Page 49 of Not that Sea-Rious
Marissa
Last month they got mani-pedis together. This month, brunch. Marissa sat back, sipping her mimosa, eying the other women suspiciously. Tina and Carolyn had Bloody Marys, but Carolyn’s looked different. Joyce hadn’t even touched her Bellini. Something was off.
Swirling her glass, Marissa listened while the others chatted about Carolyn’s plans for later in the day. It was her first anniversary, after all. A smile spread across Marissa’s face as she marveled at the fact that she had been with Beau for a year now too. It was amazing how time flew.
When Joyce’s gaze met hers, her cheeks tinged pink, she glanced away and lifted her glass of water for a sip. Marissa arched a brow.
“What?” she blurted, unintentionally interrupting the conversation.
Tina and Carolyn quieted. Their attention shifted from each other to Marissa, who stared pointedly at Joyce. The woman across from her clearly had a secret.
Biting her bottom lip, Joyce squirmed.
Everyone waited. She wasn’t getting off that easily. Marissa would sit here all day if she must to find out what Joyce wasn’t telling them.
“Fine!” Joyce huffed. “I can’t keep it to myself anymore.”
Carolyn and Tina exchanged a look.
“I’m pregnant,” Joyce admitted, covering her stomach with her hand. “It’s really early, like eleven weeks. Ted and I promised we wouldn’t tell anyone until twelve, but I just… What’s one week between friends?”
“No way!” Carolyn squealed before Marissa could actually react. “Me too!”
Marissa’s mouth fell open.
“Okay. If everyone is sharing,” Tina began, and Marissa reached for her glass. “So is Cynthia.”
A chorus of excited squeaks erupted from the women as they all bounced in their seats. Marissa raised a glass. “Mazel Tov.”
The three women reached over the table and clasped hands. Their attention shifted to Marissa. She swallowed a gulp of the orange juice diluted with vodka, imagining planning three baby showers before she noticed their expectant expressions.
“Oh.” Marissa chuckled and placed her hand on top of her friends’ and waited for the “go team” cheer.
“Do you have anything to share with us ?” Carolyn asked.
Glancing around, Marissa wasn’t sure what they meant. “I’m not pregnant.” She furrowed her brows. “Wait! Do you know something ?”
Again, Joyce looked away and sipped her water.
“What aren’t you telling me?” Marissa demanded as she pulled her hand back.
“Nothing.” Tina shrugged.
Liars. The whole lot of them.
“We just thought,” Carolyn began as she pushed her breakfast potatoes around. “You and Beau have been together a while now.”
“A year,” Marissa clarified, something she was sure they were well aware of.
“Well, you’re not getting any younger,” Joyce said.
Marissa glared.
Joyce shrank away.
“It’s not bad,” Tina interjected. “We’re simply hopeful.”
Marissa sat back as she stabbed her fork into a pile of eggs and bacon. Stuffing it into her mouth, she refused to comment further. She thought her friends were beyond meddling in her love life. They were obviously busy with their own. How did they have the time?
“While I appreciate the hope,” Marissa said. “No babies here. We aren’t even married yet. I’d like to be married before I start spitting out kids. Like all of you did .”
“Do you think he’s going to propose?” Joyce asked as she leaned over the table with a glimmer in her eye.
Marissa stifled a snicker. It was almost like Joyce was the one waiting for a ring. “I don’t know.”
“Yes, you do.” Tina smirked. “Don’t bullshit us.”
“You’ve been head over heels for Beau since the cruise,” Carolyn added as she bit into her bacon.
Marissa lifted her shoulders. “We just moved in with each other.”
“Last month,” Joyce added.
Marissa glared again. She was well aware of the trajectory of her relationship. She didn’t need her friends giving her a timeline. “I’m not rushing anything. Things will happen when they happen.”
“So.” Joyce’s smile grew wider. “Soon?”
“Just whatever you do, wait until we’ve all popped. I’m positive I won’t be one of those cute pregnant people,” Carolyn said as she rested her hand on her stomach. “My ankles are already swelling. I’m well on my way to whale.”
“It’s all the salt,” Tina chirped.
Carolyn slapped her arm playfully. “Hasn’t Cynthia taught you not to antagonize the pregnant woman?”
Tina chortled to herself as she sipped her Bloody Mary.
“You’re beautiful,” Joyce reassured. “Glowing.”
“That’s sweat,” Carolyn snarked.
Tina laughed so hard she covered her mouth and nose. Marissa thought tomato juice was about to explode from her. She appreciated the reprieve from the focus being on her. It was nice to have it on Carolyn again. Just like old times.
“No. But really.” Joyce shifted her attention to Marissa.
Damn.
“Is it possible he’s going to propose?”
All eyes were on Marissa. Staring at the small bouquet in the tiny vase on the table, she sighed. “I don’t know. I mean. Maybe. We’re headed in that direction, but I don’t have a clue when.”
Beau
Sitting at an empty table on the other side of the half-wall, Beau bit his fist, trying not to laugh at the banter. Three months ago, he met up with Marissa’s friends to go ring shopping. It was an experience he’d never forget. Since then, the three of them had badgered him about when he’d ask.
In casual conversation with Marissa over the last year, he learned a lot about what she yearned for in life and what her future plans were.
She wanted to be married one day, and Beau was pretty sure he was her chosen groom, but she wanted to live with him first. She told him a few stories about friends who didn’t do that and how they divorced quickly.
He agreed with moving in. It was the most efficient way to learn about someone’s quirks.
There was no better method to find out what he could tolerate before he was legally bound to them.
He’d learned that back in the day. Who knew that their apartment hunt would take so goddamn long?
Beau had seen far too much New Jersey real estate for his liking, but it was worth it.
So, their first hurdle was conquered last month.
The second was him having a talk with her dad.
Having met the man a bunch of times over the course of the year didn’t make that conversation any easier.
Beau got the feeling Marissa’s dad enjoyed Beau squirming through asking for his daughter’s hand—so traditional.
Second hurdle down.
The final one—Beau had to actually ask Marissa. He had everyone else’s approval for their pending nuptials. It was time he got hers.
Finally, after what felt like hours, “Marry You” by Bruno Mars played over the restaurant’s speakers. Taking a deep breath, Beau stood and smoothed his hands down the front of his button-down shirt. With a shake of his shoulders, he lifted his head. Now or never.
Beau rounded the corner of the half-wall, which had kept him hidden, and nearly collided with a waitress holding a tray filled with cocktails. Reaching for her, he sought to steady the woman so she didn’t drop anything.
“Sorry,” he mumbled as she brushed him off.
Regrouping, he turned and found eight eyes were on him.
There went the element of surprise.
Marissa furrowed her brows.
Before she could speak, he stepped to her and dropped to one knee. “You were the bright light I needed in my darkness. I fell in love with the way you blushed when I complimented you and your snore on that boat.” From his pocket, he pulled out a small black velvet box.
Immediately, her cheeks grew bright red, and tears welled in her eyes.
“You gave me a life I never thought was possible and showed me what love should be. I want to spend the rest of my years laughing and loving you. Will you marry me?”
Beau flipped open the ring box and revealed the three-quarter carat circular diamond set in a halo of white gold and smaller diamonds. The band had a twist of diamonds on either side. It had nearly blinded him in the store it sparkled so bright.
Watching her face, he wondered if she was as impressed with the ring as he was.
Covering her mouth with both hands, Marissa dropped to her knees beside him but didn’t answer.
Instead, she wrapped her arms around him and cried into his shoulder.
“Is that a yes?” Carolyn demanded.
Pulling back, holding his face, she met his eyes. “Yes. Absolutely.”