Page 135 of Love & Other Disasters

Once the faucet started, he moved to his dresser and removed the little velvet box hidden in the back corner of the top drawer, pocketing it. J.P. bounded down the stairs, his heart full of anticipation, unsure if he could wait until midnight to propose.

They walked along the Riverwalk with Aiden and Samantha. Bundled up against the Windy City’s chill, Violet tried to walk and bury her face in J.P.’s bicep at the same time. The candlelit dinner had been amazing. He spoiled her. But, he’d been fidgety all night, which was unusual. Drinks with their friends went easier than she’d expected when she realized that alcohol was off-limits. But, J.P. pulled the waiter aside and explained. And her drinks arrived with no alcohol.

Violet wasn’t ready to announce her and J.P.’s little secret yet. Not even to their friends. It was too new, and J.P. said it was her decision on the matter. She’d only had an inkling that she might be pregnant for a week, and with their New Year’s Eve plans, she had to know first. There wasn’t a reason for her to worry about his reaction. But, she needed to tell him she wanted to get married before the baby came.

The doorman at the Four Seasons held open the door and the foursome spilled into the lobby, breathing a sigh of relief taking refuge against the wind.

“It’s almost midnight,” J.P. said, checking his watch. He shifted from one foot to the other while waiting on the elevator.

“There’s plenty of time,” Samantha said.

“Yep,” Aiden said, smacking J.P. on the shoulder.

Why was everyone acting so weird? Maybe this resulted from everyone around her being tipsy while she was stone cold sober. Great, so everyone else gets to party while she worries about pregnancy, and what to do with a baby once it gets here.

“Macy has started repeating everything now.” Samantha announced on the elevator. “The other day Aiden said ‘shit,’ and she walked around for twenty minutes repeating it.”

“My bad,” Aiden said, shrugging.

Violet laughed. Her friend could help her out with this baby stuff.

Violet tried to listen to Samantha, but J.P.’s constant shifting on his heels and rubbing his hands together distracted her. His nervous energy made her nauseous. Was he freaking out over her pregnancy, too? Was it a mistake to take the test today? Or should she have hidden it from him until they were at home?

They walked onto the rooftop as the first explosion of gold fireworks lit up over Lake Michigan.

“Oh darn it, my phone’s dead, and I need to check in with my mom about Macy. Can I borrow yours?” Samantha asked.

Violet unlocked her phone and handed it over while watching the simmering gold fireworks light up the skyline. “This is so pretty,” Violet breathed. She turned to wrap herself around J.P. and enjoy the show, but something in his blue eyes stopped her cold. J.P. took her hands and dropped to one knee.

The world stood still. Violet had a vague notion of Samantha and Aiden holding up phones in her periphery.

“Violet, I’ve been planning this moment for six months. I know we’ve already had a crazy journey to get to this point. I knew from the moment I spotted you across that bar that you’d change my life. And I cannot imagine my life without you. I love you more than I can ever express. You’re the only woman I want to spend the rest of my life with. And if you would do me the honor of being my wife, I will love you to my last breath. Will you marry me?”

He reached into his pocket and pulled out a box.

Violet couldn’t breathe, tears cutting a stream down her face. His words were so beautiful, and everything she ever wanted culminating at this moment. And he’d been planning it for six months. She could freak out about impending motherhood and how she would juggle everything, but J.P. was the calm in her storm. He was her home, and with him by her side, they were partners in this life.

“Babe, I will need an answer,” he said, concern etched across his face.

She’d left him hanging.

Violet inhaled for the first time in forever. “You feel like magic.”

He grinned. “From the night we met.”

“What does that mean?” Samantha cried.

“It means, yes, a million times,” Violet said, smiling.

Cheers went up from the gathered crowd, and a familiar voice caught her off guard.

Samantha turned Violet’s phone around, and Elle, Jill, Monique, Rico, and Brent were all together on video chat wearing party hats, jumping, and waving.

Violet took her phone. “You guys are all together. I love that so much.”

“Congratulations,” Elle called out over everyone speaking in unison.

“It was beautiful,” Jill said, and if Violet didn’t know better, she’d swear her sister had teared up.

J.P. slid his arms around her waist from behind. “Hey guys. Thanks for joining us.”

Violet introduced her old friends to her new friends, and she couldn’t wait for what the future held.