《 kisses and engagement rings 》

i'm very very sorry for taking eons to update but here's 10.6k words so please still love me.

∞

When Sean gazed at her in that half innocent, half tantalizing way he probably wasn't even aware of himself, Flora felt like coming up too fast from a Jacuzzi. Her head spun. With two straps crossed at the nape of her neck, the black dress she wore that evening left her back bare, but even with the air conditioning on at full blast, she was starting to burn up.

"Happy birthday, baby." He slid his hand across the table and touched his fingertips to hers. The champagne she had earlier rushed up and pounded against her temples.

"Thanks for taking me out," she said. Dinner hadn't been served yet, but her stomach with already full with bubbles of euphoria. On their way to the restaurant, Sean had stopped by the street corner and bought all the pink roses available, and now the flowers sat on the empty chair next to her, lighting up her chest with a warm glow.

"I didn't buy you anything this year. Other than the roses." He glanced at his phone for the briefest second before setting it back down. "Unless you want another one of our company gift mugs?"

Flora felt the edge of her mouth tilting up.

"We have a new one manufactured." He smiled. "It's pink. Limited edition."

"I want one! Ever since I was a little girl, I've been waiting for a pink—"

"I'm not kidding. I really didn't buy you anything."

Flora picked up his hand and kissed it, brushing her lips against his knuckles. "It's fine. I mean, it's hard to out-do the Kelly I got last year. And the walk-in closet and the tickets to Paris." As she listed off the items he had given to her over the years, she once again realized how lucky she was. Those were physical items, yes, but each held a special meaning only the two of them understood.

Sean lifted his eyebrows. "Sounds like you're challenging me."

"Nope. I'm simply saying you've given me a lot of good stuff already."

He leaned back in his seat and checked his phone again. "You think I can't come up with anything else to impress you?"

Well, not unless it's a ring.

"You just said you didn't buy me anything. Not that it matters, Sean. I'm happy—"

"Wait. Close your eyes."

"What?"

"Close your eyes, baby."

"Okay, okay." Flora covered her face with both of her hands. It better be a ring, she thought to herself bitterly. Yeah, how likely.

"I couldn't think of anything...regular to buy you," he started saying, "since you're a girl who has everything already. But then it hit me. You haven't mentioned it in a while, but I know this is what you really want."

Oh my God. Could it be?

Sean had hinted subtlety and had also openly stated how much he did not want to get married, but Flora was certain he saw right through her. Maybe he changed his mind just like he did with the dogs. Hadn't he admitted how much he adored them and how adopting them was her best idea yet?

In just a few seconds, her palms had grown clammy. She willed her heart to stay in place and her brain to do its job. Get a hold of yourself and keep the hopes down.

"I love you so much." Sean took his time, making her wait since it was what he was best at, driving her crazy in the meantime. "I want to make it extra special for you this year."

Oh my God.

"You can open your eyes now."

Slowly and almost fearfully, Flora lowered her hands. She swallowed.

The first thing that entered her view was exactly that—a diamond ring, round brilliant cut, flawless, large (at least 1.75 carat), and so bright it strained her to stare. She blinked. This must have cost a fortune.

Her eyes followed the ring up from the slender finger it was sitting on, to the fuschia dress and the blond strands of hair—

"Sandy!" Flora let out a controlled squeal, jumping up. "Carmen! Jan!"

Standing around their table in summer dresses and chic kitten heels, Sandra and Carmen greeted her. Sandra looked her usual self—perfect, and Carmen was her own kind of stunning with her thick dark hair falling in waves and the red lips accentuating her warm complexion. Janet wore skinny jeans and dark eye shadows. A t-shirt two sizes too small clung to her body, but Flora had the feeling she deliberately planned it that way. She appeared thinner than before, and even the black bangles around her wrists seemed too large.

Flora thought they were all glowingly beautiful and she couldn't remember when was the last time she had the squad united.

The next few minutes flew past in a flurry of confusion and surprise. More giggles and hugs followed. Flora barely had time to register the shock before excitement took over. It had been too long, but they were her certified best friends for life. She couldn't believe she didn't think of arranging a get-together herself.

"Your boyfriend flew us in," Sandra said calmly amidst the chaos. The ring sparkled as she spoke.

"He got us a suite at Park Hyatt," Carmen interjected. She had always been a fan of Sean's, and looked like the suite earned him another upgrade. "You can stay with us tonight if you want! We have so much catching up to do."

Flora turned to Sean, who smiled with a shrug. "I know you miss them," he said, standing up as the girls got seated. "I tried Jessica, too, but I couldn't reach her. Jake said she's in Azerbaijan. Seems like he's her only contact person now." He moved to the end of the table so she could be surrounded by her friends, picking up the flowers as he sat down.

"That's a lot of roses," Sandra said. "What did you do wrong?"

"Aside from inviting you to New York?" Sean said.

Flora liked how they were apparently comfortable with each other. They were like siblings who were forced to get along, and she smiled at their exchange.

"I'm having trouble staring at that...house on your finger." Sean nodded at Sandra. "When did you go and get engaged? I'm so hurt you didn't tell me."

"I know. I mean, you are my BFF," Sandra said sarcastically. She glanced over at Flora. "It happened yesterday, so I decided to tell you guys in person."

"We only learned of this on the taxi ride over," Janet added. "You didn't miss anything."

"Peter finally proposed?" Flora asked, even though it hardly came as a surprise, since Sandra had been dating her guy for years. From what Flora knew, he was the first person Sandra felt truly comfortable with.

Sandra had told them about him when they first started going out. "You know how everyone's saying you should find a guy who loves you when you're not 'perfect'? Someone who'll accept you with your unwashed hair in a messy bun, who'll smile even when you're eating chips in bed with crumbs falling on top of you? He'll tell you to stop being so hard on yourself and give up your diet," Sandra had spoken of Peter with her eyes soft. "Well, what if I am being myself? I like looking good. I like my makeup immaculate and my weight under control. I'm just not some sweatpant-wearing, potato-chip-eating girl—nothing wrong with that, by the way, but somehow no one can accept that and everyone keeps telling me to loosen up, to eat more, even when I'm not hungry. Until Peter. He used to ask if I was available to not eat together."

Sandra's idea of a soulmate was uber weird, Flora had thought, but whatever floated her boat.

