August

The door bursts open, revealing an infuriated Robin. I slip the ring box in my pants pocket quickly and lean back in my seat on the sofa. I try to appear nonchalant as if I wasn't giving myself a pep talk a few seconds ago.

"Hey—"

"I hate you." She says. She strides to me and folds her arms as she stands in front of me.

I glance at her belly bump before my eyes trail down her figure. A red, flower decorated sundress covers her body. She wears a pair of white converse to match it.

"What did I do?"

She scoffs. "Oh, I'll tell you what you did."

I loosen the strings to my sweatpants. "Tell me, gorgeous."

She stares at me for a moment before gulping and clearing her throat. "What gave you the right to tell your mother I wanted to spend the day with her? Do you have any idea of how furious I am with you?"

I bite back my smile as she continues. "She wouldn't allow me to eat jelly! You know how much I love Jelly, August. I could have happily stayed in my office as I ate my jelly. But no, you just had to go and tell your mother how much I adore her! Now I do love her but who are you to tell her—" Her glare grows. "Are you even listening?"

We remain in eye contact as I adjust myself, lifting my hips as I do so. Her eyes flicker to my crotch as I smile and fold my hands. "How long do I have to wait to take that dress off of you?"

Robin rolls her eyes. "You never listen to me." She mutters. I stand up as she shakes her head. "I'm expressing my feelings about how I feel towards—"

"Shut up." I hold her face in my hands and bring my lips against hers softly. I start off slow in a teasing manner. Then I gradually deepen the kiss. After a whimper leaves her lips, she backs away.

"No. You can't just ignore—"

"I listen to everything you say or do, Robin. Every laugh, every scream, every cough or sneeze, everything. "

Her eyes go wide and that beautiful smile appears on her face. The smile that could calm me within an instant. The smile that had me laughing and cheesing just at the thought of seeing Robin every day after practice. The smile that is making me more nervous than I've ever been to do what I'm about to do tonight.

"Really?"

"You're the love of my life and mother of my unborn child. So yeah, I watch you like a fucking hawk." I push a strand of hair behind her ear. "Now back to my original question; How long do I have to wait to take that dress off of you, Robin?"

"Take it off." She says after a moment.

I glance at her for reassurance and she nods. As soon my hand connects against her hips, the front door swings open.

"Oh, come on, get a room!" I hear Richy say. I turn around in frustration as Robin exhales a deep breath.

"This is our fucking—"

"Quiet, August. I need to speak to my girlfriend." He says, shutting the door behind him.

I stride towards him. "I'm gonna kick your ass Richy."

Robin and Richy laugh as I approach him. He holds his hands up in mock surrender. "Bro, I'm joking. Calm down!"

I stare at him for a moment longer before turning back around. She has disappeared off to another room. I glance back once more. Seeing the coast is clear, I remove the ring box out of my pocket and signal for Richy to come closer.

He grins. "Is that it? You got it?"

I hit his head. "Stop acting like its drugs Richy. It's an engagement ring." I glance at the door. "Where's Damien and Kelly?"

He shrugs. "Beats me. Damien said he would pick up Kelly because he was worried about her. I thought they'd be here by now though."

I frown as he examines the ring. "Worried about her for what?"

"The break up."

My frown grows. I close the box as he is about to touch it. "What break up?"

"Between her and her boyfriend. He dumped her. She hasn't said why and she isn't showing any sadness. So Damien's worried about her. Me too. They haven't told my girlfriend yet," He nudges my shoulder and grins. "You know how crazy she'll get if she finds out someone broke up with her best friend."

As I am about to hit him, he backs away smiling. I place the box back inside of my pocket and begin walking to the kitchen. "She's not your girlfriend. She's mine. Back off, dick-face." I mumble.

He flops on one of the long selections in the living room. "So what time do you plan on asking her, August?"

I take the bread out of the cabinet and remove the cheese from the refrigerator. I grab a plate and say, "What'd you eat today?"

