong?" Izzy's voice is low, and concern is evident in her tone.
"Why are you here?" I deadpan, not sure what the fuck is going on, and the confusion is manifesting itself into anger. The extreme feeling that something isn't right grows like wildfire that cannot be tamed.
Maverick opens the door wider and motions for me to come in. They're both looking at me like I'm a lost dog who's been abandoned on the side of the road by the only owner he's ever known.
"What do you mean, 'why am I here,'" Izzy scoffs, crossing her arms over her chest.
