by Ella Sparkle
Cassie groaned and rolled her eyes. “Well, I am not missing your graduation party for anything, so this little nugget is just going to have to hold on a little longer. She's already two days late, so another afternoon shouldn't matter.”
I laughed and rubbed Cassie’s belly. “Awwwww... the little princess was just waiting for Auntie Jenna to move back and for Uncle Nick to finish setting up her room at our house.”
Kimmy clasped her hands together in front of her. “This little baby is so loved already! I think it is so sweet you and Nick are making her own room for her at your house.”
“Have you seen their new house?” Steven snickered. “I'm pretty sure we could all have a room there and there would still be plenty left over.”
I laughed as Nick wrapped his arms around me from behind before leaning in and kissing my neck. “I'm just excited Nick and I are finally going to be able to live together. It's definitely time for us live in the same place and the same house!” I turned my head back and smiled at Nick.
“I'll second that! Cheers to Jenna finishing law school!” Nick said as he moved around to stand at my side.
Everyone raised a glass and let out a cheer. I looked around the room and felt my eyes mist up. I considered everyone in the room my family, and I was so happy they were all there to celebrate my graduation. It had been a long three years, but everyone stuck by me and supported me the entire time.
I snuggled up next to Nick who had his arm around me. I was so incredibly happy I thought I could burst. Nick and I had been together for three years and our relationship was stronger than ever. We had had some bumps over the years, but we remained steadily committed to each other and our relationship. We both grew and changed and blossomed together. No matter what, every day we reaffirmed our love and commitment to each other.
“So, the sign on the door says ‘Closed for Private Party.’ I suggest we do just that and get this party started!” Cassie shouted as everyone raised their glass and cheered again. “Plus I could be shooting a baby out at any minute and I fully intend to enjoy a whole lot of cake before that happens! Let’s get a move on!”
While I had been away at law school, Pete decided to retire and sell the pizza business. It turned out Cassie and Mike were the perfect buyers. Since the restaurant had been such a big part of us all coming together, it seemed only fitting to have my graduation party there.
While Nick, Steven, and Kimmy had been at my graduation that morning, Mike and Cassie transformed Pete’s Pizza with streamers, balloons, and a big banner that said ‘You Are A Badass, Jenna!’ I had a sneaking suspicion Cassie had been in charge of the banner.
***
A few hours later, Cassie and I sat together in one of the back booths, each with a big slice of graduation cake in front of us.
“Are you enjoying your party?” Cassie asked as she licked a big glob of frosting off her fork.
I couldn’t help but smile from ear to ear. “This has literally been one of the best days of my life! To be surrounded by everyone I love and that loves me, celebrating this huge accomplishment... I don’t know how it could possibly get any better.”
Cassie had a mischievous smile on her face. “Oh, I can think of a thing or two that might up the amazing factor of today.” Cassie scraped the last little bits of cake and frosting off her plate before pointing her fork at the piece in front of me. “You going to eat that? If not slide that bad boy on over here.”
I laughed and slid the cake over to her. “It's all yours.”
“Come to momma you frosting-covered slice of heaven,” Cassie said as she shoved a big bite of cake in her mouth and started talking around it. “You have to fully exploit the benefits of being pregnant because, as I have discovered, there are not many. Being able to eat whatever you want is one of the few pluses. I am pretty sure our baby girl is going to come out covered in a fine dusting of Cheeto powder and her hair will look like ice cream with sprinkles.”
The truth was, even though the pregnancy had been a total surprise, both Mike and Cassie were over the moon about becoming parents. Kimmy was right when she said that baby girl was already tremendously loved by all of us.
I looked out at everyone in the restaurant as they ate pizza and cake while they talked and laughed with each other. “I just can’t help but think back to the day we graduated from college and how different today’s graduation was.”
Cassie finished chewing the piece of cake in her mouth before she responded. “You mean because you are celebrating with good people rather than fucking worthless garbage people?”
“Well, there is that,” I laughed. “The day we graduated from college I was under so much pressure, from myself and others, to be this really weird, unrealistic version of what I thought was a perfect life. That version of ‘perfect’ was really nothing like what I actually wanted. Looking back on it, I was so unhappy. Thank goodness Brett never actually proposed to me that day.” I involuntarily shuddered at the thought.
Cassie smiled, “Yeah. All things considered, we've done pretty well for ourselves, babe.”
“You and Mike are about to become parents, which is crazy!”
Cassie rolled her eyes. “Tell me about it!”
“You are both crazy for each other...”
“Well, sometimes we are both just straight-up crazy,” Cassie laughed. “Somehow it just works though. I am really happy, Jenna. More than I ever thought I would be. Things were a shitshow for a while, but... Mike is... he is the piece of me I always felt was missing.” Cassie was looking over my shoulder with a wistful smile on her face. I turned and saw she was looking at Mike as he brought out another pizza and laughed with Nick and Steven about something.
“You deserve it, Cassie. All of it. You also have two incredibly successful, booming businesses. Pete’s Pizza has exploded since you and Mike bought it, and you totally downplay it, but I know from Nick that Cassie Charles Real Estate is well on its way to becoming one of the top agencies in the area.”
Cassie blushed a little. “We're doing pretty well. It helps to have an in with the most sought-after construction company in the state. Blaine Construction has really made a name for itself.”
