Chapter 37
Riley was in her room curling her hair and touching up her makeup for her date tonight. He wouldn't divulge where he was taking her, the only thing he did say was to dress warmly. The brunette slid her new beige cap on, she had to get a new one to match her outfit for tonight. She was wearing miss me jeans with her beige suede boots and dark brown oversized sweater, and the final touch was her cream scarf. The brunette heard someone at the front door. "Hey babe, will you get that? I'm almost ready." There was no answer, and there was another knock. "Lucas?" She walked down the hall and after not finding him opened the door. Her empty expression turned to a look of pure joy when she saw him standing on the front porch.
"Good evening." The officer pulled a bouquet of white roses out from behind his back.
"I thought you were in your room getting ready."
"My room? M'am we just started dating." She grinned and after deciding to play along she invited him in.
"Let me just put these in some water and we will go."
"You look incredible. But, that's nothing new." He winked and Riley felt so silly playing his game.
"You look great too. So, where are we headed?" She tried to reach the top cabinet and even while jumping had no luck.
"Here, let me help you out." With ease he opened the cabinet and pulled out a vase. When Riley reached out, he pulled it away.
"Look we better get going before my roomate gets here." He grinned and handed her the vase.
"Tell me more about this roomate."
"He's a police officer and extremely protective over me. Very handsome, and muscular-"
"Alright, alright. It's me, i'm your roomate. You got me!" He passed her the vase, but only after kissing her.
"We're done with the game now?"
"For now. You ready to go?" She nodded and hand in hand walked to his truck.
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The couple pulled up to the park and Lucas helped her out of his truck. "So, what are we doing here?"
"A few things." He glanced at his watch, and opened the door to the restaurant.
"I never knew this was here." Lucas smirked and placed his hand on her back.
"Friar, party of 2. I have a reservation."
She looked to her left and had a sarcastic smile. "Fancy." She loved how much thought he put into everything he did. Even if it was just hanging out at the house, he'd always do something special. His lips touched her forehead and her butterflies woke up.
"If you'll follow me this way." The couple walked through the restaurant and up a set of stairs. Riley was getting excited. "Rooftop seating for 2. We just turned the heaters on for y'all so it should warm up shortly." Lucas glanced at his watch again.
"Oh my gosh, this is so beautiful." The creek that ran through the park was perfectly still and you could see the moon on top of the water.
"Do you see that?"
"See what?" She sat up slightly straighter and started looking around. All of a sudden the park was lit up in Christmas lights. Her smile widened and she placed her hand over her mouth.
"Do you see it now?" The brunette nodded her head and leaned across the table for a kiss.
"It's incredible. Thank you. Did you do all-"
"Oh, no! Definitely not, people who are on probation use this as their community service." Riley was still looking off into the distance, she held a soft smile that let everyone know she was happy. "You're so perfect. In every way."
She turned her head and locked eyes with him. "Only for you."
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"Josh, where are we going?" Maya was walking hand in hand with her boyfriend in downtown Austin. It was so pretty, the streets were lit up in christmas lights and the moon was bright. He looked at his girlfriend and her hair was blowing in the wind, the officer was so nervous.
"We're just walking. I figured we could go eat at Grace later. If you wanted."
"GRACE?!" He nodded his head and had a huge smile. "I've been wanting to go there since it opened. I'm sure the wait will take forever."
"I actually have a reservation." She threw her arms around his neck. "8:30. So we have a little time to kill." A horse drawn carriage that was covered in lights pulled up beside them. "Would you like a ride?" She smiled and hopped into the carriage. Josh slipped a note to the driver and sat back to enjoy the ride.
"It's so pretty." The blonde was leaning into his shoulder and relaxed her head, continuing to look at the stars.
"You are so pretty."
"You told me to get fancy. Now I know why." He grinned, and his butterflies woke up as he took a deep breath.
"Babe, you're always beautiful. I don't know how you do it." Her blue eyes locked onto his and they kissed. They rode in silence for a few more minutes when the driver said they were here.
"Here where?" Maya sat up and looked around. "Why are we here?" She laughed as Josh picked her up out of the carriage.
"You remember this place?"
"Yeah. I spent my entire time at this place with a crush on you."
"High school. It's funny isn't it. We spent our entire lives knowing each other through Riley and I didn't realize I had feelings for you until we graduated." He looked down at her and smiled. Maya took a few steps forward.