"He never judged me when I only wanted a diet coke for dinner," Sandra had said. She drank the water in front of her and said now, "He didn't propose. I was the one who asked if he wanted to get married."

Janet raised an eyebrow. "No more playing hard-to-get?"

"Ugh, we're way past that. We were watching TV, and during a detergent commercial, for some reason I just popped the question. He was like, 'funny you should ask that,' and then he pulled out the ring box from behind a cushion."

"Wow." Flora sighed. "That's strangely romantic."

Dinner continued with more interrogation about Sandra's wedding plans. She wanted Flora to be the planner, which she accepted without a second's consideration. When desert was served and they were discussing where to go next, Sean offered to give them some girl time.

"There's a new bar nearby and it's impossible to get into," Sean said, "but Flora knows all the right people. You can go check it out if that sounds like fun."

"I'm in!" Carmen said.

"I'll leave you guys be so you can complain about me freely," he said, smiling at Flora.

"Please, as if Flora ever complains about you," Janet said. "But worry not. I have loads to share about Brian."

Half an hour later, the girls managed to get themselves a table. Four identical glasses of magenta drinks were immediately set down in front of them. Music bounced off the dance floor and exploded in waves, and they could barely hear the crisp sound of glasses clicking when they said cheers. It was loud in the club and they had to hunch close together in able to conduct a conversation.

"I'm mildly surprised that Sean actually encouraged you to go clubbing without him," Sandra said.

"Oh, of course. He's totally fine with it, not to mention since I'm with you guys." Flora picked up the roasted marshmallow stuck on the rim of her glass and took a bite. "He's also been quite willing to meet my guy friends, and they actually start asking him to hang out instead of me!"

Janet laughed. "Hey, if you can't beat them, try stealing them from your girlfriend."

"Exactly!" Flora nodded. "I'll never understand what it is about Sean that's so special."

"That's great!" Carmen said. "It's interesting what used to be a problem can turn out to be a non-issue. People do change."

When it comes to clubbing and guy friends, probably. When it comes to marriage? Doubtful.

Carmen raised her glass again. "To Sandy. Congrats again on getting engaged. We're all so happy for you."

Flora took a huge gulp of her drink. There were some peculiar ingredients in it, including Tabasco sauce and a dash of balsamic vinegar, which provided a strong kick. It burned a track of fire down her throat. Her eyes watered for a second and she blamed it entirely on the beverage.

"So Peter's the end game," Janet said. "If I didn't know you, Sandy, from your appearance alone I'd think you're the type of girl who'd go for guys like team captains and fraternity presidents."

Flora shared the same fascination when she'd first found out that Peter was a history professor who looked like Hugh Laurie. He was also several years older, but then again, Sandra always preferred older guys. "Sandy's a lot more creative than that. Haters, loners, philosophers, misunderstood artists...send them her way."

"Yup," Sandra agreed. "Leave the mainstream hunks to Flora. She's dated all of them on the horizon."

"Pardon me for being attracted to good-looking guys. Besides, I'm already retired from my prestigious dating career." Flora pushed her glass forward until it met with Sandra's. "But seriously, I'm overjoyed for you and Peter. He's custom-made for you."

"I won't deny that. Peter notices things. He thinks a lot. It's like, he doesn't accept anything he's told and he challenges preconceived notions. I like that a lot," Sandra said.

They all nodded, urging her to go on.

"You guys know me. I don't care about physical appearances that much. It's not that I don't find Peter sexy, but I'll admit he's not the traditionally hot type." Sandra had started on a glass of mojito and she sipped at it with elegance. "It's not like I don't know any hot guys...I'm just never particularly attracted to them. Take our friend Jake Lancaster for example. He's pretty funny and nice to have around, but aside from all the stupid jokes he tells, he doesn't have any opinion or...observations."

Janet coughed. "Unless you count the ones he makes with his dick."

"Hey," Flora protested. "Jake is a lot more than that. He has compassion, which I've come to learn is the most underrated quality a guy can have."

"Ugh." Sandra made a face. "If someone describes me as compassionated, I'm going to be so offended. But don't get me wrong, Jake is a good guy. Is he getting back with Jessica?"

"I don't know. It's complicated," Flora said. "I think Jess likes him, but she barely stays in the country for more than a few weeks at a time."

The night drew on, as more cocktails were ordered and more updates shared. Janet had recorded a new album and got back to school, while Carmen was enjoying her dating life. She had two equally spectacular guys to choose from and she was taking her time doing so. She had also published her debut novel. Sandra just got a promotion and was full of ideas for her wedding.

The sparkle from her ring stung Flora's eyes.

"Are you okay?" Carmen was the first to notice.

"I'm fine. It's just..." She sighed. "I want to marry Sean!"

This was the only time she had openly spoken of her desire, and hearing the words only made it truer.

"I always thought you're not the marrying kind?" Janet was the first to speak after a stunned silence. "You were just telling us at dinner how much you wanted to focus on your career."

"That was...I had to say that because you were asking me in front of Sean."

Carmen's eyes widened as if she just found out Flora hadn't paid her taxes in years. "But...how could you lie to him about this?"

"It's not exactly a lie," Flora muttered. "I do want to focus on my career, but that doesn't mean I don't want to marry him. It's just that he happens to be attracted to my career-oriented image so I kind of have to, you know, enhance that side of myself."

"Enhance." Sandra tutted. "You've gotten more creative with ways to describe lying."

"Oh, come on." Flora pouted. "Don't act like you've never lied to your own significant others."

Sandra chewed on her bottom lip thoughtfully. "Well, I tell Peter he has the biggest junk I've ever seen."

"I can't stand one of Brian's cousins," Janet put in, "and his mom. His aunt, too. But I never say anything."

"Sometimes I pretend to be full when I'm out on a date," Carmen said, "and then I come home to eat another one or two slices of cake. I also lie about my jean size all the time."

Flora lifted her chin. "See? You all lie. Besides, given that I don't lie about any of those things you mentioned, I think I'm entitled to one single lie about my thoughts on marriage."

"Honey, I would say lying about not wanting to get married is significantly different than an extra slice of cake." Sandra shook her head. "You can't keep this from him. You have to sit down and have a proper discussion about this."

"You don't understand." With a groan, Flora dropped her forehead on the table. "You've never met his ex, Heather. She's...she's as close to perfection as anyone's going to get. She's gorgeous, sophisticated, and blond...she's like you, Sandy!"

