Brennan and the guys needed to get on the road, so it’s Syd and me, Maggie and Jake, and Warren and Bridgette. I’m not sure why we even got a communal table, because none of us couples are paying attention to each other.
Well…we weren’t. But Warren has turned his attention on Sydney now.
“Settle something for us,” he says, referring to Bridgette and him.
“What’s up?” Sydney says.
“So…in the song you rewrote…you mentioned vows. Was that a hint that you want to get married?”
Sydney laughs and then looks at me. She looks back at Warren and shakes her head. “We talked about how we weren’t ready a few months ago. When I was rewriting the song, I realized maybe I am. I mean…” She looks at me. “Did you take it that way? I wasn’t saying I expect a proposal. I just meant whenever you’re ready…I’m ready.”
Yeah, I’m ready. But I don’t tell her that. She deserves a more thought-out proposal.
“Hold up,” Warren says before I can even respond. “Slow down. Bridgette and I have been together the longest. We should get married first.”
“No,” Bridgette says. “I think Jake and Maggie should get married first. She has less time.”
I was hoping I misread her lips, but she just made Sydney spew out her drink, so I guess I understood what Bridgette said just fine. Bridgette is lucky that Maggie is laughing at her right now, rather than choking her.
“What?” Bridgette says innocently. “It’s true.” She looks at Maggie. “I’m not trying to be mean. But seriously, you should try to do as much as you can as fast as you can. It makes sense. Add marriage to your bucket list and get it over with.”
Maggie’s cheeks are a shade darker than they were before all the attention was on her. Bridgette doesn’t seem to care that she’s embarrassing her. Or maybe she just doesn’t notice.
“We aren’t getting married,” Maggie says. “We’ve only known each other for a few months. Statistically speaking, the less time you date someone before you marry them, the greater your chances of it ending in divorce.”
Warren leans forward, holding up a finger in thought. It always makes me nervous when he tries to impart wisdom on other people. “Maybe so,” he says. “But wouldn’t adding marriage to your bucket list be worth the risk? You and Jake can date like this forever and you’ll never know what it’s like to get married. Or you can risk it and possibly experience marriage and divorce before you die.”
Jake cocks an eyebrow and glances at Maggie. “Sounds like a win-win to me.”
Maggie’s eyes widen. Jake smiles at her while he takes a sip of his drink. And then he says, “It makes sense if you think about it. At the risk of sounding like a medical professional, your life expectancy isn’t as long as mine. So…I’m ready when you’re ready.”
Maggie stares at him blankly. We all do, actually. I don’t think anyone was expecting him to agree with Warren.
“I hope that wasn’t a proposal,” Maggie says to Jake. “It didn’t even come with an I love you. Or an engagement ring.”
Jake stares back at Maggie for a moment. Then he reaches his hand out across the table. “Give me your keys, Ridge.”
I don’t even hesitate. I give him my keys, and Maggie watches him in bewilderment as he leaves the restaurant.
“What is he doing?” she says. “Is it something I said?”
Warren is shaking his head. “Fucker is gonna beat me to it.”
“To what?” Maggie says.
She seems confused, so none of us gives her any hints that we know what’s happening. When Jake walks back into the restaurant, he approaches the table with purpose. He’s holding the ring I gave him earlier, but before he opens the box, he stands at the head of the table and looks at Maggie. Warren signs everything he says.
“Maggie…I know it’s only been a few months. But it’s been the best few months of my life. From the moment I first saw you, I have been absolutely consumed by you. I wish I had this speech and this moment planned out, but we both like spontaneous.” He gets down on one knee and opens the box. None of us can tell what Maggie’s thinking. This could go one of two ways, and I’m not so sure it’s going to go the way Jake wants it to.
He opens the box. “This ring belonged to your grandmother. And I wish more than anything that I could have known her, because I would have thanked her for raising such an amazing, independent, perfect woman. And the perfect woman for me. Whether you marry me or not, this ring is yours.” He pulls it out and lifts her hand, then slips the ring on her trembling finger. “But I would really love it if you would take the biggest risk you’ve ever taken and marry me, despite knowing very little about me or if we’re even compatible for a lifetime or—”