** Spring 2009. Ruby is now 25 and Zac is 23. They live together in San Fransisco where Zac writes for Rolling Stone magazine and Ruby works for an art dealer. :)
Ruby stuck her key in the door of the San Fransisco apartment she shared with her
boyfriend and came inside carrying a bunch of folders from work.
“Hey you,” Zac said putting the cordless phone back in the charger.
“Hey baby,” she greeted setting all her stuff down and walking over to him.
“How was your day?” He asked wrapping his arms around her waist.
“It was good,” she told him before kissing his lips. “I missed you.”
He kissed her again. “I missed you too.”
“So did you turn in that article?” She asked brushing her fingers through his hair.
“Yep,” he smiled.
“And?” She raised her eyebrows.
“They loved it,” he told her. “Of course.”
“I knew they would. You are the best writer on that staff,” she said going over to
the refrigerator. “And you’re only 23. Imagine where you’ll be in like, a year.”
“I know. There’s already been talk of a promotion. So we’ll see,” he said.
“I’m so proud of you,” she said taking a bottle of water out of the fridge. “We
should do something.”
“Well how would you feel about going to The Mercury Lounge tonight?” He
asked leaning against the kitchen counter.
“Who’s there?”
“A couple bands I’m supposed to review,” he told her. “They’re supposed to be
really good.”
“Cool. I’ll go,” she said.
“Alright. You want to invite Darcie and Michael?” He offered.
“Sure,” Ruby said going over to the phone.
*******************************************
“Sir,” the lady behind the counter at the jewlery store said. “Sir.”
“Hmm?” Zac looked up from the case of engagement rings he was staring at.
She smiled. “You’ve been pacing the store for about two hours. I just wanted to
make sure you’re okay.”
Zac nodded. “Yeah. Thanks, I’m just thinking...about stuff.”
“About what you’re going to say to her?”
“Yeah,” he smiled. “I’m kinda nervous.”
“It’s okay,” she assured him. “But you should probably decide on a ring first.”
“Well,” he said rolling the sleeves of his pale yellow button up shirt up to his
elbows. “That’s one’s nice,” he pointed. “But so is that one.”
She took them out of the case and placed the boxes in front of Zac. “They’re both
gorgeous. It really depends on her personality.”
He nodded. “Can I use your phone?”
“Sure.”
He went over to the phone and dialed Darcie’s work number waiting for her to
answer. “Darcie, it’s Zac.”
“Hey man, what’s up?” She asked as she finished up what she was doing on the
computer.
“Listen, when’s your lunch break?” He asked.
“In about half an hour. Why?”
“Well, I need to you come down to the jewlery store on Oxford and help me,” he
told her.
“Help you what?”
“Pick out an engagement right,” he said.
Darcie gasped. “Oh my gosh, you’re going to ask her?”
“Yes,” he laughed.
“Stay there, I’m coming right now,” she said.
“Okay,” he said before hearing a dial tone.
***************************************
Darcie pulled her car up to the curb next to the store and went inside to find Zac
staring at two different rings.
“Hey Zac.”
“Darcie, hey,” he looked relieved and went over to give her a hug.
“Oh my God, you’re finally doing it,” she said jumping up and down as she
wrapped her arms around his neck. “Congratulations.”
“I haven’t asked her yet,” he laughed.
“Well let me see the rings,” she said. Zac led her over to the counter and showed
her the two rings he had picked out. “Oh wow. Zac, they’re gorgeous.”
“So which one?”
“Hmm,” she picked them up examining them. “This one,” she said taking out a
platinum ring with a princess cut diamond and tiny diamonds set in the band on either side.
“Definitely.”
Zac took it and held it up in the light. “Yeah,” he said putting it back in the box.
“That’s the one.”
“You’re gonna do it?” Darcie asked.
“Mm hmm,” he nodded.
“Great choice,” the lady said. “Now we’ll have to size it for her and you can pick
it up tomorrow.”
“Okay,” he nodded again staring at the ring.
“Now you’re sure?” She asked.
“I’m positive,” he told her. “I’ve never been more sure about anything.”
