~ Why wait another minute for something we shoulda done yesterday? ~
Chapter Forty-Four: Right Now
"Let's go home, my guardian angel."
I nodded, pulling away from Nick's hug. I let he and Max say goodbye, before Max and I slowly turned, making our way through security.
"I'm ready to go home..." I spoke, stepping out of my shoes and unlacing my belt, setting it and my bag into a tub. Max did the same beside me, nodding in agreement.
"Me too," he said. "But it really was nice to have an entire house to ourselves for a few days."
I sighed. "Yeah," I said, lapsing in conversation so we could get through the x-ray scanner. "But I wanna come back with you soon, if that's okay..."
Max chuckled and nodded, taking my hand as we got all our stuff and began making our way through the airport. "Of course, little dove," he spoke. "My home is your home."
I loved the sound of that...
"God, I love you," I spoke, looking up at him. Max grinned, kissing my temple.
"I love you too, Simmy," he said. "Let's get something to eat before we have to board..."
I nodded, letting my boyfriend tug me into a little place so we could get some dinner before our flight. Max was quiet, quieter than usual, as if he had something on his mind, and I absently began to wonder if something was wrong...
"Baby?" I spoke, settling beside him in a seat by our gate after dinner. Max looked at me and smiled slightly, locking his phone and setting it in his lap.
"Yes, lovely?" he said. I frowned a little, running my fingers up and down his arm.
"You okay?" I asked. Max nodded, kissing my shoulder softly.
"Yeah," he said. "I'm fine. Just thinking, is all."
I cocked my head at him. "Thinking about what?"
Max shrugged, blushing softly. "You, mostly," he spoke. "And us. Things like that."
I nodded a little, leaning my head on his shoulder. His hand found my thigh and rested there, his thumb rubbing soft circles through my jeans.
"You seem distracted," I mentioned. Max looked over at me again, his leg beginning to vibrate.
"Sorta," he spoke. "It's nothing, little dove."
I frowned. "Okay," I said, biting my lip. My boyfriend leaned over and kissed my nose gently, pulling me to lean on his shoulder.
"I love you," he murmured, nuzzling his nose into my red braid. I smiled a little.
"I love you too, Max."
* * * * *
"Hey sweetie."
I grinned, throwing myself into Lucas' arms. "I missed you so much, loser," I whispered, letting him lift me slightly in his hug. My best friend laughed to himself, squeezing me as tightly as he could.
"I missed you too, Simmy," he murmured, kissing my hair. The boy who was like my brother pulled away and smiled down at me, ruffling my hair gently. I giggled, looking past him at a sleepy-looking Sophie holding a now week-old Xander.
"Hi!" I greeted Soph, giving her a side-armed hug as Lucas hugged Max behind me. She responded quietly, bouncing baby Xander in her arms. I smiled down at him, kissing his nose gently.
"Hey, baby boy," I whispered. Xander opened his eyes, exposing breathtaking crystal blue irises, causing me to gasp quietly. "Oh gosh, guys..."
Max came up behind me, setting his hand on my shoulder. "Oh, wow," he spoke. "He's stunning."
Sophie smiled and nodded. "He has his daddy's eyes," she murmured. Lucas grinned as he moved behind his girlfriend and child, kissing her temple.
"Can I?" I asked softly. Sophie giggled and nodded, slowly passing the beautiful little bundle of love into my arms. I cradled Xander gently, rocking him softly as I smiled down at my godson.
Max's arms came around me suddenly, around my waist, setting his chin on my shoulder. He lovingly watched me, kissing my hair as I stared at the little angel in my arms. "You look so at peace," he murmured into my ear. I smiled.
"I love him so much," I laughed. "Max and I are gonna spoil you sooo much, baby boy."
Lucas and Sophie laughed. "I want to steal him," I told them. Max's thumbs were tracing my hip bones just beneath my shirt, watching the sweet baby in my arms close those stunning blue eyes again, yawning sleepily.
"He was up more than usual last night," Sophie told us. "He's probably in need of a nap."
I nodded, shifting Xander into Max's arms for a moment. Max grinned down at his godson, making my heart melt softly in my chest. He looked so happy holding the baby in his arms, and I suddenly had my mind swept away by images of my loving Max holding a young child of our very own, laughing lovingly and smiling down at a bundle of joy we brought into the world. Lucas moved towards Max, both of them smiling and laughing as Max held the child.
