- Landon -
The morning after my birthday, I woke up next to a goddess. She had shiny golden hair, and the way her lips were crushed against the pillow made them look perfectly heart shaped.
I found myself blinking and rubbing my eyes in disbelief. And then the memories of the last year—the best year of my life—came flooding back, one after the other.
Margot Roberts loved me back.
It was a dream come true. There was no other way to describe it, and the best surprise of all was that when that dream came true, others followed suit. Or at least, it happened that way for me.
Not only was I finally able to spend my days spoiling the woman who delighted me most, but my love for her had inspired a series of risks that had paid off, one after the other.
It was as if loving her was the beginning of everything as opposed to the end of something. Like I finally understood the phrase “happily ever after.”
Because she was that for me. I could feel it in the deepest corners of my soul, where I didn’t know light could reach.
She opened and closed her mouth like she was thirsty, which was hard to believe, seeing as how she’d helped my friends and I drink all the booze in Manhattan last night. Our friends, rather.
At this stage, most of them probably preferred her company to mine. Of course, who wouldn’t? She was kind, strong, and charming, and she had this magic ability to make everyone she crossed paths with feel like the most important person in the room.
I should know. I was on the receiving end of her grace more than anybody.
“Are you watching me sleep again?” she asked, the soft notes of her voice escaping before she opened her eyes.
“Is it bothering you?”
She offered lazy smile. “No.”
“Are you thirsty?”
Her eyes popped open, and a look of panic flashed across them. “Desperately.”
I laughed and rolled over to grab the bottle of water from my bedside table.
She took it and leaned up on her elbow, chugging half of it as her bedhead fell from around her face like a mess of ribbons. “What time is it?” she panted.
“Eleven thirty.”
“I hope you weren’t going to let me sleep the day away.”
I shrugged. “It’s not like you wouldn’t deserve it after throwing me the best birthday party of my life.”
“I’m so glad you had fun. I was worried that between my business deal and Matt’s big news your birthday didn’t get the attention it deserved.”
“Are you kidding?” I asked. “The fact that you two had so much to celebrate only made my birthday better.”
“Yeah?”
“Of course.”
“Speaking of Matt, did he get home okay?” she asked.
“He crashed on the couch. Snuck out first thing this morning.”
She scrunched her face. “I hope he doesn’t get in trouble.”
“Not to worry. Kelsey gave me strict instructions to keep him out all night. Apparently, he hasn’t given her a moment’s peace since they got the news.”
“Really?”
“She said he hid all her ’90s jams and has been forcing her to listen to classical music every night.”
Margot laughed. “What a monster! I’ve heard of helicopter parenting, but never helicopter husbanding.”
“He’ll settle down. He doesn’t have the energy to maintain this freakout for much longer.”
“Let’s hope not,” she said, resting her head on her pillow and clutching the water bottle like a teddy bear. “For Kelsey’s sake.”
“He asked me to be the baby’s godfather last night.”
“Really?”
“He was shitfaced, so I won’t hold him to it,” I said. “But it meant a lot.”
“I’m sure he was being sincere.”
“Probably,” I said. “He doesn’t really have another setting.”
“Are you hungry?”
“Is that your way of asking if I’ll make you breakfast in bed?” I asked. “Because it would be my pleasure.”
“Gosh, well, if you insist.”
I smiled.
“I don’t want you to go to any trouble, though. I’d rather have you back in bed with me sooner.”
“What did you have in mind?” I asked, sliding out from under the covers.
“Maybe just something to take the edge off. Like a Cup Noodle, if you have one?”
“If I have one,” I repeated, laughing to myself. Just the other day, she’d replenished my stash and suggested we buy stock in the stuff. “Do you have a flavor preference?”
“Surprise me.”
“That I can do,” I said, turning so she wouldn’t see my smile.
I was waiting for the kettle to boil when she walked through the kitchen on her way to the bathroom.
Even after a year, catching her naked in my apartment still felt like a lottery win every time. “Are you sure you want breakfast in bed?” I asked when I heard her brushing her teeth. “Because if you’re up…”
“I’m sure,” she said like she had a mouthful of foam. “You didn’t see me!” She tiptoed back to the bedroom a minute later with all the subtlety of a cartoon cat.
I didn’t mind that she was up, of course. I just needed to secure a moment of privacy to collect my thoughts.
I poured the hot water into her Cup Noodle and left it to cook while I went to dig the ring out from where I’d hidden it in the hall closet.
“Do you need help?” she called.
“No!” I said, flinching at my tone before attempting a more normal one. “I’m on my way.” I pulled a packet of chopsticks from the cutlery drawer and snapped them in half, slipping all four pieces through the center of the diamond ring. Then I lowered the bundle into the cup so it rested on the lip above the waterline, bent the foil lid back over the top, and took a deep breath.
Here goes everything, I thought to myself as I carried the tray to her side of the bed, forcing a casual smile so she wouldn’t suspect anything.
She straightened up and leaned back against the pillows she’d already arranged behind her. “Thanks, babe. I owe you one.”
“It’s nothing,” I said, setting the tray down and sitting on the edge of the bed.
She grabbed the fork off the tray and looked at me as she peeled the lid off. “I’ve been craving one of these like you wouldn’t believe.”
I bit the inside of my cheek, holding my breath as she brought the fork towards the rising steam.
She dropped it when she saw the ring, her mouth falling open before she raised her eyes to mine.
I turned towards her and sank down to one knee. “Margot Jessica Roberts, I have been hopelessly devoted to you since the first time I laid eyes on your lopsided pigtails.”
She put a hand over her chest.
“You are the best thing about my past, and I want nothing more than to spend my future waking up beside you, spoiling you rotten, and taking you to bed.”
Tears pooled in her eyes.
“Marry me already, and make my wildest dreams come true by becoming my wife.”
“Yes,” she said. “Of course, I will.”
I stood, reached for the parcel in the steaming cup, and lifted it out carefully.
She extended her hand.
I slid the ring off the chopsticks and blew on it for a second so it wouldn’t burn her.
She laughed, and as I slid it on, a single tear escaped her shiny eyes.
“I love you,” I said, sitting down beside her. “I love you for everything you are and everything you inspire me to become.”
“I love you, too,” she said, holding her ringed hand against my cheek.
I put my hand over hers and held it there, inhaling deeply as I kept my eyes on her baby blues, my heart bursting in my chest from the immortal love I felt for her. Then I leaned forward and kissed her, rejoicing in the knowledge that her lips would be mine forever.
She smiled against my lips, and I pulled back to catch my breath.
“You better eat that before it gets cold,” I said. “It’s supposed to be the best Cup Noodle you’ve ever had.”
“It is,” she said. “No doubt about it.”
“Besides, you’re going to need your energy for the day I have planned.”
“The day you have planned?” she said, her face furrowing as she watched me walk around to my side. “I was kind of hoping we’d stay in bed all day.”
“What a funny coincidence,” I said, slipping back under the covers. “So was I.”