Page 34 of Fight for You

“So, what's the big news?” Nina asks eagerly, leaning forward in her chair.

I take a deep breath and look between my two best friends, feeling overwhelmed with emotion. “Well,” I begin, “I’m going to propose to Brylee.”

Nina's eyes widen in excitement as she let out a squeal. “That's amazing! Congratulations!”

Miles slaps me on the back, grinning from ear to ear. “Way to go, man!”

I can't stop the grin that spread across my own face as I bask in their excitement and support. This is something I have been dreaming about for years and finally seeing it come to fruition felt surreal.

We spend the next hour sipping on coffee and indulging in some of the café's famous pastries while catching up on each other's lives. Nina talks about her new job at a design firm, and Miles shares stories from his recent travels to Europe.

As we are getting ready to leave, Nina grabs my hand excitedly. “How are you going to do it? Have you planned that yet?” she exclaims.

“I haven’t.”

It is amazing to have such supportive people by my side. Nina is my sister, but she is also one of my closest friends lately. They have always believed in me and encouraged me. And now, they are just as excited as I am about this new chapter in my life.

“Okay, well it has to be something romantic and from the heart. None of those cliche big grand gestures from the movies. Brylee is a simple girl.”

This is the most terrifying thing I am going to do in my life. Even though I know she loves me, there is always a chance she might say no. The past year with her back in my life has been nothing short of perfect. We are soulmates and put on this earth to be each other’s confidants.

“Okay, you guys have time to help me with that? Honestly, I don’t want to waste any time. Hell, I’d marry her tomorrow if she’d let me, but girls want these big weddings with fancy dresses…”

Nina punches my arm. “Hey, don’t mock the dreams of little girls everywhere.”

Together, we hatch a plan to create the perfect proposal for Brylee. Nina and Miles are just as invested in making this moment magical as I am.

We bounce ideas back and forth, each one more elaborate and sweet than the last. From romantic candlelit dinners to a surprise trip to her favorite city, we want everything to be just right for Brylee. As we sip our drinks and lost track of time in our shared enthusiasm, the café slowly empties around us.

As the night deepens and the stars twinkled above us, we finally come up with a plan that we are all ecstatic about. We will recreate Brylee's favorite memory from our early days of dating – a picnic under the stars in a secluded meadow surrounded by wildflowers.

Nina will take charge of creating a beautiful bouquet of flowers, while Miles offers to scout out the perfect location for our picnic. And I will take care of planning the food and setting up a cozy blanket for us to sit on. The excitement is palpable as we finalize every detail of our grand plan.

The next day, Nina and I walk into the jewelry store, my stomach in knots. I can't believe that I am about to pick out an engagement ring for Brylee. But Nina is right, this is a big decision.

I take a deep breath and reminded myself to trust my gut instinct. My gut has always pointed me in the right direction when it came to important decisions. And I will know the right ring when I see it.

The saleswoman greets us warmly and asks what we are looking for. Nina eagerly jumps in, explaining our grand plan for the proposal and how we want the perfect ring to go along with it. She listened intently and shows us various options, but nothing seems quite right. Until she brings out a simple yetelegant ring with a solitaire diamond set on a delicate band. As soon as I see it, this is the one. It had a timeless beauty that matched Brylee perfectly. The saleswoman noticed my reaction and smiles knowingly.

"This is our most popular engagement ring," she says. "It's classic and sophisticated, just like your love."

Nina and I both nod as we examine the ring closer. It is exactly what we are looking for – romantic but not over-the-top, just like Brylee.

“What do you think? If I could find a ring that embraces everything about her, this would be it.”

Nina nods.

“Okay, I’ll take this one for sure in a size 7, please.”

“Don’t you want to know the price?” the woman asks.

“Brylee is worth whatever it costs. My love for her can’t be about a price of a ring. Ring it up and put it on this card.”

After finalizing the purchase, Nina gives me a knowing look as if to say “good job.”

We disperse from the store with the ring safely tucked away in my pocket.

28

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