"He looks good," I heard Sophie whisper. "Max I mean, holding a baby."
I nodded a little, smiling as Max tightened his hold on the baby. I bit my lip, feeling myself falling for him more and more as he leaned down and softly kissed Xander's forehead. "He looks like he's gonna make one hell of a dad," she said, quietly. I grinned and nodded again, swinging my arm around her shoulders as Max carefully handed Xander back to his daddy.
"You looked sweet," I told him as he came closer, shoving his hands in his pockets sheepishly. "Being a dad looks natural on you."
Max smiled shyly, biting his lip and kissing my cheek. "So does being a mom on you," he whispered into my ear. I smiled, pulling one hand out of his pocket and interlocking my fingers with his.
Lucas came beside Sophie, letting her softly kiss their son. "I'm gonna lay him down, okay baby girl?"
She nodded, kissing his jaw softly and whispering a sweet 'I love you' to their child. Lucas smiled at her, slowly taking Xander down the hallway to the nursery. Max suddenly look at Sophie, biting his lip, lost in thought.
"When's the last time you were out of the house?" he asked, setting one hand on my hip. Soph shrugged.
"I haven't," she said. "Not since the baby was born."
I frowned. "It's been over a week, sweetheart," I spoke. "You should get out of the house."
Sophie just shrugged again. "I don't know, guys," she said. "I don't wanna overwhelm Lucas like that."
I smiled slightly. "Why don't you and I go get our nails done or something?" I asked. "Max and Lucas can stay and take care of Xander."
Max nodded. "I need to talk to Lucas for a little while anyway."
I furrowed my eyebrows. "About what?"
Max laughed, shaking his head. "Don't worry your pretty little head about," he said, tapping his finger on my temple. "Nothing bad, I promise, angel."
I nodded a little, leaning up and kissing his jaw. "C'mon, Soph," I spoke. "Relax a little."
She bit her lip as Lucas came back out into the living room. "What's going on?"
I smiled a little. "I think Sophie deserves a little downtime," I said. "Don't you agree?"
Lucas wrapped his arms around his girlfriend, kissing her cheek sweetly. "I do," he said, holding her softly. "What did you have in mind, Simmy?"
I shrugged. "I figured I could treat Sophie to a trip to the mall or something while you and Max stay here," I said. Lucas nodded, loving on her sweetly and rubbing his hands on her tummy.
"Go have a good time with Symphony," he whispered. "Max and I can handle a couple hours with Xander."
Soph bit her lip. "You sure?"
Lucas grinned. "Yes, baby girl," he murmured. "Show a little faith in the father of your child."
Sophie turned a little in his arms, her hand on his shoulder. "Our child," she corrected. Lucas' face lit up.
"Right," he smiled, kissing her nose. "Our child."
She smiled. "I'll go out," she said. "But you have to text me updates."
Lucas nodded. "If anything happens, you'll know, sweet girl."
She nodded. "Then I guess I'll go change and put makeup on," she laughed. "I'll be back in fifteen."
I smiled. "I'll come with," I said. Soph chuckled as she led me back to their bedroom, slowly moving into the bathroom.
"So," she smiled, opening her makeup bag as I set down her toilet lid, sitting down. "How was your LA trip?"
I bit my lip, smiling. "Wonderful," I laughed. "Max is so sweet."
Sophie watched me. "How was your anniversary?"
I giggled. "It was lovely, and kinda tiring," I admitted. "He was really loving about everything, though, and I'm more in love with him now than ever."
Sophie giggled as she began putting her makeup on. "It shows," she told me. "You can see it in the way both of you move. He's changed somehow."
I furrowed my eyebrows. "What do you mean?"
She bit her lip. "It's a good change," she said. "I can see his wheels turning, though."
I chuckled. "What do you mean?"
Sophie paused, slowly looking over at me. "Well. I'm not quite sure, honestly."
We didn't say anything else about it.
* * * * *
"Max..."
He didn't respond.
"Max?"
Nothing.
"Max?!"
His head snapped up from his laptop, suddenly looking down the couch at me. He smiled sheepishly, his hand moving to rest on my shin. "Sorry, baby," he apologized. I frowned, shifting my legs that laid across his lap.
"You're doing it again, Max," I spoke. It'd been a week since he'd started zoning out on me.
It wasn't the fact that I didn't have his undivided attention that bothered me. I mean, I wasn't that needy. What bothered me was it seemed like I *never* seemed to have *any* of his attention anymore.
