J.D.

I pulled my shirt off to reveal my white undershirt, sitting back on one of the deck chairs. Zamora was probably right. I should have worn some shorts it was very warm. To be honest, I was really only okay showing my skin around her. An insecurity started a few years ago when I gained some weight. I have since then lost that weight and worked out more, but old habits die hard. I closed my eyes and basked in the sun that was suddenly covered.

My sisters stood around me as I opened my eyes, lifting up my sunglasses. "So what's your plan here?" Justine says. "Are you going to propose or what?"

My eyes widen, and I look around, confused as they sit in a circle around me. "Who's said that?"

"Mom thinks that's the reason you brought us up here." Jamie says as she types on her phone.

"Are you?" Jessica asks

I look back at Zamora, who sits playing with my niece on the opposite side of the boat deck. I look back at them and shake my head. "No... it's just a family trip, so you guys can get to know her better."

"What are you waiting for?" Jessica slaps my stomach. "She's the best thing that's has ever happened to you."

Jamie turns the screen off her phone and shakes her head. "It's been less than a year. You should wait."

"Have you even thought about asking her to marry you?" Justine asks.

We are sitting now in a small circle. As siblings, even when we fight or say dumb things to each other, in certain times like this, it was like we were all on one side.

"I've definitely thought about it, don't have a ring yet, but last month we had dinner at this nice place and this guy proposed to his girlfriend and she mentioned how she thought public proposals are uncomfortable . So if I do, none of you hoes are going to be there." I admit to them. "I think I'm going to do it New Year's." I say after a small pause.

"That's so far away." Jessica wonders, "why new year's?"

"That's her favorite holiday and free fireworks." We all laugh. I look over at my girlfriend as she laughs with Sarah, nodding her head and smiling down at her. "I need to put a ring on that finger." I mumbled.

After a few hours, the sun went down, and we all had dinner back on land around a fire. Once everyone was ready for bed, Zamora and I walked hand and hand to the cabin. I underestimated how many stars would be up in the sky. It felt like we were in a whole other universe. I got a blanket and a bottle of wine, grabbing two dixie cups and bringing her out to the grassy area.

She sits beside me and watches as I pop open the bottle, pouring some into a cup. "Normally, I would say let it breathe but I just want to get my drink on." she laughs and taps my cup with hers.

She sips the cup and looks at the sky. "Wow!" her skin glows under the moon and she looks absolutely breathtaking. She scoots down and lays with her back to me between my legs. I kiss the top of her head and relax for a moment, enjoying the view.

We didn't say much for a while, just really taking in the night. Looking at the darkness and seeing the moon brighten the night really reminded me of the woman in my arms. In my year when I was single and alone, the darkness seemed to eat at me and consume me. I could feel my heart turning cold and bitter. Sure, I had people around me, I worked my ass off to prove myself, and I wasn't alone, much like in the sky there are stars, but nothing lit me up and changed me the way my moon did.

I remember seeing her for the first time. My mother doesn't lie. I really did have a crush on her but shook it off because girls were supposed to be gross. Boy, was I wrong.

There she was in that pharmacy, reading labels and I just knew she was someone special. I just couldn't pinpoint where I saw her before. I had no time to think as I spoke to her the first thing on my mind and God do I thank the stars that her father needed an oil change and that my father recommended me. What my life would be now without her, I don't even want to think about that.

"What are you thinking about?" she looks up at me, "you're quiet."

"About how easily our paths could have crossed without us meeting each other. " I push her dark hair to the other side of her head and press my lips along her neck and jaw. "You're my moon." I mumble against her skin.

"That better be a compliment." She giggles.

"You make my life brighter, in a metaphorical way, you're the moon to my dark sky." I explain.

"Wouldn't I be the sun, and you be my moon." I roll my eyes at her and laugh. "Because technically the sun lights up the moon, and the moon is just a big ass rock."

"I'm trying to be romantic, baby love. Stop killing the romance." I tickle her sides, and she laughs, turning in my arms and knocking me down against the ground. He lays on top of me and presses a kiss against my lips for just a moment before sitting up and smiling at me.

"I'm in love with you." She whispers.

"I am so in love with you." I say back. "Kiss me."

