He loved Laylah and wanted to spend the rest of his life with her. All he could see in his world was a future with her.
“What would scare our parents is if you came back pregnant.”
She burst out laughing and he joined her. “Damn, you’re so bad. Do you think we should tease them with it? Let them suffer a little bit?”
He kissed her lips. “Do you want to have kids?”
“Someday. You know, when I’m not eighteen and thinking about college and the future.”
“With me?”
She looked at him. “What are you saying, Blue?”
“That I want it all with you.”
“Well, maybe we should just consider living together at college. How does that work?”
“It’s a start.” But it wasn’t enough. He did have a plan though, one he intended to implement soon.
****
“I’m going to be hanging out with the guys this weekend. Is that okay?” Blue asked.
Laylah looked up from her study books and frowned at Blue. “Yeah, of course.” It was odd for him to ask but then, since they’d been going out, he rarely left her side. Their weekends were often spent over at each other’s houses and when he had away games, he always called. They talked well into the night, about everything and nothing.
He’d become a constant.
A loving constant.
In the matter of months, he’d made her very addicted to him, all parts of him, not wanting to give him up for anyone.
“What are you going to be doing?”
“This or that. It’s nothing for you to worry about.” He got up from his bed and moved toward her.
Tilting her head back, she accepted his kiss with a smile. “Why are you being so vague?”
One of his hands moved to cup her breast. “I’m being vague?”
“You know you are, but I don’t mind. Becky wanted to hang out. It has been a long time since we’ve been together. It’ll be kind of fun.” She put her textbook away and opted instead to make love to her man.
That weekend, though, as she stood at one of the few remaining video stores around with Becky—who loved the outdated store—trying to pick a movie, she couldn’t help but wonder what he was up to.
“Do you think it’s normal for guys to go out and do … guy stuff?” Laylah asked.
“I feel like this is a trick question.” Becky put the latest horror back on the shelf and turned toward her. “Come on, you’re supposed to be helping me.”
“I am.”
“No, you’re not. You’re moaning about Blue. Trust me. He’s fine. He’s doing guy stuff. You’re totally supposed to be paying attention to me.”
Laylah looked at her friend and her suspicions rose.
“You and John normally do movie night,” she said.
“And now you and I are going to be doing it.”
“Why?”
Becky glared at her, holding up a shark movie.
“Hell, no, and stop evading me right now. Just tell me.”
“There’s nothing to tell. I swear, since you became a girlfriend, you’re like, highly suspicious. John’s on a date with his girlfriend. The one he’s already engaged to and intends to marry.”
Layla didn’t believe it. Being on a date never stopped John from enjoying movie night.
Becky picked up her pace, and Laylah caught up with her, grabbing her arm and spinning her around. “What gives?”
“Nothing gives. You need to learn to trust.”
“I’m not stupid, Becky. You and John have been doing the movie thing for years. His girlfriend has always been on dates with you guys. Trust me. I know what I’m talking about because I used to be part of them as well. What the hell is going on?”
Becky groaned. “I told John this wouldn’t work, but he said to keep you distracted with the movies.”
“What the hell does John have to do with this?”
“You really don’t know?” Becky asked.
She growled, ignoring the glares and whispers from a couple of customers trying to pick their own movie. She didn’t care what they were trying to do. Her best friend was being a giant pain in the ass.
“Clearly, I don’t know.”
“John is with Blue.”
“Since when did John join in with the jocks?”
Becky ran her fingers through her hair. “Can you drop it and just accept that something amazing is going to happen come Monday?”
This time, Laylah tilted her head at her friend. “You know I hate surprises. Come on, Becky, stop being a pain and tell me. Is Blue going to dump me? Is that what this is about?” She hadn’t thought of it like that and it certainly didn’t make her excited.
She had truly fallen for him.
“He’s going to fucking propose to you,” Becky said, yelling at her. She threw her arms in her direction, tense, with anger rolling off her. “That’s why Blue is hanging out with the damn guys. It has nothing to do with needing a break from you. Monday morning, in front of the entire freaking school, he is going to get down on one knee and propose. He told me and John and asked how we could help to make this the most memorable experience for you. Guess what, I told them that under no circumstances would you believe a movie night with me. John told me to sell it. I tried, but you’re too damn nosy to see a good thing when you’ve got it.” She took a deep breath. “See, there. I’ve admitted it. You’ve got a damn good thing in your boy there. Blue is a good guy. He’s head over heels in love with you, and he can’t stand to have a moment without you. He intends to marry you.”
She squealed. “And now you’ve gone and made me spoil the surprise.”
Without picking a movie, Becky turned around and walked right out of the video store, leaving Laylah completely speechless. She didn’t have a clue what to say.
“I think congratulations are in order,” an older woman said.
She offered a smile but quickly chased after her friend.
Becky was already halfway down the street. She grabbed
