Page 114 of Just for Fun
“I love you,” she blurts out.
The breath is knocked from out of me. I had this whole thing of how this was going to go. I was going to give us a toast, tell her about all the ways she makes me happy, and how I want us to be together forever. It was all going to end with the words that’s he just said to me.
“Kyle, did you hear me?”
I shake my head to clear it. “Where are you?”
Instead of answering, she connects us on FaceTime. When the call comes through, I tap on the button to switch us from the audio call. Her face comes into view in an instant. Her eyes look almost too large in her face, and I can see so much emotion in them even though it’s through a screen.
“I am at your house,” she tells me in a soft voice.
Leaning against the wall by her door, I slide down to the floor, then rest my arms on my knees as I hold the phone with one hand and the flowers with the other.
“Your voicemail… I didn’t want you to feel bad for being late,” she says, voice all shaky. “I had this feeling all week long that today was going to be big. I didn’t want whatever you planned for us to be ruined…”
I can’t take it for one more second.
“I love you, Zara.” I put the flowers up for her to see. “I had plans to say that to you tonight. Over a candlelit dinner. Not with me sitting by myself in front of your door while you’re all alone in my driveway.”
Zara wipes at her face, tears obvious on her flawless skin.
“This is perfect, Kyle. I love you so much.”
I give her a wistful look. “Saying I love you for the first time without being able to hold and kiss you really sucks.”
Something catches her attention outside the car. “Ray is here.”
I sigh. “He said he’d take care of the truck, change the battery.”
“Hey, girl, what are you doing here?” I hear him asking Zara.
“I thought I’d surprise Kyle,” she says.
“Well, you both managed to surprise me,” he deadpans.
I chuckle as I listen to them talking. The conversation is easy and filled with humor. My heart is full. This didn’t go like I had planned it at all, but we’ll make up for it. Now that the words are out of the way, I will have to ask her to move in together.
And maybe it’ll go a little better than today when I ask her to marry me. One thing is for sure, the battery in my truck will be brand new on that day, regardless of how old it is. But I’m sure something else will be bound to happen.
Just for fun.
