Page 205 of Five Summers

"They do, I checked," I tell her, feeling the ring box in my jacket pocket, right by my heart. The guys have no clue I'm popping the question tonight. That’s why I’ve been incredibly nervous. I’ve been freaking out about every tiny detail, wanting everything to be perfect, including the vibe and the moment I pop the question. I want her to remember this night forever.

As the server makes his way towards our table, a smile brightens his face as he warmly welcomes us. “Can I start you off with something to drink?” he kindly inquires.

"I'd love a bottle of your best champagne," I say, wanting to try something different than my usual beer or Jack Daniels. I really want to spoil Poppy with something fancy, especially because this occasion is so important. Besides, I've always wanted to say that iconic line we always hear in movies.

Poppy’s gaze lingers on me, her intuition alerting her to something amiss. “Xander, what’s going on?”

I remain silent, observing as the server returns with a bottle of champagne. He presents it to me, and uncertain of the proper protocol, I simply nod and ask him to pour two glasses. Throughout this entire exchange, Poppy’s gaze remains fixed on me.

As soon as the server leaves, Poppy bursts into laughter. "You’re way out of your comfort zone, pretending you know all this," she says while laughing.

I burst out laughing, knowing how fucking stupid I look, sitting in this fancy restaurant, pretending to be someone I’m not.

I stare at her while she wipes the tears of laughter from her eyes.

"I wanted tonight to be special," I say, pulling out the ring box from my jacket pocket.

The moment she notices it, her hands instinctively rise to cover her mouth in surprise. I stand up from my seat and move towards her. Her eyes follow my every step. I kneel on one knee and open the ring box, offering it to her. I don't give a damn how cheesy this might seem, what really matters to me is this incredible woman and how she's changed my life, in the past and now.

“Poppy, I used to think love wasn’t real. That it was nothing more than a fabrication, a mere illusion created by people. But then, that night, when we crossed paths on the street. I encountered a girl who only saw her imperfections. On that night, I witnessed your strength, your beauty, and the pain you carry.”

As I continue, I notice tears coming to her eyes.

“Looking back now, I realize that what I felt was love. I've been totally and madly in love with you ever since. Having youin my life completes me, and I never want to experience the emptiness of not having you by my side again. Let’s keep living this beautiful life we’re making together. Princess, my heart has always belonged to you, and now I want to make it official. Poppy, will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?”

“Yes,” she says, her voice trembling as the tears stream down her face.

Taking the ring from its box, I take her hand and gently slide the ring onto her finger. Knowing that Poppy prefers simplicity over extravagant bling, I opt for a classic design featuring an emerald stone and five tiny diamonds arranged in a simple pattern.

As I lean in for a kiss, I see the pure happiness on her face, reflecting the same joy I feel inside. Looking back on the tough journey that got us here, it's clear that all the obstacles we conquered were crucial for reaching this significant point in our lives. Even if it meant enduring that pain all over again, I would willingly embrace it just to have the privilege of being by her side.

We enjoy our burgers and savor every drop of champagne. During the meal, I notice Poppy frequently looking at the ring on her finger. We exchange loving kisses, engage in deep conversation, and become so captivated with each other that we don’t even realize the server has already cleared our plates. This is how it has always been with her - being in her presence feels effortless, knowing that I never have to justify my value.

Then it’s time for us to move on to the next part of our night. I have to admit, I’m incredibly nervous about this next step. It has been her dream for as long as I’ve known her, and I want it to exceed all of her expectations.

When the limo pulls up to the curb, I see Poppy’s wide-eyed expression as she looks out the window, taking in the swarm of media and the red carpet in front of the grand building.

“What are we doing?” she asks, looking at me.

“There’s just a formal function we need to attend tonight,” I say, ignoring the rapid fire of camera flashes.

“But you’re no longer with the label. What’s this event?” Right before she looks out the window, I see a hint of worry on her face. I bet she's freaking out about her imperfections and how the media might portray them. I fucking hate that bitch Jade and her crew for planting doubt in her mind. If only she could see herself through my eyes. If only she could see how fucking perfect and beautiful she really is.

"It's our event," I say, trying to ease the tension I can see building up in her body.

“Our event?” she says, her brows furrowed. “I don’t understand.”

“Come on.” I grab her hand and tap the glass, signaling to the driver that we’re good to go.

As soon as we step out of the car, the cameras begin to flicker, momentarily blinding us while the media eagerly capture snapshots of our arrival.

Amidst all the chaos, a guy with a microphone calls out, “Xander, over here!”

With a tight grip on Poppy’s hand, we make our way towards the eager media. Despite the smile on Poppy’s face, I can sense the underlying worry in her eyes.

“Can you tell me about tonight’s charity?” the guy asks, holding out a mic for me to answer.

Smiling, I know exactly how to play it up for the media. “Sure. The charity we are supporting tonight is the Poppy Williams Music for Children Foundation.” I glance towards Poppy to gauge her reaction. Her eyes widen in surprise, and the tears start pooling. “From the moment I met Poppy, she has been passionate about musical therapy to help children.”

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