"Except she's nice," Janet said.

"Yeah," Sandra said. "I've been told that the only thing wrong with me is my personality."

"She was extremely sweet to Stella," Janet added. "She and Sean used to babysit for me."

"You're not helping, Jan," Flora said. "And I know you're still friends with her on social media. Sometimes I truly question your loyalty."

"I want to see what she looks like!" Carmen said.

"Of course I'm loyal to you!" Janet said, at the same time scrolling through her phone for a picture of Heather. "I'm ecstatic you're back together. And I mean, Sean loves you. Everyone can see that."

"Well, he used to love Heather, too. The only reason he's not with her anymore is because she chose marriage and he was unwilling to compromise. I know Sean loves me, but if he can't bring himself to marry that..." Flora trailed off, pointing at the picture Janet came up with.

"Oh." Carmen took over the phone and uttered a single syllable.

"This is the part where you come up with something mean to say about her," Flora joked. "Not 'oh.'"

"She looks okay," Sandra said unconvincingly. "Her eyes are too far apart. Makes her look like a catfish."

"Her eyes are perfect," Flora said, "like the rest of her. But thanks for trying."

"I wouldn't mind looking like a catfish if that's how they look these days," Janet muttered.

Sandra shot her a disapproving glance before turning back to Flora. "Didn't you tell us Sean was relieved when he heard she's pregnant?"

"So? He was happy for her."

"Do you think that would be his reaction if you were pregnant?"

Flora allowed her lips to form a smile, remember how Sean had almost puked when he thought she was getting married to someone else, let alone pregnant. "He'd freak out."

"There you go," Sandra concluded. "You and Heather don't mean the same to him. Honey, you have to talk to him about this."

∞

"Have you talked to him yet?"

"Can you give me a break at my own house?"

Sandra shook her head and poured herself another cup of coffee. She had stayed for one more day in New York, just like how it was way back in high school. She was always the one to stay behind with Flora for a while longer—not that she'd ever admit it was because she missed her, therefore she pretended to stay only for the sake of discussing wedding ideas. Flora had taken her to one of the stores she regularly worked with to try on wedding gowns, hoping she'd get a sense of the styles she liked. The shopping trip turned into a sleepover and stretched into breakfast.

Sean was back from his morning jog with his dogs and had gone to shower. The two girls sat at the kitchen counter, chatting over fresh coffee and toast.

"You can't put this off forever, honey."

Flora broke off a piece of bread and stuffed it into her mouth. "You know how much I've liked Sean since high school, right?"

"You like him? I love your modesty."

Ignoring her sarcasm, Flora continued to say, "But lately I feel like I don't love him the way I used to anymore."

Sandra felt a thud against her chest, for reasons she couldn't understand.

Flora sighed and put down her toast. "Like, I love him way more than I used to." She chuckled and shook her head. "Even though he hasn't said he loves me in a long time...not since last night."

"You're annoying me."

Flora laughed. "Sandy, we're fine. Sean and I are perfect. I don't care if we get married or not."

"Don't lie. That's not what you said last night at the bar."

Flora didn't choose to deny her accusation. Instead, she picked up another piece of toast and started spreading butter across the surface, all the way to the edges. "I had a dream the other night that we weren't together anymore," she said, her tone turning serious. "And then I woke up to find him sleeping beside me, and I was filled with this tremendous joy and relief—I don't know how to describe it. Just...I'm happy, Sandy. I'm so glad it's him, you know?"

The way Flora talked about Sean rendered her speechless. Flora used to sound obsessed back in high school, but now, with one hand still buttering the toast, she was nothing but graceful and sincere. There was a serenity surrounding her that was also infectious.

"I'm glad it's him, too," Sandra said quietly. "You're the happiest I've ever seen."

"I am. A ring isn't the most important thing in a relationship. Yours is gorgeous, by the way. No offense to you."

"I wouldn't say it's the most important thing, either, but it obviously matters to you."

Flora was silent for a second. "I love him so much," she said finally. "I think I probably love him more than he does me, which is okay. He can have his way on this one."

"How can you be sure this is what he wants? You never talk about it."

"I'm too happy right now to risk putting a strain on our relationship. You've seen how wonderful he is to me, right? Marriage is the only issue he can't compromise on. He followed me to LA, we have two dogs together and a joint account and this apartment. He does all the house chores, plus he's always there for my family, like helping Jeremy move and accompanying my mom when she had surgery."

"Surgery?" Sandra coughed. "Your mom had a Botox injection."

"We spend Christmas with both of our families and we make a monthly donation to UNICEF, so you can even say we have kids under our name. I feel like we're practically married. Only we have frequent, mind-blowing sex. I really like his dick, by the way."

"This is such a nice start to my morning," Sean said, having appeared from the hallway just in time to catch Flora's last sentence. "You're so sweet for saying that, baby."

"I'm not drunk enough for this conversation," Sandra said dryly.

Sean smiled, walking over. "Good morning, Sandy." He laid his hands on Flora's shoulders, leaned in from behind and kissed her on the cheek. "Good morning, beautiful."

"You have to stop overhearing me," Flora complained. "That's super awkward."

"Stop talking about me behind my back, then."

"How much did you hear?"

"Just the part regarding our sex life. You've hardly said anything surprising to me."

Flora reached up to touch Sean's face. "Someone's cocky."

Sandra could tell how much they were into each other, from Sean's relaxed grin and Flora's hushed chuckles to their brief but affectionate physical contact. Flora pushed her plate forward, smiling up at Sean. "Hey, I buttered your toast for you. The way you like it—all the way to the edges."

"Thanks, you're the best. Do you want anything to drink besides coffee?" Sean looked at the both of them. "Some juice, Sandy?"

"Sean makes the worst energy drinks where he throws in everything he can find," Flora said with her face full of love.

"Hey, you're the one who insists we need to live a healthier life. How many times have you used this thing since you bought it, by the way? I'm trying to make the purchase worthwhile."

"I'll have a glass," Sandra volunteered.

"Coming right up." Sean opened the fridge and started pulling out celery sticks, carrots and a couple of apples and oranges. After washing the vegetables under a running tap, he threw in a few ice cubes, pressed a button on the blender and Vitamix blasted to life.

Flora leaned over and whispered, "Please don't say anything to Sean."

"About what?"

"You know what."

Sandra shrugged. "I have my own wedding issues to worry about. Won't have time to meddle in yours."