I started beaming. “I'm so proud of Nick and all of his hard work! Blaine Construction has expanded so much and is such a huge part of the community. Nick has achieved exactly what he wanted to.”
Cassie licked the frosting from her second piece of cake off her fork before tossing it down and patting her belly. “And you, my friend, are well on your way to being a super kick-ass lawyer. Just imagine how different things would have been if you hadn’t said yes to the job at Pete’s Pizza or to Nick and all of the other opportunities that have come your way.”
“It is pretty wild how one word and an open mind changed everything.”
Cassie mumbled something that I couldn't quite hear as she looked around the room. “What did you say, Cass?” I asked.
Cassie turned to me. “Can you help a giant pregnant lady up out of this booth? It's time for me to go and do something.”
“Sure.” I helped Cassie up and watched her waddle her adorably pregnant self to the other sitting area in the restaurant. I decided to follow her to see if she needed any help.
I was almost to the sitting area when Kimmy grabbed my arm and spun me around. “Hey! Jenna! Can you help me with something over here?” Kimmy started walking me in the opposite direction. Steven saw us and his eyes got big before he rushed over.
“Steven! I was just telling Jenna how much we needed help with that thing. That thing over there,” Kimmy said in a weird voice.
Steven looked confused for a moment before suddenly he said, “Yes! The thing! The thing that is... in the kitchen! It is in the kitchen!”
“Yes! The kitchen! Let’s go!” Kimmy started tugging on my arm again.
I looked back and forth between both of them. Something was not right. “You guys are acting weird. What’s up?”
“Nothing! Why would y
ou think something is up?” Steven said talking to me but looking at Kimmy.
“Yeah... why would we be up to something?” Kimmy asked nervously.
“Jenna! There you are!” Mike shouted as he quickly walked over to us. “Hey, Jenna can you please come with me for a minute?”
I eyed Mike suspiciously as I put my hands on my hips. “All of you are acting crazy... what is going on?”
Mike quickly glanced around. “Uhhhhhh... Cassie needs help with something in the other part of the restaurant.”
“That's where I was originally going!” My friends were terrible actors and even worse liars. Something was definitely up.
Mike shrugged his shoulders. “She didn’t need help then, but she needs it now?”
I cocked my head to the side. “That much has changed in two minutes?”
Mike rolled his eyes. “Just come with me.” I sighed and followed Mike into the other part of the restaurant as I muttered under my breath about how crazy everyone was acting. Mike suddenly stopped just outside the entryway to the other sitting area. “Go on in,” he urged me.
I slowly walked into the room. It was lit by dozens of candles. There were red roses everywhere, their red petals covering the floor. The intoxicating scent of the roses filled the room. I gasped as I looked around, the whole room was incredibly beautiful.
Nick stepped forward. I turned to him and smiled. “Nick this amazing! What's it for?”
“It's for you,” he responded in his husky voice.
“Oh, Nick! I don’t even know what to say! This is amazing!” I couldn’t stop slowly spinning in a circle to take in the whole room.
Nick chuckled. “Well, hopefully, you'll know what to say in a minute.”
I turned back to face him. “What are you talking about?”
Instead of answering Nick took my hand in his and got down on one knee.
Oh. My. God. It was really happening!
“Jenna, you are the most amazing woman I have ever met. Strong, brave, smart, incredibly sexy, beautiful both inside and out. You make me want to be a better man every day... a man that is worthy of your love.”
Tears started to run down my face. I loved Nick so much. I loved him with every fiber of my being and I knew he loved me in the same way. “Three years ago when I was at your apartment hoping we could start our relationship over, I told you I was all in with no hesitations. Nothing has changed. Not even for a second. In fact, I want to be all-in with you forever.”
Nick reached into his pocket and pulled out a small, blue box. He opened it and turned it towards me. I gasped. Inside was the most beautiful diamond ring I had ever seen. Even in the dimly lit room, the diamond sparkled brilliantly. Nick looked up at me. “Will you do me the honor of becoming my wife? Jenna, will you marry me?”
I didn’t hesitate. There was no doubt in my mind what my answer was going to be. “Yes, Nick! Yes, I want nothing more than to marry you! I am saying yes, yes, yes! A thousand times yes!”
Nick jumped off the ground and grabbed me around the waist. He picked me up and spun me around as I laughed. I slid down his body and our lips immediately found each other.
Nick pulled back from the kiss. He took the ring out of the box and slid it onto my finger. “I love you so much,” he whispered.
“I love you too,” I whispered back right before our lips locked again in a passionate kiss that left us both breathless.
When we finally came up for air, Nick looked at me and smiled. “You know they're all out there trying to listen in and see what's happening, right?’
I laughed. “I would expect nothing less.”
“Well, let’s go and tell them you're going to be Mrs. Blaine,” Nick said as he took my hand in his and intertwined our fingers.
“I sure do like the sound of that,” I smiled as I leaned my head onto Nick’s arm.
“Mr. and Mrs. Blaine?” he asked.
“Yes.” I turned and stood on my tiptoes to kiss Nick lightly on the lips.
“Me too.” Nick squeezed my hand as we walked out into the main part of the restaurant. Everyone was standing together, staring at us in anticipation.
“She said yes!” Nick shouted.
Everyone cheered and came over to hug and congratulate us. I couldn't stop smiling and my heart felt like it was going to burst with love. I had just said yes to my happily ever after.
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