L A Y L A ' S P O V

I bask in the warmth of the sun hitting my skin, listening to the calming sound of the waves crashing against the shore.

Derek woke me up the other morning and with no warning, said we were going away for the weekend. He already had bags packed and in the car and before I knew it we were on the road and I had no idea where we were going.

Needless to say I was surprised when he drove us up to Maryland to a seaside town where he rented a little beach house for us for the weekend.

We had an amazing few days with nowhere to be or go, able to spend some much needed quality time together. Our phones were put on do not disturb and we were able to give each other our complete undivided attention. After everything that happened over the past few weeks, we really needed it and I'm so grateful Derek did this.

Our weekend was filled with lazy morning in bed, sunset walks on the beach, cracking jokes while we cooked together, cuddling and talking while we fell asleep under the stars, one too many glasses of wine and a very rated r scene involving a sun lounger and a night swim in the sea. Derek threw me over his shoulder so I had no choice really. But now that I'm not shivering anymore, I can appreciate the cute memory.

This time away was absolutely bliss but we're leaving today because the life we managed to forget about back in DC? We have to unfortunately get back to it.

One thing I haven't forgot about though is that ring Derek mentioned. I'm starting to think it doesn't exist. The second I was alone at home, I tore the house apart looking for it but I couldn't find it anywhere. I could have sworn Derek was chuckling to himself when he got home, almost like he knew. The fucker probably didn't even hide it in the house to mess with me.

There has been so many moments he could have done it this weekend. I thought it might happen on one of our many moonlight walks on the beach. We talked a lot about our future and in particular Derek talked about how many babies he plans to impregnate me with. Six he said. I shut that down real quick. I'm agreeing to one, maybe two if the first one isn't an absolute menace. But let's be real, it's going to be half of the both of us, of course it's going to be a menace.

"Layla?"

My breath stops when Derek he calls my name in the distance over the waves crashing in the distance. I brace myself to turn around because I'm convinced every time he calls out to me from behind I'm going to turn around and he's going to be down on one knee.

He isn't. Damn it. He's on his two stupid feet as he makes his way across the sand over to me.

"The cars all packed up," He says, tugging me towards him tightly. "Ready to go?"

"No," I mumble as his lips connect to my cheek repeatedly. I don't want to leave this bubble of bliss we've created here. "Do we have to?"

"Yes." He too takes one last look at the ocean before we start walking back towards the house. "We gotta get back. We have dinner reservations."

My eyes narrow. "We do?"

"We do," He says nonchalantly, intertwining our fingers together as we across the beach.

My suspicion grows as we make our way up the sandy boardwalk. "Where?"

And when Derek says we're going to the restaurant we had our first date at it takes everything in me not to scream bingo.

"Oh my god! It's happening tonight!"

"It's not happening tonight," Derek chuckles as we cross the back desk towards the driveway. "I'm just really craving their steak."

We love the food at that restaurant and have been back dozens of times, but usually we get the food to go as apposed to getting dressed up to sit in. So after being away for the whole weekend he wants us to get dressed up fancy and go in instead of getting it to go? Who does he think he's fooling?

"It's so happening tonight!"

"No it's not," There's humour behind his eye roll as he opens up the car door for me. "Get in the car." I get in and he leans over me, clicking my seatbelt into place, finishing with a soft kiss on my lips. "And have some patience."

-

I have absolutely no patience.

We're seated at a dim, quiet table in the back of the restaurant, nice and private for an intimate conversation but I'm so on edge I can't even enjoy my dinner, in a good way of course.

I'm mentally and physically ready. I'm in a gorgeous dress, my nails are freshly done, not a single hair or eyelash is out of place. I'm ready, and waiting..

Our waitress properly thought I was an alcoholic with how quickly I jumped for my glass of champagne. No ring.

The bread sticks that were brought to our table were thoroughly inspected. All clear.

I practically dissected my entree incase it was hidden in there. Nada.

