So far everything has gone according to plan. I had Gabe pick Brandi up from the airport after her weekend with her mother, and he drove her to the private airfield instead of taking her home –much to her surprise. I had been waiting just outside of my manager’s jet that I had convinced him to let me use to take Brandi and I on our special trip. She had raised an eyebrow to learn that she would not be headed home and had said something about needing to get back to the dance studio tomorrow, but I had assured her I had already talked to her director and that there was no need to worry. That was a total lie and a minor detail I had overlooked, so before we took off in the jet I had Gabe call up her director to fill the woman in on why Brandi was not going to be at work tomorrow morning –that woman has always been really sappy, so I am pretty confident that she will understand.

We enter onto the jet, and I point out a suitcase I had already packed for her. She raises another eyebrow, wondering how long we’re going to be gone –I assure her everything she needs is in the bag. I had pretty much packed up her entire bathroom because I have no idea exactly what she would need. There is even a box of tampons in there because it’s not like I keep track of that shit, and I don’t want her to need anything or to feel like I did not plan this down to every minor detail.

I tell her to head back to the private room in the jet and to change; her favorite little black dress with matching shoes and jewelry is already laid out for her. She only wears that dress on really special occasions, so I want her to know something big is planned. I’m dressed to the nines myself in a gray suit I know she loves with my favorite blue tie and matching cufflinks. When she returns I catch myself stammering a little bit; she looks gorgeous in her dress, and she’s combed her hair and pulled back her bangs –letting her curls fall down around her shoulders and back.

It’s a short flight, and I can tell she is already starting to get antsy in anticipation since I won’t budge to tell her where we are going. We’re headed to Hawaii for a three days’ trip; she’s always wanted to go, but she’s never had the time. I’ve made time for her. We sip on wine and eat strawberries and flirt the entire flight down south to the islands. As we are approaching our destination, I tell her to look out the window. We can see Pearl Harbor, and she just about loses her mind. “Jonathan, are you serious?” she exclaims.

“You’ve always wanted to go, right?” I say, and the pilot circles around so we can get an aerial view of a good bit of the islands before heading to the airstrip.

“Yes, I have. Where did this come from all of a sudden?” she asks and practically jumps into my lap to kiss me.

“I’ve been planning it for a while,” I lie. Truthfully, I planned this in a matter of days while she had been staying with her mom. The idea for the proposal had just come to me while Gabe and I had been ring shopping, and I had decided that I didn’t want to wait.

After we spend the day exploring the islands, checking out a volcano, and of course taking a walk along the beach, we head to the private resort I have booked out for the evening. We’ll be spending the rest of our two days in a beach hut, but tonight is special. The resort staff has prepared a special dinner out on the cabana complete with a white table cloth table decorated with red rose petals, surrounded by tiki torches, and a professional Hawaiian band that includes an ukulele player. I want to make sure Brandi gets the full experience.

The look in her eyes when we walk out onto the cabana is priceless. I’m pretty sure she suspects what’s up at this point. Halfway through our meal I work up the courage to finally drop down to one knee just as the ukulele guy starts singing Somewhere Over the Rainbow –Brandi loves that song on the ukulele. “Oh my God,” Brandi utters under her breath, one hand going to her mouth when she sees the classy ring I’ve picked out for her.

She probably wasn’t expecting all of this after we had gotten into a fight right before she went to visit her mom. There is this huge grin on her face; she’s practically shaking. “Brandi,” I say, and I’m surprised that I’m actually a bit nervous. Nothing really ever makes me nervous. I mean, she’s going to say yes –right? “I know I haven’t exactly been the best boyfriend, but you’ve stuck by me through so much. I’ve known for a while now that I’ve wanted to do this, but I just didn’t know how. You deserve the world, and I want to do my best to give it to you. Brandi, will you marry me?”

Cheesy, but the words just sort of sputtered out of my mouth. She exclaims, “Yes!” really loud as I slip the ring on her finger and get up for a big hug and kiss.

The ukulele player and his band start singing Meaning of my Life, and she starts to get really giddy as she checks out the ring and gives me more kisses. We don’t finish our dinner; we head up to our room. She drops her dress to the floor and throws off her heels. I pick her up and carry her to the bed –the bed is covered in red rose petals. I hadn’t planned the rose petals on the bed, so I make a mental note to give the staff an extra tip because Brandi loves it.

I kiss her lips softly, and she arches her back expectantly. “I love you,” she says excitedly as she slips herself out of her underwear and bra.

I get undressed quickly, telling her that I love her too and whisper in her ear about how eager I am to marry her. This is a very different interaction in the bedroom from what I am used to, but I love it. It really is time for me to settle down, to get serious with Brandi. She’s everything I’ve ever dreamed of.

I push myself inside her slowly, taking my time to touch her and kiss her everywhere. I want her to remember tonight, to take it with her. She groans as I cup my mouth around one of her breasts and then work my way up her chest and throat. She cries out my name, and I call out hers.

This is memorable for me too. This is a huge change in my life, and I can’t wait to see what happens next.