(59) Jessica

Jessica

I felt Matthew's arm circling around my waist. I snuggled closer to my pillow, my back on him. The bed slightly ripped and then I felt butterfly kisses on my shoulder blade.

I opened one eye and realized a fading sunray streaming in from the opened window. I think it's about 5:00 P.M. I rolled to my side.

Matthew beamed at me, blue eyes bright. "Are you ready for that romantic boat ride?"

I pecked on his nose. "Of course. I was born for a romantic boat ride."

He chuckled... nervously.

"You okay?" I asked, suddenly confused.

Matthew almost jumped out of bed and onto his feet. "Yep. I'll go pack us some food."

I watched as he walked, no, ran out of the room with my mouth hanging open. I guess he must like boat rides this much. I doubt if he even slept at all. He already had his clothes on and everything like some fireman off to put out a fire.

I picked my clothes off the floor and quickly put them on.

Matthew's all fired up about a boat ride and I'm a supportive girlfriend. Who knows? It might be some sort of long-time aspiration to get a girlfriend and take her for a boat ride. In fact, whatever kinky stuff that man had on his list, I'm going to embrace it with a wide-open mouth and thighs.

I hurried out of our bedroom and bumped into Audrey in the kitchen. She looked relieved when she saw me.

"Everything okay?" I hear myself ask. It feels like I've been asking that same question today.

Audrey rested a hand over her growing bump. "No, you guys should've been on that boat ride 10 minutes ago."

What is it with Matthew and boat rides? He even has Audrey in on it.

I patted Audrey's back. "I'm all set. We're ready to go. We just needed to make up for a bit."

"Oh, I know. I heard." Audrey gave me a meaningful look.

"Sorry about that," I murmured, not sounding sorry at all.

"You better go." She ushered me out of the kitchen then flicked her neck toward the front door where Vren was talking to Matthew... intently.

"Oh, I know what this is," I said to her teasingly.

Audrey blinked, blood almost draining out of her face. "You know what?"

I wiggled my eyebrows at her. "You and Vren need the cabin yourselves. You know, you could've said so. Matthew and I would've been happy to adjust our schedules."

She sighed visibly. "Yeah, so you need to go."

I smirked. "Have you tried that one thing I told you about the other day?"

"We will, Jess. Just go." Audrey practically shoved me past the front door. Vren was doing the same thing to Matthew. When we made it to the dock, I could tell that they were still looking at us from behind the window.

"Is it just me, or are they acting weird?" I asked and looked over my shoulder.

"No. I don't think so." Matthew climbed into the boat, laid a basket securely, and then offered me his hand.

I tried not to comment when I felt his hand was so clammy. I just let him help me in. After a couple of minutes, Matthew started rowing. I offered to help but he insisted on doing it himself.

To get my mind off things, I started checking out the basket of food to see what Matthew packed for us. We had white wine, burgers and fries, and then chocolate-covered strawberries.

Matthew turned down the burgers.

"How about some chocolate-covered strawberries?" I offered.

He simply shakes his head and looks down to his wristwatch. A few more rows later, we stopped. As we sit silently on the boat, the sun made a breathtaking color in the horizon. I admired the view and shoved a handful of fries at the same time.

"Jessica?" Matthew sounded so nervous.

"Yeah? You changed your mind about strawberries?" I beamed.

He smiled. "No. I'm just," he swallowed, "there's just something I wanted to ask you. I know everything and everybody's been weird lately, including me. Honestly, I think I was just nervous about all this."

He nodded although I was still confused. Him being nervous made me nervous, so I did what I always do in times of crisis, stuff my face with food. I took a handful of fries again and guided them to my mouth.

Matthew slid a hand into his pocket.

As my eyes followed his hand, I noticed the little square outline that a Tiffany box made against his pocket. As I stared at it longer, I managed to put two and two together.

Oh, my fucking gosh.

I gasped, didn't realize I still had fries in my mouth and started choking.

Matthew started panicking. I started panicking. Maybe that was the reason why the boat got imbalanced and then tipped us over. As if it wasn't bad enough, the water was a little cold. Bright side though, I stopped choking.

"Shit, it's cold!" I shrieked.

My teeth started chattering. Must be all those hot showers I've been used to because Matthew's fine. He was quiet though.

"Are you okay?" I swam a little closer to him.

He wiped a hand over his face. "I screwed it up."

As if on cue, there came a sound of something exploding in the sky. Colors started decorating the sky and reflecting off the lake as the sun started setting. I watched in awe, forgetting about the cold lake water.

Matthew groaned beside me.

When the fireworks faded away, I looked over at him, my heart doubling in size. I threw my arms around him and squealed like a schoolgirl. I peppered his face with kisses and gave him a lingering mouth on his mouth. "You did all this for me?"

"It wasn't supposed to turn out not to be this hot mess," he mumbles to himself.

I giggled. "Come on, this is fun."

Matthew was still disappointed, but I smothered him with kisses until I heard him laugh softly. I stopped and looked him straight into those baby blue eyes and said, "Yes, Matthew."

He stared at me. "What?"

"Yes, I'm going to marry you," I answered with a wide-ass grin.

The frown between his brows disappeared and his mouth curved into a big smile. "Are you sure?"

"Duh." I chuckled. I stick my hand out of him, my other arm keeping me afloat. "Now, the ring. Give me it."

Matthew looked at me in disbelief. "After all this mess?"

"Matthew, you don't mind every single mess I make. I don't mind every single mess you make. I love you and all the messes we'll make in the future."

His smile turned into a full-fledged grin.

"Now, the ring." I wiggled my ring finger at him.

Matthew chuckled softly and took out the ring. He slid it to my ring finger and kissed my knuckles. "I love you so much, Jessica."

My eyes become a little blurry.

We were in our warm and fuzzy bubble. Moments later, flashlights started flashing. The cabin's porch light was on too. I could make out people standing underneath the porch. Flashlights, on the other hand, were coming from the dock. We didn't row that far for me to not recognize figures standing there two.

"You guys okay?" A voice came from the dock.

"Is that Christian?" I shielded my eyes from the flashlight.

Matthew sighed. "Yes. Probably Cade too. And Andre. And Franz. And Vren. And Nathan. They helped me set this whole thing up. Well, a lot of people did."

"Said people are standing on the porch right now, aren't they?"

Matthew looked over his shoulder. "Yep. Also, they're all here for a pre-engagement party."

"Pre-engagement?" I echoed.

Matthew nods. "Yep. Your mom and the girls planned the party. She insisted on it."

I scrunch my nose. "That sounds like them."

Cade and Christian rowed a boat toward us. Christian was holding back a laugh. "Matty, I love you, but that didn't go as planned."

Cade rolled his eyes. "Everybody knows, Christian. We all saw."

Matthew and I exchanged looks and then both burst out laughing. After his brothers helped us back on the dock, Andrei and Franz wrapped in a white, fluffy robe. "Are you okay?" Franz gave me a once-over.

"Trust me. I'm more than okay," I say in a sing-song voice and flash my ring at him.

From a distance, I hear high-pitched squeals. My friends came running from the cabin, well, except for Audrey. I'd be more worried than happy if she did. Anyway, that leaves Kathie, Kylie, Chassie, Summer, Julie, Rachel, and Kierra. I had a feeling I had more friends waiting inside the cabin, including my parents and grandmother.

Next thing I knew I was squashed into a huge group hug. I looked over to Matthew who flashed me a grin and mouthed, 'I love you.'

Hi ladies! I can't believe this is it. I'll see you FOREVER ALWAYS BLUE! I'm s exciteddddd. I'm going to upload the first chapter as soon as I can. Love you!