Chapter 31
Matteo
Six Months Later…
Our relationship had hit some bumps, but we excelled through them and fell even more in love. We fell in love with each other in seven days, but there were many things we needed to get to know about each other. The biggest one: we were both aholics. I was a workaholic, and she was a studyingaholic. This made it hard to spend time together, but we found a way. When I was free, and she had to study, I would help her. Every question she got right, she would get to choose a reward. Most of the rewards had to do with me.
Tonight was the night. Normally, nervous was not something that I felt but for some reason, the thought of tonight was making my pits sweat like it’s 125 degrees outside.
It’s all I could think about the entire way there. What the hell would I do if her dad said no? Or her mom? Sure, I had money, but what if they don’t like that? We weren’t that far apart in age. I took a deep breath as we pulled up to their house. You got this. Be yourself. They will love you.
She opened her door and began to walk up the driveway when she realized I was not behind her.
“Babe, come on. Get out of the car,” she said with a smile.
I got out of the car, took her hand, and walked over the threshold. Her parents greeted me with big smiles and a hug each. I wasn’t a huge fan of hugs, but I wasn’t going to make a big deal out of it.
“Honey, it’s so great to see you. Come in, have a seat,” Maggie said genuinely.
Lacey was right. I shouldn’t have been worried the whole ride over. Her parents already liked me.
“So, you went to MIT? That must have been expensive,” Dale said.
He’s right. It was more for one semester than most cost for an entire year or two. “Yes, I worked multiple jobs to put myself through school, and I had a scholarship as well. It was the best decision I ever made. I couldn’t have made it to where I am today successfully without my MIT diploma.”
I kept touching my pocket, waiting for the right moment. Lacey and Maggie went into the kitchen to finish dinner, and now was as good a time as any.
“Sir, can I ask you something?” I asked nervously. Suddenly, I felt sweat rolling from my forehead.
“Sure, son. You can ask me anything you want.”
Okay. It’s happening. I’m doing it. Psyching myself out wasn’t going to help. “Sir, I was wondering if I could get your blessing to ask your daughter to marry me.”
He looked at me while his eyes got big. “You are going to ask her to marry you? Tonight?”
He didn’t ask like he was against the idea, more like he was surprised. “Yes, sir. If I get your blessing. I’m a traditional person.”
He shook his head and gave me another hug. Her dad was happy for us. I was sure they both could see how happy we were together. As my wife, Lacey wouldn’t have to worry about paying for school or anything really. She could stay home if she wanted to. Even though I knew a career was just as important to her as it was to me. It was the main reason we synced so well.
“Maggie is going to lose her mind. Lacey had mentioned it on the phone a couple weeks ago to her. She will say yes.” His eyes started watering. He tried to fight them off, but they couldn’t help but escape.
“Sir, I just want you to know I will do everything in my power to make your daughter happy. I hope to have the love you and your wife have shared for decades,” I told him as I shook his hand.
The ladies called from the dining room to let us know dinner was ready. Dale gained his composure, so they wouldn’t know he had been crying before coming to sit down at the table. Throughout dinner, he kept looking at me, wondering when I was going to pop the question. Finally, I looked at him, nodded my head, got up from the table, and knelt in front of Lacey. Her hands immediately went up to her face. She knew what was coming, but she wasn’t expecting it.
“Lacey Rogers, from the moment I met you, you burrowed yourself in my life. Without the first seven days of being with you, we would have never made it to where we are today. Even though it all started off on the wrong foot, fate brought us together. You are my happily ever after. You are my true love.” I pulled out the ring box, opened it, and asked, “Will you do me the honor of waking up next to you every morning and falling asleep next to you every night? Will you marry me?”
At this point, tears were escaping from everyone’s eyes in the room. A couple seconds of silence was needed for Lacey to gain her composure, and then she screeched, “Yes!”
I picked her up in my arms and planted the biggest kiss of our lives on her lips. From this moment on, Lacey and I were bound to each other. We had both found our happily ever after. Sure, it started with a lie, but it was going to end with the truth.