She leans in and kisses me, so sweet and soft that I almost forget we are outside in a pretty public area. I open my mouth and feel her tongue meet mine. A small moan escapes her lips, and she pulls away. "We need to go inside; this is going to get real in two minutes."

I agree, standing to my feet, lifting her up over my shoulder, grabbing everything in the other hand. She laughs as we make our way to the cabin again.

*

The next morning, I woke up to the brightness of the June sun shining through the glass door. Zamora laid beside me, huddled into a ball, the blanket surrounding her. I looked at the time and realized it was seven in the morning and she would be naturally up in just a little bit, so I decided to get up and make my way to the recreational area to make her a cup of coffee.

All of our foods and stuff had been placed in a small storage room because apparently there was the occasional bear or wild animal in the area, and this kept it safe.

The recreational area had a little sitting area and overpriced snacks and drinks. I ordered two cups of coffee and poured some cream and Splenda the way she drank hers when I realized her father was sitting down reading a newspaper on the opposite side of the tables.

"Morning, sir!" I wave, walking over to him.

"Morning J.D. early bird?" he asked as I took a seat.

"Not at all, but Zamora is, and I know she likes coffee when she wakes up." I show him the two cups. "How did you sleep?"

He sets the newspaper aside and looks down at his leg. "Surprisingly well, don't tell Zamora, but I've been dabbling in some... medicinal marijuana that's really helped." I nod. "I was hoping to talk to you later, but since we're here, perhaps we can chat now?"

"Yeah, of course. What's up?"

He leans in and sighs, "Are you planning to propose to my daughter?"

Seriously, who started this rumor. "Not... today or this weekend."

"Zack told me he overheard your sisters and asked me if you had gotten my permission." He shrugs.

"I would one hundred percent ask you for your blessing, sir. I was going to wait a little bit longer; I know Zamora would want me to. We discussed it and our timeline. Um... actually, now that I have you here, I was thinking New Year's."

Her father chuckles and looks down at his hands. "That's her favorite holiday. Did she ever tell you why?" I shake my head. "When her mother and I were dating, we traveled a lot, and we went down to Mexico in December of 1994. We just went and visited where her family was from. It was beautiful there, we drove our beat-up beetle all over. On New Year's Eve, we got stuck in this little city... the city of Zamora in Michoacan. The whole car just died on us." He laughs. "Emelina and I, we sat in the car in front of this big cathedral, the cathedral of Zamora around midnight on New Year's and watched the people walk by and celebrate the holiday. I had a ring in my pocket and had planned to propose to her once we made it to our destination, which was Puerto Vallarta."

"But you couldn't wait?"

He looks out at the lake and then shakes his head. "I would have asked her to marry me by our second date. She was the love of my life, and now she's the biggest loss of my life. She's the best person I knew, and she gave me my kids, and I strongly believe she was the reason I made it out alive from that accident, and the reason I met another great woman." He clears his throat. "Her mom would tell that story every new year, and Zamora loved it. It's the reason we named her that, not your 'wild olives' theory."

I laugh and nod, "it's a great name either way."

"Anyways, I know you love her, and you make her happy. I don't know if you would consider it because maybe you have your own ideas but..." he reaches into his shirt and pulls out a chain with two rings hanging from it. He takes off the chain and hands me one of the rings. It's a gold band with an emerald stone on it. "This was her mother's ring. Maybe you can add on something to it and give it to her."

I take it, gently looking it over in my hand. "It's perfect, thank you, sir."

He nods. "Just do me a favor. Appreciate every single day with her. I know by the way she looks at you that she loves you more than anythin  because that's how her mother looked at me."

I put the ring in my pocket and shook his hand.

When I made it back to the cabin, Zamora was still asleep,  so I placed the ring in my bag in a safe spot where she wouldn't find it. I heard her shift in the bed, and her hand reached over to my side. "Baby?" her voice is a bit raspy.

I walked over and set the coffee down beside her. "Good morning, pretty girl." Her eyes were closed, but she reached for my face, gently patting it.

"Where did you go?"

"I got you some coffee." Her eyes opened, and she looked over and smiles, as she sat up, her breasts were exposed. Last night's activities left us both undressed. "Beautiful." I gently push her hair back. "I love you."

She takes a sip of coffee and nods. "I love you."

I'm almost positive she meant me, not her coffee.

Thanks for reading.xx