But then, halfway through dinner Derek covers my hand with his and takes a deep, steading breath. His eyes find mine. "Layla..."

My fork drops from my hand. My heart is in my mouth. Oh my god. It's happening right now.

"Can you pass me the salt?"

He's lucky I don't throw the shaker at his head. Asshole. "Are you kidding me?"

I wish I could slap that grin off his face. "You would have taken that shot too and you know it."

If the shoe was on the other foot I absolutely would have, but I don't like it when it's done to me.

I grab my glass of wine, narrowing my eyes at him over the rim. "Funny. I'm going to say no now."

Derek wipes his napkin over his mouth, hiding his grin. "It's a good thing it's not happening then, isn't it?"

I'm trying not to lose hope. Why would he drag me to this dinner to not do it here.

We get the chocolate cake for dessert. I dissect that too. Nada.

Before I know it, he's paying the bill and we're walking out and my hope is slipping away as we leave. Okay, maybe he's going to take me on a walk down to the water front—

"I'm beat," Derek hand covers his mouth in a yawn, the other on the small of my back as we walk across the parking lot. "I can't wait to get into bed."

I stop just short of his truck, all my hope gone. "Wait..it's really not happening?"

I can tell it's taking everything in him not to laugh. "I told you it wasn't!"

I'm trying not to be a brat about this, but there's no way he isn't doing all this just to mess with me. There's so much mischief in his eyes.

"Okay," I say suspiciously. I don't know what he's up to, but I've decided I'm just going to go with it. "Let's go home."

"Oh, wait." We finally reach Derek's truck but he pauses before we can get in. "I almost forgot."

He takes my hands in his.

He lowers himself down on one knee.

Oh my god. It's happening.

He lets go of my hands.

He's tying his shoelaces.

I wish I could physically assault him, but I'm not trying to get arrested. Again.

"I'm sorry!" Derek's laughing. I'm storming away. "Layla, I'm sorry!"

He's chasing after me. I'm still storming away. More importantly I'm plotting and planning exactly how I'm going to get him back. My first thought is mousetraps everywhere. Second thought? Throwing away all his right shoes and left socks just for the inconvenience.

I'm conjuring up my third idea when Derek grabs me from behind and lifts me into his arms before I get too far away. I would scream kidnapper, but there's people around that might take it seriously so I refrain.

I also refrain from talking to him when he gets me into the car and starts to drive us home. He's pushing my buttons and he's loving watching me go crazy with every passing second. Unfortunately for him, two can play at that game.

"I might head out to the bar and find another stranger." Push, push, push. "Maybe he'll want to marry me."

"Oh yeah?" Derek says slowly. He casts me a quick glance before is eyes float back to the road. "Is that what you want?"

I don't even get a chance to answer before he's turning the car around. He's actually turning the car around. I guess I'm going to the bar now.

It's not long before we pull up outside and I probably should admit defeat now, but I'm too stubborn so I get out of the car.

"Have fun finding someone else that's going to deal with that attitude!" Derek yells before I close the door.

I walk in to a completely empty bar, besides the bartender, who happens to be a woman. Damn it. There's no one for me to talk to make Derek jealous for when he comes in here looking for me in a few minutes time. So instead, I pull up a stool and order a vodka cranberry.

It's not even two minutes later when he pulls up and sinks into the seat beside me.

"Get what you wanted?"

I side eye Derek. "I love you but I don't like you very much right now."

"Bet I can change your mind," He says, giving me a soft smile.

Derek quickly orders himself a drink before turning his attention back to me.

He takes a slow sip of his beer and his eyes never leave mine over the rim of the bottle. "Did I ever tell you why I talked to you that first night I met you here?"

I shake my head, wondering where he's going with this because as far as I know, there was no real reason.

"This bar was the closest to my first apartment here so I got comfortable coming here. Even when I moved further out to our house I still came here after work sometimes, bad cases, bad dates and I always sat in the same seat. The night I met you I walked in here to a completely empty bar. Except.." His eyes hold mine with so much sincerity my heart aches. "You were sitting in my seat."

