Two Weeks Later

Declan and I are looking at wedding stuff. We're going for a masquerade themed. Our guest have to wear a masquerade mask. "What colored mask should we have?" Declan asked. "Well you can do solid black and I will do black lace like mask," I said.

"That would complement each other. Do you want to do a surprise reveal or wait at the altar?" he asked. "Well my parents did a surprise reveal," I said. "My parents did too. However, Melinda's wanted that day traditional," he said.

I rolled my eyes when he mentions Melinda. "Sorry for bring her up," he said. "Its fine but stop bring that up unless you want me to bring up with Riley and I were gonna use," I said. "Touche," he said.

I smirked at him. He looked at me. "What was that look?" he asked. "Nothing," I said, rolling my eyes. "Yeah whatever. I know that look, babe. Its the same look you always gave me in class," he said.

"Well maybe I can get this wedding stuff off our minds," I said. "Well then," he paused, lifting me onto his shoulder. "Hey! What you doing?" I asked. "Well, you know what I am doing," he said, spanking me.

Next day, I am looking at wedding dresses online while Declan doing his classes at campus. "Man, this is hard to do," I mouthed to myself. I exit out of google and shut my laptop, rubbing my eyes.

I headed down stairs to make a turkey and cheese sandwich with chips since I haven't ate since last night. I sat at the table, to eat. I was looking through my phone and I got a call from a unknown number.

I answered it. Hello?" I said in a deep voice. "Is this Juanita?" Keith said. "Sorry you have the wrong number," I said in the deep voice then hanging up. I sighed as I hear it was Keith's voice and I blocked the number.

I rolled my eyes. I heard the door open. "I'm home!" Declan said. "I'm eating," I said. "Hey, sweetie. How's your day so far?" he asked. "Pretty good. Writing and looking at dresses to wear for the wedding," I said.

"That's good," he said. "Yup, how's yours so far?" I asked. "Pretty good. Got some new students and I hate to say it but I got three of them crushing on me," he said. "Oh, do any of them look like me?" I asked.

"No way. No one will ever compare to you. That's why I have this on my finger," he said. He showed me a gaelic like ring.

"Is that a....?" I asked. "Yes, its a promise ring. I wear it to show everyone that I am taken and engaged," he said. "So you want me to wear one?" I asked.

"No, that's why I got you this engagement ring," he said as he held my left hand. I smiled as he did. "Okay. Do you want me to make you something?" I asked.

"Yes, please," he said. "Any requests?" I asked. "What sandwich are you eating?" he asked. "Turkey and cheese sandwich with chips," I said. "Ohh that sounds good," he said, smiling. I got up and started making his sandwich.

He sat down as I finished up making his sandwich, putting chips on his plate. I placed it on the table. "There you go," I said, smiling. I sat next to him. "You'll never believe who called my phone," I said.

"Who?" he asked. "My ex Keith, Kyle's former friend," I said. "What?" he asked. "Yes but I pretend I was someone else with a different voice and I told him 'You got the wrong phone number' then hanged up and blocked it," I said.

"Good. If he tries to call again with another number, just let me answer it," he said. I nodded. "Just don't tell Kyle," I said. "Why not?" he asked. "Kyle got pissed and beat up Keith. Both went to juvie. They told Kyle, if he got into any fights 3rd time, he will go to jail for fighting. He promised me and Kat that he won't fight Keith again," I said.

Declan nodded. "Yeah, I would promise the same thing for you and Coralina," he said. "Well if a guy called me fat, you can punch him for me," I said. "That I would do for you," he said. I nodded.

We finished eating. "Well my next class is coming up. I will see you in an hour," he said. "Okay. See you soon," I said, smiling. He got up and kissed me. "Love you," he said. "Love you too," I said.

Declan headed out the door. I went to clean up plates and the kitchen. I headed upstairs after cleaning the kitchen and putting dishes away. I headed upstairs.

My phone went off. I looked at it and it was Julianna. I answered it. "Julianna," I said. "Hey, bestie. Were you writing your novel?" she asked. "No, I just ate lunched and cleaned up the kitchen," I said. "Okay. Do you want to go to New York with me?" she asked.

"It depends on what's in New York," I said. "Well I'm gonna go to New York for dress shopping and I wondering if you want to come with since you are my maid of honor?" she asked.

"I can come but I have to talk to Declan about it first. If that's okay?" I asked. "Yeah, its okay. Just let me know," she said. "I will. Talk to you later," I said. We ended the call. After I got off the phone with Julianna, I headed upstairs to change my clothes into work out clothes.

After I got changed, I grabbed my keys and put my sneakers on and headed out the door, locking it and I started running. I continued to run for like a few minutes and I headed to the bridge. "Nita?" Riley asked.

I stopped and looked over. "Riley?" I asked. "Hey, its been awhile," he said. "Like 3 months or so?" I asked. "Yeah. How you been?" he asked. "I've been good. Writing my novel and journalism. How about you?" I asked.

"Great. How are you and Declan doing?" he asked. "We're good," I said. "That's good," he said, smiling. "Riley, here's your coffee," a girl came up.

"Thanks, sweetie. Oh Nita, this is Raquel, Raquel, this is my ex-fiance, Nita," Riley said. "Nice to meet you. Riley talks about you," Raquel said. "Nice to meet you as well. How did you two meet?" I asked.

"Raquel is a childhood of mine. We never dated but we've been best friends since Catholic Private Elementary School and didn't reunite until we reunited at the nursing home we both work at," he said.

"Yeah, I knew he was engaged to you. I know his mother doesn't like you and she don't like me either. She's getting use to me though," Raquel said. "That's good. I better finish my run. It was nice seeing you again, Riley. And it was nice meeting you Raquel. I hope everything goes well for both of you," I said.

"You too. Best of luck to you and Declan," Riley said. I nodded and I continued with my run. I looked back for a minute then looked ahead.

An hour later, I finished my run. Declan's car pulled up to the drive way. I ran to the driveway and I sneaked up behind him and sees me through the window. "Hey, babe, how was your run?" he asked.

"It was good," I said. "That's good. How was your class?" I asked. We went inside his house. "Good. Quicker than I thought," he said. "That's good. What does the staff think of the ring?" I asked.

"They liked it. I told them I propose to a former student," he said. "Did you tell them it was me?" I asked. "Yes I did. I didn't get fired tho," he said. "That's good. I thought you would get fired for sleeping with a former student who actually secretly slept with you," I said.

"No. I told them that you never used me to get your grades up or anything. We just had a connection and plus I told them that I known you since we were little kids. So we are okay," he said.

I nodded. "Oh. Julianna called me and asked me to come to New York to go shopping for her wedding dress there," I said. "Oh what did you say?" he said. "I told her that I had to talk to you about it," I said.

"You don't have to ask my permission to go to New York. You didn't need my permission to go to Vegas for Julianna's surprise Bachelorette Party. You can go," he said. I nodded. "Thanks babe. You know I will call you when I get to there like I did when I got to Vegas," I said.

He nodded and smiled. "Let Julianna know that you can go," he said. I nodded, grabbing my phone and calling her back. "Hello?" Julianna said. "Hey, I told Declan about New York and he's okay with me going to New York with you," I said.

"That's awesome! Can't wait," she said. "So when you want to go to New York?" I asked. "Next week?" she asked. "Sounds a plan," I said, smiling.