"Hi," Mira smiled opening the door to her bedroom. "Wow," she reached up and gave him a kiss.

"Hi," he laughed. "God, you look hot."

Mira raised her eyebrows and laughed at him.

"I mean," he shook his head and laughed. "You look gorgeous."

"Thank you," she said shyly tilting her head to the side. "So do you."

"Thanks," he smiled. "Shall we go?" He asked offering his arm to her.

"Yes sir," she said linking her arm in his and going down the stairs with him.

"Alright," Taylor put his fork down halfway through dinner. "I have a present for you."

"Taylor," Mira said. "Why’d you get me a present?"

"Because I did. And because I was thinking of you," he said pulling the black velvet box from his pocket.

"Oh my gosh," her eyes widened when he put it on the table in front of her. "What is this for?" she smiled.

"Just open it," he said anxiously.

"Okay," she raised one eyebrow at him. She opened the box to find a pearl with an aquamarine stone on each side set on a silver band. "Holy Lord," she said. "Oh my God, is this for me?"

"Uh huh," Taylor laughed.

"Wow," she looked back up at him. "Thank you so much," she smiled sliding the ring on her ring finger.

"You’re welcome."

"Oh my gosh," she stood up and went to his seat. "Thank you," she said again before placing a kiss on his lips. She sat back down and looked at the ring. "But you really didn’t have to."

"I know. But I wanted to," Taylor smiled.

"Did you know aquamarine’s your birthstone?" Mira asked.

"Well the lady at the jewelry store told me. And pearl’s your birthstone."

"Yeah."

"I thought that was kinda cool," Taylor said returning to his meal.

After dinner they went downtown to a coffee shop. Later they walked around the town square where there was a park in the middle. 

"I can’t believe Isaac’s getting married tomorrow," Taylor said wrapping his arm around Mira’s shoulders.

"I know. Are you nervous? You have a big responsibility," Mira said looking up at him.

"Kinda. I already know what I’m gonna say in my toast."

"Cool. And you have the ring?"

"Yep. I’m ready. But, okay," he sighed. "I uh, kinda brought you out here for a reason."

"Uh oh, deja vu," Mira laughed.

"I know," he smiled. "And now it’s my turn to tell you something and you can’t freak out."

"Alright," she said unsurely wondering what on earth he was going to tell her. "I’m listening."

"And you have to let me finish cause I have like, a whole dramatic monologue planned," he said.

"Okay," she laughed.

"Okay," he breathed taking her by the shoulders and positioning her in front of him. "Last night, when I was laying next to you, I was watching you sleep. And I figured out," he stopped to clear his throat, "I figured out that I am mad, crazy, completely in love with you."

Mira raised her eyebrows and she covered her mouth with her hand. "Oh my gosh," she said.

"Let me finish," Taylor laughed.

"I’m sorry," she smiled and she reached down to take his hands in hers.

"Okay, where was I?"

"Mad, crazy in love with me," she said.

"Yeah," he laughed. "And I couldn’t sleep cause I just stayed up all night thinking about every little thing that I love about you. You’re so cool, and incredibly smart, and beautiful, and sexy..."

Mira had to smiled at that one.

"But it’s more than just the qualities I can list on my fingers. It’s everything about you. I love the way you are with my family, the way you sing really loud in the car, the way you always offered to cook me dinner, how you always helped me study no matter what time it was, like, little faces you make when I say something stupid, the fact that you stole bowling shoes, the way you look when you’re sleeping, you never fail to amaze me, God I could go on forever, but it all adds up to the fact that I want to spend every minute with you. And I can’t believe I didn’t tell you this a long time ago but I love you, and I’m saying it - I love you and I love you and I love you," he said.

Mira stood there with wide eyes speechless.

"Okay, now you can say something," Taylor laughed nervously.

"How am I supposed to compete with that?" She asked wrapping her arms around his neck. "Oh my gosh - Taylor. I love you and I love you and I love you too," she said.

"Good," he smiled. "That’s all I need to hear," he said squeezing her.

"Wow. Wow, I can’t believe you just said all that to me. You," she kissed his cheek, "are incredible. Oh my gosh, my heart’s going like 100 miles an hour."

"Yours is?" he laughed. "I think I’ve got you beat there."

"You are gonna make me cry," she said still clinging to him.

"No, no, no," he said. "Don’t cry again."

She pulled her head back and looked at him. She leaned back in to place her lips on his. His hands brushed up her sides and down to her hips as she tangled her fingers in his hair.

"Wow," she whispered when she pulled away. "I love you."

"I love you too," he whispered back.

"Ha! - We’re so good at that," she smiled.

"Oh Mira," Taylor laughed and wrapped her back in a hug. "You are a rad girl."

"Soo," she grinned. "You wanna go back home?"

Taylor turned his head and looked at her out of the corner of his eyes. "As opposed to?"

"As opposed to staying here with all our clothes on," she said.

Taylor eyes widened. "Are you proposing what I think you’re proposing?"

Mira looked off to the side giving him a coy smile. "Maybe." She took her arms off his shoulders and began walking towards the car.

"Wait a minute," he smiled grabbing her hand as they walked. "I wanna make sure we’re on the same wavelength here."

"Yes, Taylor," she looked up at him. Neither one could quit smiling. "I want to have sex with you."

"Okay, we’re on the same wavelength," he said wrapping his arms around her body. "And have I told you I love you?"

"Not in the last 30 seconds. And I love you too."

"Taylor," she screamed as he pulled her out of the car running towards the house. "Chill out," she laughed.

He cleared his throat before he opened the door. "Okay, I’m cool." He opened the front door looking around before leading Mira up the stairs. Diana heard the giggling and came out of the kitchen.

"Tay?" she called.

"Yes Mom?" He asked stopping in the middle of the stair case never dropping Mira’s hand.

"I’m sorry to interrupt but I’m glad you’re home. Isaac called a while ago. He said he needs you to come over there tonight. I think he really needs his brother right about now.

"Oh," Taylor looked apologetically at Mira. "Is he okay?"

"Yeah, I’m sure he’s fine. He’s just a little nervous. You should stay the night over there with him. He’d really appreciate it."

"I’m sure that’d make him feel better, Tay," Mira said looking up at him. "If he had someone to talk to."

Taylor let out a deep sigh and continued climbing up the stairs. "Alright. let me change and I’ll go in a minute." Mira followed him to his room.

"Thanks sweetie," Diana called and went back down the hall.

"I’m so, so sorry," Taylor said as they came into his room.

"It’s okay," she said falling onto Zac’s bed.

"No, really. I’m really sorry," Taylor said taking his shirt off.

Mira laughed. "Sweetheart, Isaac needs you. He’s getting married tomorrow."

"Sure," Zac said getting up.

"So I guess I’ll see you tomorrow," Mira said.

"Yeah. We’ll be running around all day I’m sure," Taylor said. "I know Ike has my tux at his house so I’ll probably get ready over there. But I’ll be over here by, like 2:45 to pick you up."

"Okay. The wedding starts at 4, right?"

"Yeah. But we have to be there by 3 for pictures and stuff. So are you okay with just hanging out at the church?"

"Sure. No problem. I’ll see you guys tomorrow - all dressed up," she smiled.

"Okay cool," Taylor said. He came over to her and leaned down to give her a kiss. "Isaac owes me," he murmured right above her face. "I’ll see you tomorrow, baby."

"Good night," she smiled up at him.

"Night," he said following Zac out the door. "I love you."

"I love you, too."

chapter twenty-seven

fiction

main