while I take you out.”
“Dawson does anything for you,” I giggle as we head down the stairs of the complex.
“He loves me,” she sighs, twirling her key ring around her finger. “What can I say?”
“I see that and by the way, you look adorable,” I say, observing her in her soft-pink tutu-like dress. It’s not too girly at all. It’s just right for someone like Harper.
“Thanks!” She flashes a smile and we hit the parking lot. As soon as we’re in her car, she takes off to a place she claims is a surprise.
****
“This looks kind of expensive,” I say to Harper, unclipping my seat belt.
“Don’t complain if you aren’t paying,” she sasses, stepping out of the car.
I roll my eyes, grabbing my purse and climbing out. As we reach the door, there’s already a line of people waiting. Some turn to look back at us, wondering how the hell we’re going to get a table this late. It’s around seven at night. Unless Harper has reserved a table, we’re shit out of luck.
“This way,” Harp says, grabbing my wrists and going for the stairs to our right.
“Where the hell are you taking me? Nothing’s upstairs,” I complain.
Ignoring me, she continues her way up and a cool breeze hits against us. We meet the last step and a door appears ahead. “Okay,” she says. “Breathe,”
I frown at her. She’s really starting to worry me. “Breathe for what? What’s wrong, Harper?”
Her eyes glisten as she looks at me. “Don’t be mad at me, but this whole evening that I’m supposed to be spending with you isn’t going to happen,” she blurts.
I blink quickly. “W-what do you mean? If you’ve dragged me out here for no reason—”
“I didn’t! Just . . . screw it. I’m just really excited. I’m surprised I didn’t say anything along the way!”
“What do you mean “say anything”? Seriously, you’re confusing me.”
She ignores me and pushes the door open. A flat roof appears ahead but the decorative lights on the railings causes me to gasp. I step out slowly, in complete awe as the spring breeze of Miami brushes against me. A few rose petals are lying on the ground, creating a trail. I look back at Harper slowly and she nods her head, encouraging me to follow it.
I take cautious steps ahead, following the lights above that are intertwined with vines before looking down at the rose petals below. The lights and rose petals carry on until I see a table centered on the middle of the roof. The breeze continues to brush against me and I’m glad because at the sight of Nolan, I need all of the air I can take in.
My first thought is, “Oh shit, I’m in trouble”, but then I notice the smile on his lips. I notice his eyes are soft and gentle instead of angry and he’s dressed up in black dress pants and the blue cardigan Mills sent to him a while back. I’ve always wondered when he would wear it. He’s cut his hair but it’s all the same. Still gelled to be sexy. He’s trimmed the facial hair that’d grown in over the years to a goatee. He looks amazing.
“Hi, Bunny,” he whispers from across the roof.
I exhale as he takes a few steps towards me. “Nolan, what is all this? I thought you were at Dawson’s.”
“This,” he says, stretching his arms and looking around with, “is my way of proposing to you.”
My eyes stretch. I want to speak but the words have caught in my throat. They catch even more as he grabs both of my hands and stares into my eyes, his calm and grey.
“Natalie, since day one I knew you were different. I knew you were the girl who could make me better—the girl who could get me to straighten myself up. Over the course of these few years, I’ve come to realize that no other female on this earth can make me as happy as you can. No other girl can please me, make me smile, or even tease me like you can. While I’m with you, I feel like a man—I just feel so alive and I feel like I actually have a purpose. My purpose is to make the girl of my dreams happy.
“I want to be the guy you wake up with every single morning and I want my arms to be the only arms you’re between every night when you’re feeling down, when you’re happy, or even when we’re