Page 6 of Love is So Mean
“I love you,” I tell her to start with the obvious.
Emily’s smile grows as she returns the sentiment. This is the moment, we’re completely in tune with each other as soft music plays in the romantic space. I like how each table has their own lighting because it makes my angel glow.
I didn’t plan anything crazy like putting the ring in her food or champagne; I’m going for a classic proposal. I wouldn’t have picked such a public place; I prefer intimate and private but she loves grand gestures. A restaurant proposal is the best way to meet in the middle. It’s not original by far but it’s one of the few things we do together in public. This way, I didn’t raise her suspicion. There isn’t any form of expectation in her eyes or anticipation in her relaxed body.
Our souffle arrives, smelling just as delicious as the rest. I ordered it because she has never had one and always wanted to try it. Most of my joy came from watching Emily savor each bite, her eyelashes fluttering as she enjoys the new flavors.
It is by design for me to wait until the end. The paranoid part of me wants to be able to escape quickly if things go wrong. The server comes with the bill and I hand him enough cash to cover everything.
Confident, I hold her hand as we stand. Turning Emily, I make sure she’s looking me in the eyes before I start speaking. Luckily, my brain kicks in, giving me the words I need to say to make this moment special.
Clasping both of her hands, I give them a quick squeeze before I speak.
“Baby, you’re the love of my life and I cannot imagine one without you in it.” Her mouth falls open as she realizes what I’m about to do. Reaching into my pocket, I pull out the sparkling ring that she’d once gushed over online.
My love’s eyes grow in surprise as I drop down to one knee. The restaurant seems to have fallen into an anticipating silence. I chuckle to keep my nerves at bay when I drop the ring. It’s not a big delay since it’s right by my knee. I wrap my fingers around the metal as I begin to speak again.
“All I ask is that you promise to stay with me forever, Yasmeena…”
There is a familiar voice that invaded my thoughts when I was speaking. It takes my brain a moment to realize I said the wrong name because my eyes are locked with the last person I expected to see outside of work.
Yasmeena is sitting at her table, watching my proposal like everyone else. Her hair is down unlike at work. Curls frame her face, somehow softening her appearance. Making her seem more…human.
Is she smirking?
It was only a brief moment but I feel Emily squeeze my hand to redirect my attention.
“Emily,” I correct as I give all my attention back to my girlfriend. “Please do me the honor of allowing me to love you for the rest of our lives.”
Chapter 5
Yasmeena
My heels click against the floor as I’m led to my table.
I don’t usually look around much when I’m going to my table but my eyes catch another woman as she smiles at her date sitting across from her.
“I love you,too.” I hear her say and the glimmer in her eyes matches the smile on her face.
She must really be in love or like with him. She tilts her head as their hands are joined and it does make me wonder. Do people really love touching and being so near each other? I believe that love isn’t a necessity for wanting certain things in life. I had an ex and while he wasn’t searching for love, we both understood each other in that way. We had things that we wanted from each other like appearances and making sure we satisfied our families by looking like a couple, and it worked.
It worked for a while but after that, it ended. I ended it because there was nothing else I needed from him. He understood even if he hated it and we moved on from that. Marriage is inevitably going to be in the cards for me to continue a legacy but I didn’t expect my cancer to push me so far into it as it does right now.
Shaking my head, I concentrate on what I’m doing here.
Drew, who is taller than me, stands behind me and removes my coat with precision and care. He pulls my chair out and waits for me to sit then softly pushes me in.
“Have an amazing dinner, Yasmeena.”
Drew turns to walk away but I stop him.
“Drew,” I pulled out a tip from my small handbag and my assistant’s card. “Pen.” He hands me one. I write my personal number down on the back of the card. “I need a driver. I like you so call my assistant and tell him I personally recommended you. My personal number is on the back, don’t call me unless you need to.”
His eyes widened.
“I don’t know what to say.”
“Say yes.” I tell him.