Not What I Expected

Part 11

9.5 Years Ago

Nicole was in the bathroom of hers and Chad's little two bedroom apartment getting ready for their dinner out. They were celebrating their 3 year anniversary and she was so happy. She was hoping that maybe tonight was the night that they take their relationship to the next level, to start making plans for their future together.

As she dabbed lip gloss on her lips and swiped the mascara brush over her eyelashes her heart felt full and happy. When Ryan broke up with her unexpectedly, she never thought another person would be able to capture her heart like he had, but in swooped Chad and picked up the pieces of her broken heart. She fell in love with Chad and the rest was history.

"Babe, could you come into the living for a minute," Chad called out, "I need to ask your opinion on something."

"Be right out!" Nicole called back, "Just finishing in the bathroom."

"You're gorgeous," Chad called back, "Now get your ass out here!"

Nicole giggled and smiled at herself in the mirror, reaching up and undoing the clip that was holding her hair up. Her long brown hair fell down her back and she gave herself one last look before turning off the light and making her way down the hall towards the living room.

"Baby, what is this about?" Nicole questioned as she turned the corner and entered the living room.

Her jaw dropped and she was left speechless. There were pink gerbera daisies everywhere, spread out over the couch, the arm chair, the carpet and three bouquets of daisies, one of each coffee table. The lights were dimmed and candles had been lit everywhere she looked. She wiped her hands on her little black cocktail dress nervously and her heart was pounding excitedly in her chest.

"Chad..." Nicole whispered, her hands shaking uncontrollably.

"Shhh...baby let me talk for a minute," Chad said quietly and nervously.

Chad walked up to her and ran a hand through her hair and then ran his hand down the side of her face. Every nerve ending in her body was on fire and the hairs on her arms stood on end. She could not get over the effect he had on her. Every time he touched her was like the very first time and she loved that about him.

"I know it's taken a while Nic," Chad said quietly as he looked into her eyes, "But you are my forever. I look at you and I can't believe that it is actually possible to be in love with someone as much as I am with you. I have become a better person because of you. I wake up with a smile on my face every morning and it's because I see you sleeping beside me. This is how I want to feel for the rest of my life. I don't ever want to lose this feeling."

Nicole took in everything he was telling her and her heart swelled with happiness. This was all she needed to hear from him to know that she wanted to spend the rest of her life with the man standing in front of her. He held her hands in his and she squeezed them to urge him to keep going.

"I didn't think that I would ever take this step with anyone. I never thought I was that guy, until you came into my life," Chad continued with a nervous smile on his face, "Nicole, I know that not every part of our journey together has been or will be easy, but I want to continue this journey with no one else but you."

Chad pulled a small box out of his suit pants pocket and then slowly got down on one knee. Nicole's heart was beating so hard that she thought it would burst right out of her chest. She was so excited and happy and she could barely contain it.

"Nicole, will you marry me?" Chad asked quietly, the emotions taking over his voice.

"Absolutely," Nicole replied quietly as she fell on her knees in front of him, "Of course I will marry you."