Max sighed. "I'm sorry, angel," he whispered. "I really am."
I rolled my eyes, retracting my legs from his lap and slowly sighing. Max shut his laptop as I stood quietly. "C'mon, little dove," he spoke, following me as I walked into the kitchen. "Don't be mad at me..."
I shook my head. "I'm not mad at you," I told him, grabbing a fresh bottle of water and cracking it open. "I'm fine."
Max sighed. "Symphony..."
I tried to walk past him, but he reached out and caught me, pulling me into his chest. I didn't look up at him, biting my lip.
"Let me go, Max," I whispered, my voice defeated. My boyfriend lifted my chin so I could meet his gaze, his eyes begging.
"I know I've been distant lately," he murmured. "But you have to trust me, okay?"
I shook my head. "It's whatever, Max," I promised. "I just wanna go to bed."
Max nodded. "Then I'll come with you."
I sighed slowly. "You have work to do."
Max kissed my forehead gently. "Not tonight I don't."
I separated from him, turning and moving towards the hall. "I'm going to bed," I said. "You can come if you want, but it isn't a big deal."
My boyfriend followed me towards our bedroom, watching me stop by our closet as I dropped my jeans, leaving me in my underwear and a t-shirt. Max followed suit, ditching everything but his boxers as he crawled into bed, slowly patting his chest. "C'mere, my sweet Symphony," he spoke. "Let me make this up to you."
I sighed, slowly sitting down on my side of the bed. "You don't have to make anything up to me, Max," I told him. "You didn't do anything wrong."
Max frowned. "I've been distracted lately," he spoke. "I know that, and I'm sorry for it..." Max bit his lip. "Let's go out tomorrow night," he said. "After you get done babysitting Xander and I get off work."
I moved a little closer, unable to really help myself. "You don't have to do that, Max."
My boyfriend reached for my hand, bringing it softly to his lips and kissing my fingers. "I want to," he whispered against my knuckles, tugging gently. I caved, slowly scooting to rest in his warm, strong arms.
"Okay," I spoke, nodding. "We can do that."
Max smiled softly, kissing my hair. "Wear something comfy," he told me, pulling me to set my head on his broad chest. "It'll be fun..."
I nodded, leaning up and kissing his jaw. Max bit his lip. "I love you like crazy," he told me. "I never thought I could be so madly in love like I am."
I couldn't help but give a small smile. "I love you too, Max."
My boyfriend smiled, running his fingers up and down my back in soothing motions, before his smile faded slightly, watching me sweetly. "I really am sorry," he murmured, kissing my nose. "I know I've been distant... But you know I love you more than ever, right?"
I slowly nodded. "I do," I spoke quietly, running my hands through his soft curls. Max relaxed slightly at my gentle touch, moving to press his lips sweetly to mine. I kissed him back, slowly, feeling him smile into it as I pulled him as close as he could come, his hand finding my hip and pulling me against him.
"I miss you," I whispered. Max smiled sweetly.
"Don't miss me, angel," he murmured. "I'm right here. You don't have to miss me."
I bit my lip, watching his loving brown eyes that sent chills along my skin. He pressed soft kisses on my forehead, my nose, either of my cheeks, my chin, before finally pecking my lips, smiling slightly.
"Your lips are addicting," he chuckled, wrapping me up tighter. "Just like your breathtaking green eyes."
I giggled. "You're sweet."
Max smiled. "Almost as sweet as your love."
I watched him. "Do you feel loved, Max?"
My boyfriend cocked his head. "More than I've felt anything else before," he whispered. "Your love runs through my veins, little dove, it oxygenates my blood and colors my skin with a soft warmth and glow that I never knew before you walked into my life. Your love is what allows me the breath in my lungs, the thoughts in my head, and the light in my very soul, my sweet Symphony... I've never known anything so perfect."
I felt the edges of my mouth curling up into a small smile, watching him blush softly. "You just make me really happy," he spoke. "The happiest I've ever been."
I nodded, kissing his jaw and letting my lips linger, before curling into his neck. "You do the same for me," I whispered. "I've never felt so loved in this world."
Max smiled. "I'm glad I can be that for you," he murmured. I nodded, giggling sweetly.
"C'mon," he whispered, reaching over to turn his bedside light off. "Let's lay down. Let me sing you to sleep."
