We've been driving for a little while now, eventually making our way towards the local cafe. She's still not talked, besides murmuring the lyrics to the songs on the radio. Do I ask? No, that'll make it more awkward. What can I do?
"Nicole?"
She shuffles in her seat and clenches the steering wheel tighter.
"Yeah, baby?"
"I'm not crazy, right?"
She gulps, harshly.
"No, you're not…"
"Oh, okay. So people are avoiding me?"
"Wait what?"
We've stopped at a red light where she finally turns to me.
"Yeah, all day. I mean, I'm used to you going in the morning, but Wynonna just took off. And my days been filled with silence all day. I don't know."
Her hand goes to my thigh and she starts the car again.
"You're not crazy."
She smiles and speeds up.
There's something homey about this diner. It's not the checkered tablecloths or the counter and it's retro bar stools. I don't think it's even the faint chatter or welcoming staff. It's so lovely. Nicole, being the gentle lady she is, pulls the chair out for me and grabs the menus.
"Wynonna's probably going to want some sort of sandwich so I'll grab her one to go and we can have whatever."
"I'll go for whatever. You choose."
"Woah, this is like a deal breaker decision!" I laugh and make some joke about how if she chooses soup, I'm leaving her. She holds my hand and dives the other hand into her coat pocket.
"Okay, I'm not going to make a scene because I know it's not what you'd want. So I'm just going to ask."
She puts a box on the table. It's small- it's a ring box.
"Nicole…"
"Yeah?"
I put my hand on the top and hold my breath. It snaps open and inside is the most beautiful ring I've ever seen.
"Okay… this is why I'm nervous and this is why Wynonna's been strange. She wasn't talking to Dolls, she'd found the flyer for the ring shop and I mean, today would've been ruined if you saw."
My face is hot and I'm crying, but I'm smiling and it's all perfect.
"Oh, baby."
Her fingers intertwined with mine and she laughs.
"I'm not even meant to do this now. Wynonna wanted to do a big thing, hence the lunch to get you out of the office, but I want you to be prepared and the most comfortable you can be."
I look back at the ring and back at her.
"Waves, this is just to prepare you and I know Wynonna will kill me if she's not involved somehow so you can say whatever later at the office when I do the whole kneel down thing. But obviously only if you're comfortable."
My vision goes entirely blurry from the happy tears and the skin around my eyes creases because I'm smiling. She takes everything into consideration: me, how comfortable I am, Wynonna. Nicole gets me, she gets everything.