"Good." Flora stood up when the machine came to a halt and the room quieted down again. "I'm going for a quick shower. Can you guys be nice to each other for twenty minutes?"

"Please. Sean is my BFF," Sandra said sweetly. "Do not worry."

Shooting back a meaningful glance, Flora left the kitchen. Sean poured two glasses of orange liquid and handed one to Sandra. "I can't promise this is tasty," he said, "but at least it's fresh."

"Thanks." She took a sip. The liquid slid down her throat and she liked how it was, thick and grassy and full of vitamins.

Sean sat down across from her in Flora's previous seat, picking up the leftover toast Flora didn't bother finishing. He put it in his mouth.

If Sandra was being totally honest with herself, she'd say she had always liked Flora and Sean together. When they were an item, they gave out a comforting vibe that the world was okay again. It felt safe to leave her best friend with him, she decided.

But despite that, sometimes Sandra still worried for Flora's sake that he might hurt her. Not that he had the intention, but simply because he had the power to.

Flora was defenseless when it came to him. Sandra knew Flora would never bring up marriage for the possibility, however slight, that it would harm their current status, and Sean was likely to put this off for as long as he could. Of course he would. Here he was, with a girlfriend so entirely dedicated to him, buttering his toast in the morning and adoring his dick at night—of course he had no incentive to get married. He already had everything he wanted.

"So are you excited about getting engaged?" Sean asked. "Flora said you've already started searching for wedding dresses yesterday."

She was glad he brought that up. Putting down her energy drink after another dainty sip, she picked up her phone and clicked opened the photo album. "Oh, very much so. In fact, Iet me have your take. I want a guy's opinion."

Sean laughed. "Can't believe you're asking me for advice."

Sandra's lips curved, remembering how Sean used to email her for gift ideas when he wanted to surprise Flora. "Now's your chance to give me vengeful comments."

"I won't be half as mean as you were to me." He took the phone and started scrolling slowly. He paused. "Wow. To be honest, I think you look amazing. Very classy."

"Behind the lace, I kind of resemble human, don't I?"

"Yeah, you're like one of those models on bridal magazines."

Sean had a way of giving compliments without sounding the least bit suggestive. He came across as polite and kind, as he usually did. He gave a few nods here and there, and she watched his reaction closely as he stopped at the next photo.

She knew what was there. She had urged Flora to try on one of the gowns with her, and she hadn't missed the unmistakable sense of longing in her friend's eyes. She had even regretted asking her to help with the wedding. It was rubbing it in her face.

"Oops, that one's Flora," Sandra said. "I made her try it on as a joke."

Sean didn't say anything as his gaze stayed glued, on a picture of Flora in a textured organza Vera Wang, with a dramatic split-front overlay and draped bodice. She was holding her skirt, a surprised smile frozen on her lips. A few strands of hair had come undone and framed her face. She was radiant.

"Your girlfriend is stunning," Sandra said lightly.

"Yes, I'm very lucky." He stared for a while longer. "She looks happy. Can you send this to me?"

"Sure."

Sean scrolled back a few photos and handed the phone back. He pointed at the screen. "I like you best in this one."

Sandra nodded coolly. "Me too." She started drinking the rest of her juice, and Sean did the same after her.

∞

Later that evening, Sean stayed at his company all the way past dinnertime. It was a Sunday, and he found himself alone in the office, as was often the case. He kind of liked it that way. Even though he could take his laptop anywhere, the atmosphere in this room made him incomparably productive. The solitude was an added benefit; it was nice to not have people knocking on his door every fifteen minutes.

The phone on his desk buzzed. "Pizza delivery," a cheery voice sang.

Okay, he didn't like being interrupted, unless it was this person.

"I didn't order pizza," Sean replied, putting on a mock impatient tone. "Unless there's a naked woman that comes with it."

"Coming right up," Flora dropped her voice to a sultry whisper, and he chuckled.

When she came in with a box of pizza, after dropping it on a corner of his desk, she leaned down, grabbed his chair by the armrest and pushed until the back hit the wall. She lowered her head and kissed him squarely on the lips.

"Hi," he said softly when she pulled back. "I didn't know you were coming."

"You didn't eat, right?"

"Haven't gotten around to it."

"I knew it." Shaking her head, she opened the lid of the box and took out a slice. The smell of tomato and cheese rose up and he was instantly hungry. Flora sat down on his lap and slid one arm around his neck, then she fed him with the other hand. "You don't want to get your hands dirty," she said.

"Thanks. Did you get Sandy to the airport alright?"

She nodded. "I was a bit teary when she left...isn't that silly?"

"You can invite her over again soon. That's why we got a two-bedroom apartment, right?" His hand rested on the small of her back, then he reached up to pull at her ponytail. Her hair came undone and fell freely around her shoulders.

Flora bent down to kiss him on the cheek this time. She fed him another bite. "Is it good?"

"It's so good," he said, then he pretended to bite her fingers.

She giggled and snatched her hand away, looking very pretty at the same time. Something warm and tender stirred inside him. This was just one of their many moments, too simple to describe, yet those were the scenes he would revisit when she was not with him. It didn't take him too long to finish half the pizza, but holding her in his arms made the elapsed time felt solid and significant.

Flora brushed lovingly at his hair. "How much longer do you need?"

For a half second there he thought she meant in life, commitment-wise, then he realized she was nodding toward his computer.

"Sorry. Maybe half an hour? Forty minutes? Do you want to wait here or..."

"No problem. I'll go watch TV or something in the pantry so I won't distract you." She stood up from his lap and took the warmth away with her.

Thirty-seven minutes later, after shutting down his computer, he found her dozed off on the sofa. He brushed away the loose strands of hair that covered her face and tucked them behind her ears. Looking at her face, he found himself bursting with affection.

"Baby?" he whispered. "Baby, wake up. Let's go home."

Flora made a small noise of protest. Her lashes fluttered, and she smiled with her eyes still closed. "Go home? But I came here to fuck my hot boyfriend."

Sean decided to play along. "Where do you have in mind?"

"On your desk, of course. We can role play...I can be your secretary or something." Her eyes snapped open. "A reporter."

He chuckled. "I really worry about the shows you watch sometimes."

She stretched lazily and grinned. Sean took the space next to her, and she placed her head on his shoulder.