I nodded, smiling as I cuddled into his grip. Max pulled me into his chest, wrapping himself around me protectively and murmuring a soft melody in my ear. He tucked my hair away from my face, letting my body relax quietly into his body as he left small kisses against my skin.
I was asleep halfway through his second verse.
* * * * *
"Are you sure you've got it, Max?"
My boyfriend smiled, kissing my temple. "Oh, stop worrying," he laughed, letting the basket slide up his arm as he began climbing up the boulders... our boulders, the ones in the park where we spent many a night. "Besides," Max said. "I'd rather risk myself climbing up here than you."
I smiled a little, watching him reach our usual spot. Max stood, setting the basket down and looking down at me. "C'mon up, little dove."
I slowly began my climb to meet him, and once I was in arms reach, he held my sides and hoisted me up with him. I giggled as he wrapped his arms around me, letting me wrap my arms around his neck as I settled against his body. "Hi there," I whispered, kissing his nose. Max grinned, loving on me and running his fingers up and down my back.
"Hey lovely," he spoke, holding me softly. "Ready to eat?"
I nodded, letting him separate from me as he moved to spread out our blanket. We sat down, and Max began to bring out everything he'd brought. He had my favorite candles, hot Chinese food, dessert, and a speaker, from which he played my favorite playlist.
I laid down across the blanket, opening my box of fried rice. "You went all out," I commented. Max chuckled, opening his own box as he crossed his legs.
"You could say that," he said. "But I love going the extra mile for you. You deserve it."
I giggled. "You're too good to me," I told him, eating my rice. "I'm starving."
Max grinned. "Then I guess it's good I brought your favorite, huh?"
I smiled, kissing his fingers where they rested on his knee. "It is," I agreed. Max smiled and shook his head at me, falling quiet as we ate in the soft peace of each other's presence.
"So what's the big deal?" I asked after I'd finished a few minutes later. Max and I set our boxes aside, pulling out a box of strawberries. "And what's up with the strawberries all the time?" I laughed. "Are you trying to increase my sex drive?"
Max grinned. "Baby, if I really wanted to increase your sex drive, all I'd have to do is give you that look."
I rolled my eyes. "What look?" I asked watching Max lay on his side facing me, propping himself up. He smirked, picking up a strawberry and offering it to me.
"There's this look I have," he began, watching me as I bit into the fruit, feeding it to me. "Usually, if we're both in the right mood at the right time, I can give it to you and we'll make love right then and there."
I laughed. "Really?" I asked, picking up a strawberry. Max just watched me for a minute, his features melting slightly, and I felt myself suddenly tingle, making me blush.
"Did that answer your question?" he asked, smirking. I rolled my eyes, slightly embarrassed.
"Maybe," I mumbled. Max laughed, leaning over and pressing a small kiss to my lips.
"Don't be embarrassed, angel," he spoke, his eyes sweet as they swept across my body. "It's part of my job, Symphony. I'm supposed to turn you on, make you yearn like that..." Max laughed. "Besides, it isn't like you don't do it to me."
I bit my lip. "So you're telling me," I grinned, sitting up and pushing him onto his back, slowly straddling his waist. His breath caught, making me giggle. "That this turns you on?"
Max tilted his head back, closing his eyes as my hand ran up and down his chest. "Like you wouldn't believe, baby."
I smiled, tilting my head back in a light laugh. "Relax, Max," I told him, pulling him to sit up beside me. I laced my arms around my neck, and Max shifted, obviously having an issue. "I'm just messing with you."
Max frowned. "Unfortunately, messing with me or not, you just put me in a very, um... *hard* position."
I giggled, catching what he meant. "Sorry."
Max shook his head, closing his eyes. "It's alright," he promised. "But, as much as I love you right where you are, straddling my lap isn't helping my situation any."
I chuckled. "I get it," I said. "I'm off."
I slowly crawled off of him, watching him cross his legs again and shove his hands in his lap. He closed his eyes, slowly murmuring words to himself like 'dead dogs, dead dogs', before finally relaxing slightly, looking over at me.
"Sorry," I laughed, leaning back. Max shook his head, smiling slightly.
"It's a part of your job, just like its a part of mine," he responded simply. "I just don't feel like crossing that off my bucket list tonight."
I paused, raising my eyebrows. "Making love in a public place is on your bucket list?"
Max grinned, crawling towards me. "My bucket list is extensive."
I chuckled. "And apparently includes a lot of adrenaline."
