Impractical Jokers, Practically

Chapter Twenty-Seven

"No. No, I definitely don't have a problem going to the store together." I shudder, thinking to myself if I'm ever going to be okay with saying no to Sal again, even in context with something else, but try to remain optimistic. Maybe this is the start we need. We can try to do things again, slowly get back to us being us, and...

I have a realization. Okay, so maybe I couldn't outright tell him to ask me to marry him again. That'll ruin it. But I could drop hints, letting him know that I am okay with getting married, and that I'm all for it. Maybe with enough nudging, he'll propose again. 

I smile up at Sal, saying to him and myself, "Let's do it."

~~~

Sal and I are at the nearby grocery store together, ironically the one that we met at for the first time outside in the parking lot. We're going up and down the aisles with a cart, grabbing everything that we knew that we and the boys needed. 

Time to put my plan into action. 

He has to know that I want him to propose to me again. That this time, I will say yes. That there's nothing to be afraid of. 

But first, before any of that happens, he has to know that I still love him. That I want to be with him. We need to dispel any awkwardness that the almost-engagement caused. 

After all, while I'm pleading with him to propose to me again, he still thinks that I'm barely ready to just be his girlfriend. That I'm barely ready for any sort of long-term thing. After I get through with him, he'll know that I'm definitely in it for the long haul. 

We need to get back to normal again. So that we can get married. 

I walk alongside Sal and the half full cart, trying to come up with my first step. Sal has one hand on the cart, steering it, and the other is deep in his pocket. Seizing an opportunity, I grab his hand that's wedged into his pants pocket, pull it out, and clasp it tightly in my grip. I smile at his perplexed expression. 

"What?" I say shrugging. "I can't hold hands with my boyfriend?"

Sal closes his mouth that was left hanging open for a couple of seconds and smiles carefully. 

It's quiet for a few seconds and then I try something else. "I can't wait for when it's only the two of us that we have to shop for. It'll sure be easier buying for two than getting food for five." 

"Huh? What--What do you mean by that?"

"Well, we don't plan on living with the others forever, do we?" I grin at him. "I'm saying that right now, we have to buy enough food for all of us, but it'll be easier when it's just you and me." 

Sal opens his mouth, like he's going to say something, then closes it, like he changed his mind. Wow, I really got his attention at least. Maybe he'll start to understand what I'm implying. My thoughts are interrupted when I feel Sal squeeze my hand tightly. 

I bite my lip in an effort to hold back my growing smile. That was enough. Enough assurance to know that, hey, maybe this can work. I'll keep dropping hints, making him feel better, making him aware that yeah, this us thing? I'm on board. With all of it. 

I'm pulled out of my thoughts when I see a middle-aged women walk up to us.

"Hey, don't I know you? That's right! You guys are from Impractical Jokers. Are you guys filming right now?! Quick, tell me what prank you guys are trying to pull!"

We smile politely back, and Sal says to the lady, "We're not filming for the show right now. You're safe." 

"Oh. Well, it's still nice meeting you." She notices our interlocked hands and exclaims, "Aren't you guys just the cutest? When are you guys getting married?!" She's grinning, waiting for our answer.