“Deal. That list of actresses is very small, by the way,” he added. “Okay, while we’re being open… no more Kyle. I don’t want him in the bar or anywhere near you, calling you, bringing you gifts or soup – ever again. And the same goes for all the other guys who come sniffing around my future wife.”

“Don’t worry. I don’t want to ever see Kyle again,” I stated, recalling the moment of terror in the pit of my stomach when he had me crammed in the door jam. “I told him I’d get a restraining order if he ever came around again.”

Ryan was dead serious when he put his foot down on the “Kyle and other guys” subject. There was no humor in his tone.

“You know, this double-standard of yours isn’t very healthy either,” I muttered.

“What double-standard? What are you talking about?”

“Oh, come on! You have to admit you are a lot more jealous than I am. I’m not allowed to accept soup from some guy but you get to kiss hot actresses? And then you got pissed at me when I questioned all the ‘alone time’ you were spending with your ex-girlfriend? You would have been completely unbearable if Kyle and I had a romantic past. Hell, you probably would have had a barbed wire fence and extra guard dogs installed around me if that was the case!”

Ryan huffed loudly.

“Considering what comes along with the Ryan Christensen territory, I’d say I’ve been maintaining my understanding and jealousy fairly well.”

“Yeah, you have,” he agreed. “Sorry, I can’t help it. It’s just… I know how men think. Food, sex, sleep – not necessarily in that order either. I was onto Kyle the first minute I saw him. I knew the game he was playing.”

“Ha! And you don’t think women play the same games?” I changed my voice to imitate Lauren and batted my eyes at him. “It’s all right, Ryan. I’m happily involved with Lucas. You can talk to me. Here’s a shoulder to lean your head on – right next to my boobs. She probably checked out your crotch every time you had to kiss her just to see if she made your pants fit tighter!”

Ryan laughed at me.

“You laugh! I’m serious!”

He rolled over, playfully grabbing my rear. “My crotch only bulges for you, dear.”

“Yeah, right,” I teased.

We spent a good portion of Sunday morning in bed, arms and legs entwined, enjoying the solitude and peace that came from being together.

Ryan looked at my alarm clock. “Come on… time to get out of bed. We have to get showered and dressed,” he said, tossing his portion of the covers over my head.

“Why?” I asked, studying his face long enough to know he knew something I didn’t. Playfully he grabbed my ankle, pulling me across the bed.

“We don’t want to be late for our party,” he chuckled, reaching for my hand. He helped me up onto my feet.

“What party? What are you talking about?”

“You really had no clue, did you?” he said, grinning in astonishment.

My vision was distorted when my eyes scrunched together, still not having a clue as to what he was talking about.

“That I was going to propose to you?” He tilted his head, smiling as he rubbed my cheek with his thumb.

I mashed my lips together and shook my head, slightly embarrassed. “I thought your parents came here to move you out of the apartment.”

“I think I’m going to buy Marie and Tammy new cars.” Ryan laughed lightly to himself.

An hour and a half later, we drove up to Marie and Gary’s house to attend our private engagement party. Ryan’s parents were already there, waiting for us.

I still could not believe that the last two days had really happened. Ryan and I were still madly in love, his symbol of his commitment clad in diamonds around my finger, and all of my heartache was almost completely forgotten.

“I guess I should call Pete, find out what time they are coming for poker,” I said out loud.

Ryan twisted the cap back onto the bottle of soda and set it back in the refrigerator. “We’re not playing poker tonight,” he informed. “It’s just you and me tonight. We’re going out.”

“Out?” I was shocked. We had rarely ever gone “out” before.

“Yep. I’m taking you out on a date… a proper date,” he corrected. “Go get dressed.”

He pulled his jeans up onto his hips and grabbed a clean shirt off of a hanger in the closet.

“So where are we going?” I asked.

“I have no idea. Out to dinner, bowling… it’s your choice. We’re going to try and have a normal date, even if I have to wear a disguise. I’m taking you out.”

We drove to one of my favorite local restaurants. I looked at my watch, noting the time, so we wouldn’t be late for our next stop.

Ryan tapped me in the foot under the table and snickered to himself when I flinched. We were sitting in a booth all the way in the back corner of the restaurant, well out of the way of most eyes.

“So, my beautiful fiancée,” he teased, “where to next?”

I took a sip of soda to wash down my last bite of pizza, tapping my foot in rhythm against his.

“Movies,” I answered casually. “George Clooney’s latest flick is playing at the Galaxy Theatre.”

Ryan tried to look unaffected, but I could tell he was freaking out thinking about being around crowds and the public. He even wrapped his scarf an extra loop around his neck to cover half of his face when we got up to leave.

He tugged my hand as we walked in opposite directions. “Um, Honey… car is this way?”

I stopped and held my ground, pulling him towards me. “Theater is only three blocks down the street. See the marquee lights? It will be okay. Let’s walk.”

We held hands as we casually strolled down the empty sidewalk in the dark. No one noticed us; no one even knew we existed. It was wonderful.

I squeezed his hand tightly in mine, completely bewildered that he was finally here with me. My heart that was once so devastated with thoughts of losing him was now being stitched back together, like it was never shattered in the first place. His love for me was just the glue I needed, restoring me back to whole.

I knew I could never make the same mistakes again. My insecurities needed to be replaced with trust and assuredness. I would never doubt his love for me or his intentions to have a long life together. Still, I was afraid that if I blinked too many times that I would wake up from this wonderful dream of togetherness.