Where is Ben? We will be late.
I step out of the bathroom in only a towel and sashay to the wardrobe to get the gown for our date. There are a few options but I select a navy blue off-shoulder gown. Flipping through my playlist, I settle on Maria’s new single and settle down in front of the vanity to make myself up.
A smile curves my lips as I brush my hair. I don’t look so bad at all. The makeup tutorial classes on YuuTube and Maria’s extra sessions come in handy as I apply foundation to my face. My gaze flies to the door. I’m in my room. Ben wasn’t in his room when I checked but he should be getting ready.
The door creaks. I look up but Ben doesn’t walk in. My eye makeup is done. I apply a bright red lipstick and the door finally opens. Ben stalks into the room wearing a tux. My man is hot but in a suit and Oxford leather shoes, he is hotter. He closes the door with his foot and leans on it so I can assess him.
His beards frame his jaw, giving him an older but sexier look. My eyes sweep over his bulky frame and he winks. I blush under the blush covering my cheeks. Ben covers the distance in a few strides to stand behind my seat. His hands run through the curls of my hair and I peer at him from thick, false lashes.
“You look so pretty,” he says.
“You look dapper,” I tell him and continue the finishing touches for my look. I don’t know where we are headed. It’s not my birthday, it’s not Ben’s, it’s not our anniversary. I didn’t win any new deals but Ben said to dress lovely so he can take me on a treat. After a final smack of my lips and a dab of the powder brush, I’m done. “Benny, are you sure...”
“Don’t even bother,” Ben interrupts before I can finish my statement. “It’s a surprise.”
I sit on the edge of the vanity, finger-combing through the ends of my hair for it to appear fuller. “Fine. Just give me a hint. Anything.”
His lips purse. “You have been there once.”
“Okay...” I smoothen the front of his jacket, adjust his tie and pat his shoulders. His eyes soften and I lean in for a brief kiss. “What else?”
“I can’t say more without ruining it.”
“Fine. Almost done.”
Leaving his embrace, I ignore his stares as my towel falls to the floor. I pull the gown above my waist, wiggling my butt to tease him. He can see but he can’t touch. All of this sexiness can be explored after our date.
Sound of footsteps filters into my ears. His cologne hit my nostrils first, then his arms wrap around me from behind. He plants a kiss on the base of my neck and sniffs me.
“Random question,” he says. I perk up. His arms tighten around me so I can’t spin in his embrace to face him. I frown at the portrait hanging on my wall. This is my room but I barely spend time here. “Would you like to have a private engagement party or public?”
“Private,” I say before he asks further questions. His hold on my waist slacks and I turn around. His eyes are calm. “I would like something small. My mum, your mum. My dad, Josef. Hayden, Asher. Maria. I would love to see Crescent High crew too.”
For the last six months, our conversations have been mostly online. Calum, Leah and Mira have all been busy with their lives, as we have too. Ben’s lips pull into a thin line at my reply. I already share a part of my life with the public through the movies, photoshoots and interviews. I want this part of my life, the ones with Ben to always be private and reserved for the most important people in our lives.
I poke his chest. “What’s up? Why are you asking?”
Ben grins. “Nothing. Just asking.”
“You’re not going to propose, are you?” My most loving boyfriend shrugs and my heart skips. “Benny.”
He ignores the note of warning in my voice and grins harder. It’s my last year at NYU. Our plans have not changed. A job, our home, steady income, then marriage. So far, we retained this house but we already made down payments for our own home. And we both have jobs that guarantee us steady income. Great income, in fact, with our investments.
My pulse jumps. I take one step away from Ben. “Benjamin Carter. What are you planning?”
“I’m just asking, babe,” he replies. His lips close over mine before I can form another word. “Just to be clear, you would like a private proposal?”
Doubts cloud my mind but I manage a small nod. “Yeah. Just us. Then the party will involve others.”
Home. Jobs. Income. All check. I’m in love with him more than ever. I think I am ready. We are both ready to get married but we are still in school.
The back of my legs hit the bed and I jump. Ben laughs. Pushing out his elbow, he says, “Ready?”
“Yeah.”
We sashay to the parlour and the chill from the air-conditioner works into my spine. I shiver a little, Ben eyes the air-conditioner and reaches for the remote to switch it off. I slip my hand into his and he gives it a small squeeze after offering me his jacket. We stare at each other without moving.
His lips part. “Can you hold on one minute?” I nod. He backs away from me slowly. “I’ll be right back.”
Anxiety rolls over me. My palms grow clammy. I swipe them over my gown, eyes zeroed in on the door to Ben’s room. Did he leave to get a ring? Ben can’t have a ring inside his room without me knowing. I would have noticed. Maybe I’m overthinking this. Maybe he’s asking for the near future.
Ben steps out moments later with a notepad in his left hand. My chest sags with disappointment. I guess a part of me was half-hoping for a ring. He stops in front of me with a grin too big for only one person and I grin along like a happy girlfriend.
“I was working on something with Josef,” he starts. My brows raise. I want to hear what he has to say but is this the right time for that? Our date is by 7:30 pm and it’s 7 pm. Ben flips through the page of the notepad and hands it over to me. “Wanted you to take a look at it first. Let me hear what you think. Honest thoughts only. Can you do that for me?”
Mind still reeling with confusion, I muster a nod. “Sure, babe. Just my thoughts, yeah?”
“Yeah.”
My eyes lower to the note. The page is filled with Ben’s handwriting that unlocks memories of our shared letters in Broadway Heights. I still have our letters. And Ben has his. On our anniversary, we send each other a letter.