Everything was going so smoothly. She was sexy, spontaneous, flirty and exhilarating. She was the perfect girlfriend. What would change if he tried to turn her into his wife?

This was a conversation Sean had selfishly postponed, but he owed it to her, to both of them, to finally approach it. He took her hand and laced his fingers through hers. "Flora. Do you want to talk about what you want out of this relationship?"

Her body stilled, but she recovered soon enough. Turning to face him, she tucked her legs under her and smiled. "You mean besides a Kelly bag?"

"I'm serious."

"Why the sudden need to talk?"

"Don't you think we should've covered this a long time ago? I need to know what your expectations are."

"You already know." Her voice was low when she said, "I just want to be with you."

"Even if we stay like this?"

"Like what? In love?"

"Like...living together but not married."

"Well..." She lowered her eyes. "I guess there's a possibility that I might want to get married, like, eventually."

"Roughly how many years down the line is 'eventually'? I thought you wanted to focus on your career right now."

"I do, but I can multi-task." Flora lifted her eyes to meet his, exhaling, a to-hell-with-it look emerging on her face. "Fine, here goes. I want to marry you, Sean, whenever you're ready. I can do it right now. I can head to Vegas right this moment if you're up for it, and I mean, what girl wouldn't want to marry you? But if you can break up with Heather over that, you can break up with me, too."

"What? Is that why you never said anything?"

"That's the only reason you guys didn't work out, isn't it?"

"I wouldn't say that's the only reason, and you can't apply what happened between us directly to you and me."

Flora let out a small sigh. "Why are you so against marriage anyway?"

"You know about my parents' divorce. I hate how they tried to mask everything for me and Linda's sake. Divorce procedures are such a pain in the ass to go through, and I don't want us to stay together simply because we can't be bothered to get out of it." His heart rate escalated and he could feel his chest tightening. "Somehow...somehow it feels more meaningful if we're held by our free will, not legal papers. I want to feel like you choose me every day instead of just falling into some sort of routine."

Her eyes softened. "Marriage won't change anything. You know how much I love you."

"You know how much I love you, too. I told you I didn't want to live without you and I meant it. I'm not scared of commitment, I'm simply not interested in the legal procedure of getting married. And just so you know, this doesn't mean I love you any less."

She glanced away in embarrassment. "Exactly how much did you overhear this morning?"

"A lot, actually...and speaking of which, I agree with what you said. I'm glad and relieved that it's you and me, too." Remembering how stunned he had been at hearing her words this morning, he squeezed her hand. "Flora, I'm yours. Forever."

Her fingers clasped around his, holding him like a lock securely fastened into place, like locking in his promise. "I believe you."

"I really like what we have right now. I mean, we're perfect. Everything's perfect. This is also one of the reasons why I don't want to risk it. I'm scared of changes."

"I get it." Her eyes were understanding with no hints of accusation. "If anything, planning a wedding is a major fight-trigger."

"That among many things."

"I understand."

"What about children? Do you want children?"

"Well, I don't want one now, but five or six years down the line, if all goes well, I don't know. I'm not completely ruling it out."

Sean nodded. "I can't promise I'll change my mind about them later in life."

"You're really great with kids, though." She exhaled, like he was choosing to give up a special power. "Remember last month when we had that picnic with Dill and Janet? You taught Jerome and Stella how to fly a kite...that's one of the cutest things I've seen in my life so far."

"I mainly did it to get the kids out of their faces."

"It's okay. I'm not in any hurry."

They fell into a thoughtful silence, each digesting what had been laid out there. Flora seemed to be taking it rather well. Sean traced his thumb slowing over her knuckles, and there was the gentle feeling of fondness stirring in him, a warm pool of love and appreciation toward her.

She loved him so much and she was willing to accept everything about him.

He cleared his throat. "Now that you see my point, I have to tell you that if marriage is something crucial to you, and you honestly can't be happy without it, then—"

She pulled her hand from him. "You can't break up with me!"

He let out a surprised chuckle. "I was actually going to say, then I'll marry you."

Flora gasped. "You would?"

"Yes. I'll marry you if that's what you want. I'll do anything in my power to make you happy...there's nothing I can't compromise for you. Bottom line is, we have to stay together."

"Wow. That's...I didn't expect that." She shook her head slowly, then she stopped and looked up at him. "You know what? This is enough."

Sean waited for her to say more, and she did.

"There's nothing I can't compromise for you, either. Marriage doesn't mean anything to me unless it's with you. I'd much rather be not married to you than to even consider anyone else."

"So you're okay with this for the time being?" He placed his head on her shoulder, picking up her hand again. "Can I stay your boyfriend?"

"Of course," she said softly.

"Would it make you feel better if I wear a ring? Or should I buy you a ring?"

Flora burst into laughter. "Oh, Sean. You're so cute. That's not the point."

"Alright. If you're ever tired of waiting, you can propose to me."

"And you'll say yes?"

"Without a question."

∞

For the following months, Flora diverted much of her energy to Sandra's wedding instead of her own non-existent one. However, it was basic psychology that the more she asked herself not to think of marriage, the more it occupied her thoughts entirely.

It didn't help matters that after one of her visits to Sean's office, Fred stopped her on her way out. "Can I talk to you for a minute?"

"Sure. What's up?"

"In private."

She sat down on the couch in his office, a much larger one compared to Sean's, and waited for him to reveal the big mystery.

"You can't tell anyone about this, not even Sean." Fred leaned forward with his elbows propped on his thighs. Flora couldn't help but notice how his leg muscles bulged against his trouser pants. She was wondering whether he was uncomfortable in them when he said, "I'm going to propose to Grace, and I want you to plan it."

The first question Flora had was, "Who's Grace?" when she remembered Sean telling her Fred had found someone he liked.

"The not-quite-there-yet Grace?" she blurted.

"What?"

"I didn't know you guys are that serious already."

"We are. We have reached there," Fred said. "I'm thinking of a surprise proposal and a party that follows afterward. You're the expert, so I'm leaving the venue to you. In order to keep the surprise element, I want everything to be carried out in secret."

"Wait. First, I have to tell Sean. What's he going to think when I'm off having secret meetings and secret phone calls with you all the time?"

Fred sighs impatiently. "Flo, I don't need to tell you that trust is the foundation of any concrete relationship. You can't have a relationship without trust." He smiled. "And Seany trusts me completely."