"Yeah, I remember you always cheating off of me." She looked at the school and smiled. "I personally liked to think that you were looking for a reason to-" Maya turned around to find Josh on one knee.
"You're right. I was trying to find ways to get closer to you, and talk to you." The blonde felt tears fill her eyes, and her hand was over her mouth. "I get mad at myself a lot, I think 'I could've been this happy for how long'? I didn't act on my feelings then, but I wasn't going to make the same mistake twice. Maya, I have been wrapped around your finger since the reunion, I literally have never been happier. And if you'll allow me I will spend every moment for the rest of my life to make you feel the same way. Maya Hart, will you do me the honor of becoming my wife? Will you please marry me?" Josh opened the box, tears were flowing down her cheeks, and her smile was brilliant.
"YES!" He stood and picked her up off the ground, twirling her around several times. They kissed, someone was taking pictures, but the pair didn't care. They were so caught up in the moment, and in each other. He exhaled and kissed her again, the blonde couldn't see much through her tears but she didn't need to. She was engaged.
"Do you want to see the ring?" She nodded up and down, barely able to stand still. It was absolutely stunning. 14K white gold, the center stone was a 3/4 karat princess cut yellow diamond with white diamond accent stones all around it.
"Oh my God!" The blue eyed girl clutched her heart with her right hand and took a deep breath.
"I didn't want you to have a regular white diamond. I found out that yellow diamonds, that are this clean are pretty rare. You are one of a kind, and you deserve a one of a kind ring." Maya wiped some more tears away and kissed him again. "Do you like it?"
"I'm not going to diginify that question with a response!" He giggled. Maya's arms were wrapped around Josh's neck and she kept looking at the ring. She heard a camera shudder again and turned to look at it.
"Oh, I wanted to capture this moment. Stephanie this is my fiancee Maya." The blonde's heart fluttered at the word fiancee.
"Nice to meet you. Congratulations! Can I get a few engagement shots?"
"OF COURSE!" Maya and Josh posed for a few pictures and Josh had never been happier. He had stressed about this moment the entire week. After another 10 minutes of photo taking, Maya walked to Stephanie. "When do you think we'll have these?"
"Josh paid for a rush on them. So these have become a top priority of mine, a few days at most!" The blonde jumped up and down towards Josh.
"You thought of everything, didn't you?"
"I wanted this night to be perfect." He kissed her again, and Josh felt goosebumps approach his arm. "You ready to eat? I kept the carriage to take us to Grace."
"Let's go. I need to show off my ring." Maya did just that, she was finding every excuse in the world to use her left hand. The christmas lights and street lights would hit it just right and the ring flashed. It was almost as beautiful as her smile. Maya never stopped smiling, and Josh, well he was elated to be marrying the love of his life.
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"Wow, no matter how much I look at it, it's still beautiful." He continued to smile at her as she gazed at the scenery.
"I know what you mean."
"You're so corny, I know you're looking at me. But it's adorable!" Lucas' phone went off and saw it was from Josh.
She said yes. Thanks for the help!
"Who's that?"
"Oh no one. Just a work thing." He didn't want to ruin the surprise for when Maya finally told her. "You ready?" The brunette smiled and looked at him.
"For what?"
"I thought we'd take a walk." He grinned and stood up, taking her hand in his.
The pair took a stroll on the sidewalk next to the water. They sauntered the park twice and never stopped talking.
"How was work?"
"I actually missed it. I missed my kids, even though i've been back for several days." The principal laid her head down on his shoulder. "It's weird cause they aren't mine."
"Just think about how you'll feel when you have your own." He chuckled.
"I don't even want to think about that. It'll kill me when I have to leave my child all day." Lucas kissed her head.
"You'll make an amazing mom." She closed her eyes and smiled.
"I think you'll make a great dad!" The pair stopped and kissed for several minutes, until Riley's phone went off.
Riley?
Yeah, what's up peaches?
Can I come see you tomorrow morning? It took Maya everything inside of her to not tell Riley then and there.
Sure, is everything okay? You sound like you're hiding something.
I'll be over at 9. Love you bye!
Lucas grinned knowing what it was about. "Everything okay?"
"I'm assuming so. Maya's comin' over tomorrow mornin'. Just gives me an excuse to make pancakes!"
"You're favorite food. Besides shrimp of course!"
"I love you!"
"I love you, my beautiful girl!" They kissed again and he escorted her back to the truck.
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