Max smiled, sitting beside me. We leaned against the side of another boulder, our fingers slowly intertwining together. "My list is mostly made up of wild and stupid things to do with the person I hoped I'd eventually love," he told me. "They're a lot of things that make memories, kinda like when we went skinny dipping."
I nodded, facing him slightly and leaning up to kiss his jaw. "I love you," I told him. "You know that?"
Max looked down at me, taking in a soft breath. I saw something there, in his brown eyes right then, something that churned somewhere deep within me. "I love you too," he murmured, kissing my hair. Max stood slowly, looking down at me where I sat in front of him.
"Give me your hand," he said, holding his own out in offering. I raised my eyebrows at his sudden change in mood, placing my fingers in his and allowing him to pull me into a standing position. He wrapped me tightly in his arms, watching me gently as my arms came up to wrap around his neck, lazily tugging at his curls.
"Let's get married," he whispered suddenly. I snorted, chuckling quietly.
"Well duh, Max," I spoke. "I'm pretty sure we've talked about this before."
My boyfriend shook his head. "No, little dove," he said. "I mean right now."
I furrowed my eyebrows, obviously confused. "Huh?"
Max nodded, suddenly fumbling around in his jacket pocket. "Um, well," he began, stumbling over his words. "You see, I've been trying really hard these past few days to figure out how I was gonna do this," he admitted, slowly producing a small black velvet box. I gasped, the situation suddenly hitting me as he continued. "That's why I've been distant. Nothing I wanted to do seemed worthy of a proposal for the most breathtaking girl in the world."
My eyes were now clouded with tears. "Oh my God, Max..."
My boyfriend was full on rambling now, his words running together as he tried to spill out all of his feelings to me. "A-And I've been trying to figure out something that would show you just how much I love you, but nothing quite did it justice," Max managed, getting choked up. "But sitting here with you right now, just being us, just being in love, made me realize that I don't wanna waste any time being your fiancé..." he paused, cupping my face in his hands as soft tears began tracing down both of our cheeks. "So I want to marry you now," he said. "I want to drive to Vegas and seal myself to you for an eternity. We'll have an actual reception later, we'll have a real ceremony with all our friends and family, but right now I just want to be your husband, more than I've ever wanted anything in my life, and-"
I cut him off, kissing him softly, and everything in me just exploded with love for the nervous wreck in front of me. "Max, baby..." I whispered pulling away. "Yes," I said. "Oh my God, yes..."
Max shook his head. "No," he said. "Let me do this right."
Max slowly lowered himself down on one knee in front of me, looking up at me with tears of joy in his eyes. "Symphony Danielle Andrews," he began, the black box clutched tightly in his grip. "I want to be yours for forever, my angel," he began, kissing my fingers. "I want to know that I'll always be around to give you the love that you so honestly deserve. I want to be the one you wake up beside every morning, and I always want to be the man who picks you up from your darkest days..." he bit his lip. "I never want to lose you, my sweet Symphony. I want to have you and be able to hold you and love you for as long as I have breath in my lungs and life in my body..." Max stumbled as he opened the small box, exposing a beautiful diamond ring, with soft colored accents. "With the blessings of both your father and best friend, please do me the incredible honor of saying that you'll be my little dove for eternity..." he paused once more, looking me deeply in my eyes.
"Will you marry me?" Max breathed.
I have a soft hiccup as I nodded yes, unable to speak. I was a full on crying mess by now, unable to function as Max grinned up at me, standing and sweeping me off of my feet, holding me tightly as he gave a happy laugh. He was trembling, it occurred to me, and I almost laughed at how nervous he'd been.
"I love you so much, my sweet Symphony," he murmured into my neck, setting me down on the ground. I was struggling to speak through my tears, holding him tighter.
"I love you too, Max," I managed. "God, do I love you..."
Max slowly pulled away, shakily sliding the engagement ring onto my left hand, before grinning up at me, kissing my lips softly.
"C'mon," he whispered, squeezing my waist. "Let's go get married."
__________________________________________________
I am sO INCREDIBLY SORRY ABOUT HOW LATE THIS IS
I try to stick to a once-a-week schedule, but last week I was ya camp and then my phone kinda stopped working.
But now I have a new phone and I'll hopefully get back into my swing.
Also I hope this chapter kinda makes up for how long it's been since the last update :3
Okay, so here it is :-)
Not many more chapters left for this story, but I will have my new fic up before this one ends.
I hope you guys like the way I'm gonna end this.
I love y'all!
- Casey