Flora laughed. "Okay, my bad for having doubts about your relationship. But still, I have to include him on this."

"Fine, you can tell him. But no one else. Certainly not Melissa...that girl can't keep a secret to save her life."

"Okay. Secondly, why haven't I met Grace if she's so important to you?"

"Sorry, mom. I didn't know I need your approval before I can propose." Fred sank back in his leather chair. "Look, Grace is a private person and most of the time she prefers a quiet night with just the two of us. It's nothing personal against you. Sean and Mel played tennis with us once, though. You can ask him what he thinks of her."

"Wait. She's a very private person...therefore she wants a surprise proposal party? Remind me how this works again?"

Fred stared back with complete authority. "She'll like it because it comes from me."

"Excuse me?"

"Are you in or out? I want to do you a favor, but I can easily find someone else if you're not up for it."

"You're doing me a favor?" Part of Flora was mildly amused by how egotistical Fred could be, but another part was starting to get annoyed.

"Let me break this down for you," Fred said. "I mean to hire you professionally, with lots of money and no budget. You're my friend, and I wouldn't dream of exploiting you. Treat me like a regular client. I need no special attention, so please charge me how you always charge."

"Go on."

"I'll let you have all the freedom you want, and you can be creative. I know high-end parties are right up your alley. You can go all out—set free a horde of peacocks or have her riding on an elephant, if you must—and I imagine this party will take your career to new heights."

Flora took a moment to respond. "I'm against animal cruelty, so definitely none of that colonial nonsense you just mentioned."

Fred chuckled, and the hard lines on his face smoothed.

Flora smiled. "But other than that...you better start drafting my contract."

∞

"Frederick Bankole is driving me crazy!" Flora slumped down on the bed she shared with Sean.  All the frustration built up over the weeks pulled her down and the mattress sank with her weight.

Sean patted her head tenderly. "Want to tell me about it?"

"You seriously think it's a good idea for him to propose? I was skeptical before but I figured Fred's a smart guy and he understands what he's doing, but now I'm supremely worried. He's known Grace for less than a year and he knows next to nothing about her. Not her favorite flower, not her ring size, not the kind of food she might like at the party...nothing."

"Well, what he does know must be enough to persuade him to marry her."

Flora couldn't help but find this a little too ironic. She'd been dating Sean for close to three years and they clearly knew—and adored—all about each other, yet somehow it still wasn't enough to convince him. Sean was so contented, they seemed to be stuck at this stage indefinitely.

But then again, she did agree with his reasoning and accepted the situation, and it wasn't half awful being Sean Foster's girlfriend.

"He says flowers are all the same." Flora sighed. "So I took the liberty of ordering my favorite flowers—"

"Peonies and hydrangeas?"

"See? Boyfriends should know stuff like this! Anyway, I can't shake the feeling that this proposal is a big mistake. Feels like it's more about him than her. Fred likes big parties himself, doesn't he?"

"Absolutely. He partied like mad back in our college days and he still does."

"Exactly. He's not considering her needs. I tried helping him pick out a ring today, and I swear he deliberately chose the cheapest one."

Sean raised his eyebrows. "Does it matter? I mean, do you honestly think the size of the diamond correlates to a guy's sincerity?"

"No, of course not, but this guy is super rich and he can't stress it enough. We went to Harry Winston and there was this gorgeous Asscher cut diamond engagement ring, with a halo setting—means it's square in the middle with a collection of smaller diamonds encircling it—and he agreed the vintage design was elegant, but then he looked at the price and decided against it, which is okay, so I suggested a few other simpler ones. But then he went ahead and asked the saleslady if anything's on sale! I swear she gave me a pitying glance because she thought I was marrying him. Can you imagine how ironic it was when he whisked out his Amex Black Card from his Hermes wallet?"

"Size doesn't matter, baby, at least when it comes to diamonds." Sean chuckled as if the whole thing was hilarious, apparently not sharing her concerns. Flora didn't want him to think she was a gold digger, but it was the way Fred handled it that spelled "thoughtless" all the way through.

"And the party guest list is a disaster," she went on. "He wants to invite everyone from your office, all his fraternity friends who are here or in Boston, but she has two friends on the list. Two. Fred says it's because...you guessed it, she's a private person."

Sean laughed. "What's the cover up excuse for the party?"

Flora rolled her eyes. "He passed his cocktail-making class and wants to show off his skills. But who am I to judge?"

"You're the girl who threw a party for a new panini maker."

"True. Oh, by the way, he says to invite Jake and Dill. He wants them there to validate his adequacy as a bartender."

Sean laughed some more. "That sounds like fun."

"I can't believe we're talking about a party here and you're all about fun and I'm worried sick. He didn't take her style and personality into account when he picked the ring, and the proposal party is saying that he doesn't care what makes her comfortable. Don't tell me you don't see a red flag there."

"Maybe Grace won't care how and where it's done, as long as it's him."

He did have a point, Flora mused. If he woke her up in the middle of the night, caught her with bed hair and bad breath, and proposed with a rubber band, she'd still say yes in a heartbeat and call her mom.

But Fred was a client and a good friend, and Flora owed it to him to speak up. "I can't keep quiet. I'm going to email him my concerns right now."

"I don't think he'll listen, but go ahead."

Five minutes later, Flora sat up straight in bed and uttered a suppressed growl of fury. She shoved her phone in Sean's face. "I can't believe him. Look what he wrote back to me!"

----

Fred

To Flora

Subject: Re: abort plan

I'm not asking your help as a friend. I hired you, which means you do as I say and you do your best to meet my requirements. May I remind you we have a contract signed. Please kindly find the attached soft copy for your reference.

----

Flora

To Fred

Excuse-moi. You didn't just hire me for my labor and execution. You hired me for my insights. And as a professional event planner, it's my duty to tell you right now that this is a no go.

----

Fred

To Flora

Ms. Morgan, I hired you to plan my proposal. I didn't hire you to ensure a happily ever after. Please do your job as I asked, thank you. Should there be any more questions, please don't hesitate to reach out and I'd be happy to clarify.

----

"He can be so infuriating!" Flora seethed. "Is this how he talks to you, too? God his CEO mode is absolutely unbearable."

Sean smiled, as if amused by the whole thing. "Well, serves him right if this blows up in his face, right?"

"Ugh, he's annoying as an employer, but that doesn't mean I want to see him fail."