There are only three paragraphs for me to read. The note starts with a breakdown of a property deal I do not entirely understand. I make a mental note to ask for clarifications on that later. He needs my honest opinions and I have to give it to him. It is how we roll. We bounce ideas off each other or provide a listening ear when we can’t proffer solutions.
By the last paragraph, I’m more confused about the property. I think it’s his property but I’m not sure so I continue reading. My heart falters on the last line.
“Property of Mr and Mrs Carter.” My voice quivers a little as I read this part aloud because if I think this is what it is, then he already paid for the house. “Will you marry me?” I pause. How did that line get in here? “Benny, I think there’s a mistake in this...” I look down and a gasp escapes me. Ben is on his knee with an opened box showing off a diamond ring. The notepad drops to the floor. “Benny.”
Ben’s smile is strained. My heart is beating out of rhythm. He got me. That’s for sure. Is this a prank?
“Will you marry me, Gracie Mower?” His voice falters and he takes a breath. “I know, I know. You wanted us to wait till we finished college and get bigger jobs but I think we are just fine as we are and we will do better in the future. I really can’t wait anymore–” I cut him off with my lips on his. His eyes widen in shock. I fall to my knees so we are on the same height. “Is that a yes? Please say yes.”
“Of course, it’s a yes,” I whisper. Ben slips the ring into my third finger, right above the promise ring and my heart explodes with joy. Oh, my God. I’m engaged. I’m engaged to the love of my life. Tears shimmer in my eyes, shivers run down my back. I stare at my engagement ring. “Benny. My Benny.”
My lips are on his immediately. My thoughts are too muddled to form a coherent word. We pull back grinning at each other. I place my hand over his and the ceiling light catches the diamonds on my ring.
“You proposed,” I murmur. “We are engaged.”
“Yeah, babe,” he breathes out. “I get to call you my fiancée, Gracie. Are you happy?” I nod so fast he chuckles. I’m exhilarated. I’m fulfilled. “I wanted to propose to you in the room but I got nervous,” Ben states with a laugh. “We don’t have to get married immediately, okay? We can do it after graduation.”
I kiss him. “Whenever you want, Benny.”
“Whenever we want,” my fiancé corrects. Do I have to give him a ring? I really have no idea. Ben arches a brow and I nod because he is right. We are a team and we will have to make the decision together. Ben helps me to my feet. “Do you like your ring?”
Another glance at the diamond studded ring and my smile is instant. It must have cost him a small fortune. “Yeah, I love it. I love you.”
His lips meet mine in a chaste kiss. “I love you more, Gracie. We are really going to be late for dinner.”
Laughing, I follow him out. I don’t give a shit about us getting late anymore. I’m now Ben’s fiancée and that’s all that matters right now. We enter Ben’s car but he doesn’t start it. A small smile plays on his lips, he takes my hand and places a kiss on the ring.
“I saw something about a property,” I say once the car eventually starts. “You bought something?”
“Not exactly,” he replies while weaving through the traffic. My hand descends on his knee. I can’t get enough of him or his touch. “I completed the payment on our house, Mrs Carter.” He laughs at my shocked expression and I force my mouth shut. No way. I didn’t receive any alert. I should have gotten one if he took money from our joint account. “Josef might have helped. I told him I was going to propose and he threw in some money as a gift.”
I blink back the tears rushing to the surface of my eyes. We have our own house. Benny and Gracie’s house. For the rest of the ride, I am smiling.
As Ben takes a turn into a familiar corner, my back stiffens. The neon lights with the name of the restaurant greets me and laughter spills out of my lips. I made Ben promise to bring me back here.
“You remembered,” I say. Ben finds a spot in the parking garage and the car engine dies down. I jump into his lap immediately and cup his face. “Benny.”
“Gracie,” he says. I peck him on his lips. “I never forgot. Besides, I promised to bring you back.”
And this is the best place to celebrate my elevated status. Ben grunts but opens the door, allowing a gust of wind into the car. Together, we start for the entrance. I steal glances at him and he returns a few with some smiles. I got the best man on earth.
We walk further inside. The place is quiet, unusually so. No one is in sight. Ben doesn’t seem to notice the weird absence of staff. He guides me to a door leading to a small garden, where numerous fancy huts lay in a U-shape. Lights surround the fence, casting soft glows on the fake grass. We walk down a path till we are in front of the biggest hut.
The hut is not empty.
There’s a long table inside with all the people I love flanked on each side. Maria. Asher. Hayden. Josef. Maddie. My parents.
“Well?” my mum asks, brows drawn together. A smile is directed at Ben. My dad is seated on her right. Hayden is on her left. Empty glasses line the table with two buckets of wine. “What did she say?”
“She said yes,” Ben screams and sweeps me off my feet. I’m carried inside the hut and set down gingerly behind an empty chair. “Babe, show them.”
And I do just that. I raise my left hand to show off my ring. It’s all too much joy for me to contain. My hand rests on my chest as if to stop my raging heart and Ben pulls out a seat for me. I feel myself sitting but I don’t remember any of it. I’m really engaged.
Maria grabs my hand to inspect my ring. “I helped to pick it,” she whispers into my ear. “You like?”
“I love it,” I whisper back.
I look up to the pair of eyes eagerly watching me. Everyone is here. Everyone who matters to me. My heart slows to a calm rhythm. The feeling of joy threatens to consume me and I willingly give myself to them. This is perfect.