Chapter 3
I woke up early the next morning with my arms draped lightly around Maria. The sun shown brightly outside casting shadows that seemed to dance over us. I smiled, appreciating moments like these. So carefree and relaxing, cherishing Maria’s beauty. I decided to wake her with a kiss. “Hey baby” I whispered in her ear as she started to open her eyes.
“Hey” she said softly, kissing me back. “What are we going to do today?”
“Well, first you’re going to go get dressed, and so am I. And then we’re going to go for a walk” I told her matter of factually.
“Oh really, and what are we going to do on this walk?” she asked.
“I don’t know, have fun” I said.
“I can think of something fun we could do that wouldn’t involve me going and getting dressed” she dropped her voice to a low, seductive tone.
“Tisk tisk, naughty Maria” I scolded her but laughed in spite of myself. “Just trust me, okay.”
“Alright, I’m going,” she said rolling her eyes at me, and grabbing her nightgown. “You better not take long getting ready she” informed me.
“Meet you outside in five” I said signaling five minutes with my hand. She nodded and was out the door.
Quickly I got up and grabbed the first pair of jeans I could find, and accompanied it with one of my trademark black wife beaters. Then I rummaged around in my bag for a while finding my special gift for her. Tucking it securely in my pocket I left the room to go find Maria again.
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“Where are we going?” she asked as I took her hand and led her down the ocean’s forever-stretching coast.
“I don’t know” I answered partially truthful. I was leading her down the coast to find the perfect place to sit and talk. Where that was, I wasn’t sure yet, but I would know when we got there.
As we walked, we waded in the ocean turf kicking water up at each other. We walked for what seemed like ages, but still I couldn’t find a good spot to sit and talk. “Taylor, can we turn back now? I’m getting hot” Maria complained after a while.
“You’re hot huh?” I asked suddenly getting a devilish idea. She responded with a nod. With that I scooped her up in my arms.
“What are you doing?” she asked clutching me around the neck for support.
“We’re going to cool you off” I told her, and proceeded to head out into deeper water. I paused when the water was knee deep. “Ready for a swim?” I asked.
“Taylor don’t you dare” she warned, but it was too late. I had already dropped her into the water. She resurfaced a minute later, coughing and wiping water out of her eyes.
“You idiot” she said. She then reached behind me and knocked out the back of my knees, causing them to buckle, and me to fall on top of her. We both came to the surface again laughing, and splashing each other. Finally I stood up and pulled her up with me, pulling her straight into a kiss. I tasted the salty sweetness of her skin.
I reached down and felt the ring in my pocket, now was as good of time as any. “Maria” I said suddenly serious, looking into her eyes.
“Yes?” she asked.
“I’ve been doing a lot of thinking since you visited me last on tour. I’ve been thinking about everything you mean to me. How happy I am when I’m with you, and how I can’t stand to be away from you. How much I love you, and how much I want to be with you forever,” I said, speaking the words I must have rehearsed 1,000 times. I pulled the ring out of my pocket and showed it to her. “What I’m trying to say is, Maria, will you marry me?”
I watched the tears immediately spring in her eyes. “Oh Taylor” she said softly. “Yes, yes I will.”
I smiled, and with trembling hands slipped the ring onto her own trembling finger. She smiled and bought it up close to her face admiring the square-cut diamond. “It’s so beautiful” she whispered.
“I love you” I told her.
She looked deep into my eyes, returning my smile. “I love you too Taylor.” And the moment was sealed with a kiss.