"Don't worry. Fred knows what he's doing and he gets his way, always. You never know. Maybe this dominant, overbearing side of him is exactly what Grace is attracted to," Sean said, as patiently as he always was with her. "Just keep calm and do your thing, baby. The proposal will be a success."

∞

On the evening of the party, Flora was a wreck. She couldn't remember the last time she had such a rusty, dreadful feeling at the pit of her stomach, like mixing seafood with bad wine.

She'd already made sure four times that the party supplies were all there, at an empty greenhouse in a botanical garden. From the outside looking in, lights sparkled through the glass panels, shimmering like shards of moonlight. The room was decorated with flowers, chandeliers, and lots of candles. Everything was either creamy or pink, like a rose-flavored milk tea. Bottles of champagnes were about to be served by a fully stocked cocktail bar, white linens covered the table, and there were pink balloons on the side and low centerpieces of beige hydrangea and blush tone peonies.

It couldn't get more dreamy, but Flora was living in a nightmare. Half of their party guests had arrived and there was no backing out. Fred had gone to pick up Grace. Flora paced around the greenhouse, clutching at her stomach with a pressing urgency to puke her brains out.

"I'm going insane. She'll reject him in front of everyone, they'll break up and Fred will exile us from our Manhattan social life and it'll be all my fault. Mine and yours." She lifted her eyes to Sean, who was trying not to smile.

"You're ever the drama queen, aren't you?" He slipped an arm around her waist. "Let's talk a walk outside before Fred arrives."

"Or we can walk home and switch off our phones."

He laughed. "Everything's in order, and Fred can take care of himself."

"I want it to be perfect for them."

Sean pressed his palm against the side of her and coaxed her out of the greenhouse. "Relax, baby. It will be perfect. Let's survey if everything else in the garden is working. Check all the light bulbs and make sure no one's stolen any of the benches."

Flora jabbed at him with her elbow. "Stop making fun of me."

"I'm very impressed you managed to book this venue. They don't usually open to private events at night."

"I have my ways."

"It's beautiful out here. All quiet and peaceful."

Flora smiled. "Just a quick stroll, then. I usually don't date on the job, but this is a rare opportunity." She took his hand, and he led her further away from the crowd. The evening was romantic and the air smelled like a mixture of wild plants. Her hair ruffled in the wind and brushed her shoulders. When she glanced up at the gorgeous man beside her, a wistful sigh almost escaped her. "Sean?"

He squeezed her hand. "Flora."

"I love you so much."

"I love you more," he said, pulling her gently behind him, until they stopped at a bench. He sat down and she followed. "Hey, remember when we snuck out of class that one time, we went to a botanical garden just like this one, and we sat on a bench and made out till our time was up?"

"Yeah, and you also sang completely off-tune to me."

He chuckled. "I can sing to you again if it takes your mind off Fred's proposal."

"That actually sounds like a good idea."

"Or I can offer something even better."

Flora waited to see Sean taking out his phone. He handed it over, and on the screen, she could see the familiar opening scenes from his sold app MsMorgan.

"What's this?"

"You know I had to sell the app, but I wrote a new version in secret. Want to try it out for me?"

"Sean, I love the game, but this really isn't the best time." Flora glanced up at the greenhouse, now a short distance away, hidden among some oak trees. "We can't stay too long out here."

"It'll only take a minute."

"Alright then. Help me cheat."

She squared her shoulders and pressed start. Her avatar appeared on screen, and actions commenced immediately. A blast of fire shot from under the screen and she made a swift jump. Kicking and slashing through the obstacles along her path, she cleared the first two stages in no time.

This new version didn't promise to be a lot distinct from the old one. The third stage initiated with lots of flying boxes, each one a different color, coming right at her face.

"You have to click open all of them," Sean instructed.

Flora did as told. A shower of gold coins rained from each of the boxes she smashed open. "You know what? I wouldn't say the concept is original, but it sure relieves my stress," she commented as another red box split open and a handful of rubies sputtered out.

"Great, that's why I want you to play."

"I like the music you use, it goes very well with the sound effect of the money hitting the pavement."

The screen shifted, and the game was suddenly in slow motion. The music changed accordingly. This time, coming at her was a navy colored box, with the letters HW printed across the top.

Her hands stilled. "That's...that's a Harry Winston ring box."

"Sure looks like it," Sean said coolly. "Want to see what's inside?"

Flora could no longer steady her hands. She turned to look at Sean, who remained stoic, his expression giving away nothing. Her eyes watered. "Please don't build up my expectation—"

"Baby, we're going to die soon if you don't open it. Then we'll have to start this stage all over again."

She let out an unattractive giggle and clicked open the box.

Sitting inside, with a halo setting, was a gorgeous Asscher cut diamond ring. It reminded her of what diamond experts would ofter refer to, an endless hallway with reflective mirrors.

Even Flora could hear herself drawing in a sharp intake of breath as blood pounded at her temples. "It's...it's the ring Fred didn't buy...it's the one I...my favorite one."

Sean nodded. "Good. Any chance it looks like this one?"

So she turned, slowly and almost fearfully. This time, the diamond ring she saw was sitting not on someone else's finger but exactly where it should be, in a velvet box, in the palms of the boy she loved fiercely. Through her tears, the diamond expanded into a chandelier. She blinked and a teardrop fell on the back of her hand.

"Oh my God." She inhaled. "Oh my God. Where did you pull that out from?"

Sean's lashed fluttered. "That's your reaction?"

"I'm just...so surprised."

"I hid it under this bench." He shifted his body so he was facing her squarely. "Flora, I—"

"Wait. So is Fred still proposing?"

"No."

"He's not. He never planned to propose."

"No, and—"

"This whole proposal party is for me? You've completely outwitted me...I mean, you hired me to plan my own proposal?"

"No, I hired the best event planner I know to plan a proposal for the girl I'm in love with, but honestly Flora, you're ruining it. Can you please let me continue?"

Flora nodded, hiccupping, sniffling and trying not to laugh at the same time.

Sean took her hand with both of his, and the warmth from him seeped into her skin. "Flora Morgan, I love you. I love you not because you're the most beautiful girl I've ever seen—you are, by the way—but because you're the kindest, most interesting, intelligent, sexy, exciting girl I know, and you light up my life with your existence. You take care of me, support me, accompany me, accept me...you just get me, you know? And I feel so special that I get to be with you. I've loved you since I was seventeen and I never stopped." He swallowed. "In the words of Hermann Hesse, 'If I know what love is, it is because of you.'"