"Answer my question first."

"Richy, what did you eat today?"

I hear him sigh. "I ate an orange before I left for school."

"And?"

"And nothing. That's it."

Frustration rises inside of me. I make my way back to the living room and stand in front of him. "You're telling me you've only eaten a fucking orange today, Richy?"

"I'm—"

"It's seven in the afternoon and the only thing you have eaten is an orange? Are you kidding me?"

"Bro, I forgot to. Get off my back. Why do you always get mad, anyway?"

"Because I care about you jackass. I swear—you and Robin—Jesus. Stubborn as hell."

I hear him running behind me as I step back inside of the kitchen. "What did you just say?"

Preparing his sandwich, I pause, realizing what I have just said. I look away as he stares at me with a wide smile. "Nothing. I said nothing."

Richy hits my arm. "Nah, you said something, August! You said you care about me!"

"No I didn't."

"Yes you—"

"Alright boys I'm leaving!" Robin shouts. I breathe a sigh of relief at not having to finish this conversation.

Richy and I rush towards her as the front door opens. "Love you." I say and place a quick kiss to her lips. Richy tries to do the same, making me push him away.

Robin returns the kiss as a frown settles on her face. "You're not going to ask where I'm going?"

I smile. "You're going shopping with Kelly." I reach in my pocket and hand her my credit card. "Damien and Richy are gonna chill here with me."

Damien gets out of the car, the top three buttons of his shirt unbuttoned. Kelly honks. "Ms. Davis, we need to get going before stores start closing, please!"

Robin matches my smile as she accepts the card. "Love you!" She says and kisses my cheek before walking to the car.

Damien shakes my hand and joins us inside. We wait until they drive away before closing the door.

"So Damien… you let Kelly drive your car." Says Richy.

I laugh, knowing where this is about to go. I begin walking towards the bedroom.

"Yeah? What about it?"

"Well you both just got out of a relationship, so…"

"Richy don't start. Kelly is just a mutual friend."

Richy laughs loudly. "Mutual friend my ass!" I hear his footsteps approaching as I step inside the room. "August, Damien is fuckin' your girl's best friend!" He shouts.

"No I am not!"

I laugh and shake my head. When he reaches the door, I shut it quickly. For the next thirty minutes, as I get ready Richy tries to make Damien confess. By the time I am done, dinner with Robin is about to start in fifteen minutes. I grab my suit jacket before striding out of the bedroom hurriedly.

"You're barely sixteen. How would you know 'the signs' you speak of Richard?"

He grins. "Why was your shirt unbuttoned when you came in?"

"I left my house in a rush. Are you done?"

"Why'd you leave your house in a rush?"

"Kelly and I were late."

His grin grows. "Why was Kelly at your house in the first place?"

"Because we were—" Damien stands up and throws a ball from the table at Richy. "Go do your homework or something."

I laugh, grabbing the keys and opening the door. "Getting some action already?" I say. Damien shakes his head as he walks. "Atta boy!" I congratulate, hitting his back.

"We didn't fuck, alright? Kelly is a beautiful, beautiful woman. But we're not interested in each other. She's a good girl. I don't need to mess that up. So drop it."

We get in the car and after annoying Damien for a few more minutes, we stop. It starts to rain as we grow closer to the restaurant. It starts off as a light sprinkler but gradually grows heavier. By the time we arrive at the restaurant, it is practically pouring. I push my worry aside, my heart on one mission tonight. They wish me good luck and wait in the car as I rush inside. As I near the door, I squint my eyes trying to read the sign that rests on it.

When I stop in front of the door, disappointment washes over me.

This restaurant has been closed due to power shortage. Very sorry for the inconvenience.

I needed to propose here. This is Robin's favorite place to eat. She talks about it every time her parents are brought up. It's a significant place to her that I wanted to make even more significant.

