Tuesday, April 4, 2017

Jess thought she had forgotten what it was like to kiss Nick Miller. But then, in an instant, she realized it would take more than a thousand lifetimes for this feeling to be erased from her memory. It felt like every molecule in her body was sparkling. It felt like fiery passion ripping through her very soul. It felt like coming home.

They kissed in the elevator for what felt like forever but also no where near long enough, when Nick pulled his lips away, and gave a soft smile before leaning in so that they stood forehead to forehead. They stayed like that for a moment, not needing to say anything, just to be close.

After a few minutes, Jess breathed, "I love you, Nick Miller."

"I love you too, Jessica Day" Nick smiled back.

"Let's get married." The words tumbled out of Jess' mouth before she was even aware of what she was saying, but as soon as she realized it, she knew she didn't regret them. "Soon."

Nick's eyes widened. "Are you proposing?" he asked with an incredulous laugh.

"I guess I am." She replied. "So what do you say, Miller? Marry me?"

"Jess," Nick slightly shook his head. "I mean, of course I want to marry you, I'd marry you tonight, but this is all wrong. If anyone deserves the grandest proposal with all the flowers and candles and the pony, it's you. You deserve to have me down on one knee, saying your full name, even though your middle name is completely ridiculous, and opening the box with a sparkly ring inside so you can cry and that's the story we tell everyone for the rest of our lives. "

Jess scrunched up her nose. "Wait, why would there be a pony?"

"Okay, that's not the point. If anyone deserves the perfect proposal, it's you, Jess. And I don't even have a ring yet."

"Nick, I don't care. At one point in my life, I probably did care way too much about that, but right now I'm looking at the man I love, and I want to marry him as soon as possible because I want to show the whole world that Nick Miller is the only man for- "

Her words were cut off by Nick's mouth fervently pressed against her own, with a passion that instantly brought Jess back in time to their very first kiss over four years prior. How could she have ever thought she could find someone else more perfect for her than him? How could she have ever thought anyone else would love her as much as he did?

Nick pulled away. "Okay, twist my arm, I'll marry you," he teased.

"You brat." She countered back, feeling giddy.

Nick paused a moment. "You said soon. Did you mean soon as in, this year? This month? Tonight? I'll do anything you want, Jess, I want to show you off to the world too."

Jess thought for a moment. "You know, I guess I do want everyone there. Cece. The guys." She gasped. "Coach too! And my parents of course, and my sister! If she's not currently incarcerated, that is. Your mom should be there too. And I want a wedding dress. I don't even know where I want to buy it…or should I make one-"

"Jess! Jess, Jess, stop!" Nick tried to soothe her. "Shh. It doesn't have to be decided tonight. If we're not getting married tonight, then all I want right now is to go bed next to my smoking hot fiancée."

Jess couldn't stop the huge grin from coming across her face. "Wow, I really like the sound of that. Fiancee." Another quick peck. Now that she could kiss him again, she didn't think she would ever stop. She looked around for a moment and laughed. "Do you think we're the first people ever to get engaged in an elevator?"

Nick chuckled. "Oh, that reminds me…" In an instant, Nick slid one arm behind her back, the other behind her knees, and effortlessly picked her up into his arms. Jess gasped, surprised.

"What are you doing?"

"Let's not think about it." He whispered. Jess knew that this was the happiest she had ever felt in her entire life. He started walking toward Apartment 4D.

"Oh!" Jess exclaimed. Nick stopped. "Winston and Aly are still out there! Do you think I should go tell them that I'm not coming?"

"Nah, they'll figure it out."