He paused to take a breath, and Flora remained rooted, tears starting up again. She blinked rapidly to clear her vision.

"I know we talked about this and I told you I weren't ready," he continued, "but I kept thinking back to our conversation where we both said we could compromise anything for each other. I was reluctant before because I was scared, but then I realized...I trust you. I trust us. We can work this out together, and you'll help me, and I'll be brave for you....as long as we feel the same. You know, I already think of your family as my own. They've been so great to me since the start, and you...I shouldn't think so much, I should just feel lucky that you want to...be my wife, and I do, and I don't know why I was so scared before." His voice started to tremble, and Sean's usual calm demeanor wavered when she felt his hands gripping tighter.

"Baby, I love you. Will you marry me?"

At that, Flora lost control and tears fell freely. Sean pulled her into an embrace and she plunged into the familiar clean scent of him. Shaking in his arms, she tried to get out a complete sentence. "Are you...are you proposing because y-you think this is t-the right thing to do? Like-like is this something that makes you happy? Or are you do-doing it to make me happy?"

"Baby," he said softly. "Aren't those all the same thing?"

A series of images of him overlapped one after the other. Sean leaning against her locker in his varsity jacket with his Jansport slung over his shoulder. Sean tying the shoelace on his Converse. Sean teaching her physics, scribbling formula on her notebook with a pencil while biting his lip. Sean opening the car door for her and shutting it gently after she got in. Sean in crutches. Sean lying on the beach with the sea breeze in his hair and sunlight reflecting off his bare body. Sean breaking down in her arms, his hot tears burning her chest. Sean getting tangled up in the sheets with her, his breath fanning her skin. Sean standing in the showers naked. Sean getting back home from his morning jog, smiling at her over the rim of his coffee hug. Sean rubbing the dark circles under his eyes after writing code overnight. Sean patting their dogs. Sean kissing her. Sean saying forever.

He didn't rush her, so Flora took her time calming down in his arms. When the last hiccup stopped, she raised her head and wiped under her eyes.

"This is surreal," she whispered. "I feel like I've chased you for so long and this is finally happening."

He ran his fingers soothingly through her hair. "Hey. From the moment you laid eyes on me, I'm yours. I'm absolutely defenseless against you."

"This is very sweet, but I...this is totally unexpected. I've kind of accepted that we won't get married right away, so..."

Sean's eyes widened. "Okay...so you're saying...you don't want to..."

"Can I think about this for a while?"

"Sure. I mean, of course."

"The party..."

He took her hand again, and she could see he was trying his best to recover from the shock. As the gentleman he was, his first priority was always to tend to her feelings. "Don't worry about that. I thought parties were your thing and you could share the news right away, which is why...I'm so sorry. It wasn't my intention to use a party to pressure you, or anything like that. I'll just go in first and tell them that we're still celebrating Fred's bartender skills. It won't be awkward. I promise."

Flora met his gaze, so gentle and understanding, and her lips slowly tilted into a smirk. "Dear Sean, you're so cute when you're flustered."

"Don't tease me. I'm very hurt right now."

"Sorry, I couldn't resist." Unable to hold back her grin, she leaned in and kissed him firmly on the mouth. "Of course I'll marry you, Sean Foster. Don't you know my high school dream was to marry you at 28? Looks like we're a year ahead of schedule."

He blinked. "What—I I hate you. You're a brutal woman, Flora."

"But you totally love me."

"Unfortunately." He started to smile. "Will you marry me or not?"

"Yes." She kissed him. "Yes. Yes. Yes." With each yes, Flora pecked him on the mouth, until he pulled her close and kissed her properly. His kiss spun her head and she floated off ground, and he was everything she could hear and feel.

"Can I call my mom?" Flora said, out of breath, when they came apart for air. "I can't wait to tell her."

"Sure," Sean said.  "Or you can head back to the party and tell her in person."

"She's here? You told her?"

"Your whole family's here. I asked your parents for their permission first. They were pretty eager to marry you off, I have to say," Sean teased. "They said there's no returning of sold goods."

Flora hit him and laughed. "No returning. Ever. Hey, speaking of which, you went back and returned the ring Fred originally chose?"

"Yeah. He deliberately picked the cheapest one because he thought it'd be easier to switch to a more expensive one. As to the party guests, you already know why he invited everyone from our office and our fraternity brothers...it's for me."

"Fred is such a sweetheart!"

"He is. We totally have to give him one of those ugly mugs that say 'just married.'"

Flora tossed back her head and laughed.

"Grace is here, too," Sean said. "You get to meet her finally. I know you'll like her. By the way, you've only seen half of the guest list. Our high school gang is here...Liz and Carrie...everyone from your office...and Linda. Linda is going to cry, I can already see that. Oh, and I almost went ahead and asked Luke Axelsson just so I can see him cry."

"Still the jealous type I see."

"Always."

Flora smiled, and she circled his neck and closed the space between them. "You're cute. I love you."

"I love you." He lowered his head and brushed her lips with his own.

Flora closed her eyes and lost herself in his kiss. Her tears were dry, and she remembered what Sean had said when they'd gotten back together in his first New York apartment. He had said that he made her cry too many times and he hoped for the chance to make it up to her.

Seemed like he hadn't had much luck; he still made her cry.

Thank God those were all happy tears.

∞

dear friends, thank you, thank you, and thank you again for waiting. i feel so privileged to have you as readers and i'm ever so grateful to have you on this journey with me. this is kind of the last chapter but we'll have an epilogue-y like bonus chapter to follow (and i already know i'll take forever to write it so i apologize in advance). for some reason, i can't get jake and jessica out of my head, so if you're a shipper, stay tuned for that bonus chapter where another happy ending is coming up.

*Sean and Flora will make an appearance in the bonus chapter where you'll see a snippet of their life, but for the most part it will focus entirely on Jessica and Jake*

i've been busy with a new job and there were times when i felt stuck with this story, and sometimes i even wondered if i'd lost interest in flora and sean (or in writing altogether). it's because of your warm words and encouragement that i found the confidence to write again. thank you for everything. i love you very very much.

this chapter is dedicated to @savvyinpink for the amazingly gorgeous trailer. it gives me SO MUCH FEELS and i'm absolutely smitten with it. thank you!!