I planned this. I fucking tried my hardest to make this the best proposal Robin has ever had because she deserved it. If I had it my way, she'd have everything in this world. Everything would be hers and no one would say a damn thing about it. But I couldn't even give her a good proposal.

I begin walking back to the car and find Damien and Richy already leaning against the side of it. I run a hand over my face, wiping the rain. "It's not open." I mutter.

Damien taps the side of his cigar before tossing it on the ground. He tucks his lighter in his pants pocket, smoke leaving his mouth.

"So?"

"The fuck do you mean, 'so?' I can't go through with it. " I reply, leaning against the car on the side of Richy.

"Since when does August Foreman let a sign stop him from anything?" Asks Richy.

Damien's car pulls up in front of the restaurant. He nudges my shoulder. "You can stand right here and mope. Or you can go propose to the woman that made you a big fucking wimp. You're choice."

Richy smiles. "I'd go with the second one."

I glance at Robin and Kelly helping her out of the car. As my gaze meets hers, I practically feel my heart do back flips. When she smiles, I smile. And when she redirects her attention back to Kelly, I miss her eyes on me.

I nod and lean off of the car. "I'm gonna do it." I say to myself. I turn to Damien and smile. "I'm going to propose to Robin."

They smile as I start to feel as if my heart is about to explode in nervousness. Damien hits my back. "You got this."

Richy matches his actions. "Yep."

I nod and wipe the rain from my face again. Richy and Damien continue hitting my back as they encourage me but after one of them hits me too hard, I grow irritated. I punch Damien in the stomach and kick Richy's leg. They hit me back and somehow — seconds later, I have Damien in a headlock as Richy uses my chest as a punching bag.

Coughing, Damien manages to back away. "You're supposed to be proposing to Robin!"

I nod and step away. "Right, right."

I exhale a deep breath and fix my suit. "You're the man August! And if she says no, that's gonna be very embarrassing." Richy shouts as I walk towards Robin.

Robin

I place my hand on my stomach as I hear footsteps approaching. When I lift my head, I smile, finding August walking towards us.

Kelly drops my hand and bites the side of her mouth. She presses a kiss to my cheek and steps back as he reaches me.

"I'm so happy for you guys! Oh this is just like a fairytale!" She squeals, her eyes watering.

I grow confused. "What are you—"

August kisses my forehead, bringing my attention back to him. "Hey, gorgeous." He gets down on one knee suddenly. He smiles up at me, his dimple coming into vision even through the rain. "Don't freak out alright?"

The hand that was once on my stomach, flies to my mouth. "Oh. My. God."

August takes my old hand. "I had a perfect proposal for you. But that shit backfired. But that doesn't matter, because if you let me, I'll spend the rest of my life showing you how much happiness you deserve. So Robin, " he says.

I gasp when he removes a small box from his pocket. He opens it and my shock only grows when he reveals a light pink sparkling elevated heart ring. I knew it had to be at least worth more than twenty-thousand dollars.

"Will you marry me?" He says so quietly, I am surprised I can hear it.

I stare at him in pure shock. My heart beats louder than it ever has before. I think back on how much we used to absolutely despise each other up until this very moment. How lonely and heartbroken I was and how utterly happy and excited I am now.

I don't have to think. I know my answer right away. There wasn't an ounce of doubt that filled my mind.

He runs a hand through his damp hair. 

"Baby, fuck. Say something. Please."

I grin and shake my head. "No."

His facial expression falls and — I swear — I think his eyes start to water. "What?" He breathes.

"No. You didn't say please the first time. You said, 'Will you marry me?' not 'Will you marry me, please.' So, the answer is no."

A glare appears on his face immediately. "I'm gonna fuck you up."

I laugh and wipe the rain from his cheek. "I'm joking, I'm joking!" He stands up and I pull him closer. Standing on my tippy-toes, I kiss him softly. "Of course I'll marry you, you enormous idiot."

"Fucking finally." August slips the ring on my ring finger before cupping my face in his hands and kissing me like he's never done before.

Finally.