I try and fail to hold back my smile. "Your seat? I'm sorry, I didn't know it was claimed."

His grin stretches across his face. "Of course it is. It's the best seat in the house. My back isn't to the door, it's the perfect distance from the speakers so the music isn't blasting." Derek pulls my stool closer to him and my legs slot in between his own. "When I walked into this bar that night you were sitting in my seat. I knew I had to talk to you."

I'm trying to stay mad but when he says cute shit like that how can I? "And look what it got you."

His eyes hold mine when he parrots that same sentence back to me quietly. "Look what it got me."

We're about halfway done with our drinks when Derek suggests playing a game of pool, and I try to remain calm because I think he might be recreating the first night we met. Could it possibly be.. happening?

He chalks up our cues, we decide on evens or odds and just like the first time we did this, Derek gets absolutely screwed. It's not long before I'm lining up the eight ball, one move away from taking the game.

I pull my cue back and take the shot but the eight ball doesn't go into the pocket because it doesn't move how a normal pool ball should. It does a small circle before it comes to a stop again but the biggest tip off is that there's something rattling inside of it.

I freeze. "Oh my god! It's happening now!"

For the first time in forever, Derek confirms my suspicions with a small laugh at my excitement and a nod. "It's happening now."

In my mind, that's enough for me. I'm already in his arms, celebrating. I've waited long enough.

"Babe," Derek laughs, cupping my face and kissing my lips. "I haven't done it yet. Let me say my piece."

I hop down from his arms, giggling. "Okay, okay," I pat my hands to his chest impatiently. "Go."

Derek grabs the eight ball from the pool table before he gets down on one knee before me, softly taking my hands in his.

"Layla, when I met you here in this bar I didn't know what I was missing in my life, but it was you. You filled a hole in my heart that I didn't know even existed, because love was just a word to me until you came along and gave it meaning."

Damn it. I'm crying already. Derek reaches up and swipes the tear that drops from my eye.

"You're the only thing that exists in my world. Your sincerity, strength, courage, passion and consideration pour into me." He pauses for a second, drawing in a shaky breath. "I don't know how I got so lucky as to deserve to be the one that you choose to love."

I cup his cheek in my hand, using my thumb to wipe the tear that falls when he starts getting choked up too. "Derek, you are the best thing that has ever happened to me."

He turns his head, kissing my palm. "When you moved in with me you showed me exactly what our future could look like and I wouldn't want anything else then to be fighting with you over tubes of toothpaste on a Friday night."

Instead of top to bottom, Derek is a maniac that squeezes from it the middle. My laugh is soft. "I'm right and I will die on that hill."

Derek's smile mirrors my own. "Everything I do is to see that smile on your face. You are the one person I know I can count on for anything and I never want to stop making memories with you and if we're eighty years old and you're still telling people I'm a gigolo and you're my pimp, we'll have lived a good life filled with laughter and love. So, my beautiful and impatient girl, I have a question for you."

"You want my opinion on hair transplants, huh?"

Despite the shake of his head, Derek's laugh is playful. "I'm in for a fun life with you."

The joke passes, and we're right back in the bubble of bliss.

Derek grabs my hands again. "I want you, only you and I'm so excited for us to share our lives together forever. Layla, will you marry me?"

As much as I joked about it, the word no would be physically impossible for me to say right now. "Yes, Derek. Nothing would make me happier."

As if this day couldn't get any better, when Derek finally pops open the eight ball, my heart stops.

"Derek, is that.."

"Your mom's ring?" He delicately slips it onto my fourth finger, smiling softly. I've never had anything fit me more perfectly. "Yes, it is."

-

A/N: I really hope you guys like how this chapter turned out!!🤍💍 it really wouldn't be Derek and Layla if it wasn't majority them messing with each other🥰