*******************************************
Zac nervously cleared everything off the coffee table making sure the apartment
was in order before Ruby got home. He went into the bedroom and took off his t-shirt
changing into and clean white t-shirt and a light blue button down shirt. He tucked in it
and looked at himself in the mirror before untucking it. He heard Ruby’s key in the door
and went out into the kitchen.
“Hey sweetie,” she greeted laying her purse and keys down on the table.
“Hey there,” he smiled as she came over to him.
She wrapped her arms around his neck and planted a kiss on his lips. “I love you,”
she said before she kissed him again.
“Wow,” he smiled as Ruby placed tiny kisses down his neck. “You’re in a good
mood.”
“Mm hmm. Because I had a good day, and I have a great apartment, and a great
job, and you have a great job, and I have a great boyfriend,” she listed.
“Yes you do,” he agreed. “And your day’s about to get better. You know why?”
“Why?”
“Because I ordered Chinese food and it’s on its way,” he told her.
“You’re the best.”
“I know,” he smiled.
“Oh my God, you cleaned,” she said walking through the living room.
“Yep.”
“You are so my favorite person,” she told him. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome,” he said coming up behind her to wrap his arms around her
waist as the buzzer in their apartment rang. “Oh, that’s the food.”
************************************
“You all done?” Zac asked as they sat on the floor in the living room.
“Yep,” she said handing him her empty Chinese food box. “That was yummy.
Thank you for dinner.”
“Oh it’s my specialty,” he said taking the boxes to the kitchen. He came back and
sat down with her on the carpet. “Here,” he said shaking the paper bag holding the two
fortune cookies. “You pick.”
She reached in and picked one out and left him the other one. Zac smiled to
himself when he picked his. “Read yours first,” Ruby told him.
“Alright.” He cracked open his fortune cookie and read the message. “A lifetime
of happiness is right in front of you.”
“Interesting. You always get the good ones,” she said.
“Open yours,” he instructed, nervously wrapping his rectangular piece of paper
around his index finger.
“Okay.” She broke open hers and the ring fell to the coffee table. Her eyes
widened and she froze.
“Whoa,” Zac let out a nervous laugh. “I didn’t get one of those.”
Ruby opened her mouth but couldn’t say anything as she stared at the platinum and
diamond ring looking back at her. “I... it’s..oh my.”
“Well what’s your fortune say?” Zac asked swallowing the lump that had formed
in his throat.
Her shaky hands pulled out the small piece of paper and she read the typed words.
“Ruby, will you marry me?” She read. She read the question to herself over and over
again then looked at Zac who sat beside her, lips pressed together in anticipation.
“I’m totally serious,” he said. “I’ve loved you for so long. You know I don’t have
to explain myself.”
Ruby nodded and looked over at the ring on the coffee table. “Wow.”
“Ruby,” Zac turned her face towards him with his index finger. “Will you marry
me?”
Everything inside her stomach completely collapsed and she couldn’t verbalize as
she stared back at him. She simply nodded her head.
He nodded along with her. “Is that a yes? Help me out here.”
“Okay,” she continued nodding.
“Okay?” He raised his eyebrows with an amused smile.
“Yes,” she told him. “Oh my God, yes.” She wrapped her arms around his neck
as she tried to let everything that ust happened sink in.
“Holy shit,” Zac laughed hugging her back. “You will?”
“Of course I will,” she laughed. “Oh my gosh, that was so sweet,” she said not
letting him go.
“Well put the ring on,” he said excitedly.
“Oh yeah.” She picked it up from the fortune cookie crumbs and looked at it. Zac
took it from her and slid it on the ring finger of her left hand. “Zac, it’s perfect. God, it’s
beautiful. Thank you,” she looked up at him.
“Ah, it was nothing,” he grinned at her.
She smiled and leaned in to kiss him. “I love you,” she whispered after she pulled
away and kept her forehead against his.
“I love you too,” he whipered back.
“Forever?”
“Forever,” he told her and kissed her again.
“Oh my God. We’re getting married,” she held her hand to her forehead and stood
up.
“Yep,” he laughed. “You and me kid.”
She took a deep breath and looked back at the ring. “I have to call my mom.”
“Yeah, so do I,” he said standing up with her.
Ruby looked up at him and reached down to take his hands in hers. “We’ll call
them in the morning,” she smiled as she led him to the bedroom.
**THE END**
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Epilogue
