Man, this Mickey Mouse hat is tight as shit. My brain is cramped.

"How is your head, Jaylan?"

"It hurts."

"The fireworks are almost done." Her voice saddens, melting my heart.

This hat may be tight as shut, but it's worth it, especially seeing Lizzie in these denim tight shorts. They hug her waist and make the shape of her ass look large like a new planet. The sight of her ass in these who-

"Jaylan, hands," Lizzie's preschool voice scolds.

Removing my hands from my favorite place in the universe. My pocket vibrates and I pull out my phone, seeing love threats from Big Red.

Big Red: we are setting up at Airbnb. Lizzie's brother and sister are here. Don't screw this up PARKER!

Alexis: Would you shut up! Jaylan, everything is going to work out! See you soon! My friend Gina is by the ticket booth to take the photos!

Aunt Lisa: girls be kind to each other. Jaylan, remember to take a deep breath. It's going to be a good night.

Big Red: Sorry 😞

Alexis: me too 😞

Me: I will take everything in consideration

Cracking a smile, I look over at Lizzie leaning on the ledge as she stares in the dark indigo sky. Stars highlight her dimples as she awaits for something that she's waited for since she was seven, according to Isabela.

Apparently, Lizzie would play engagement and wedding with her Barbie dolls. Isabela always had to play the bridesmaid.

Sounds like her big sister.

But Isabela emphasized that I need to dip Lizzie down and kiss her as the fireworks hit the sky. Apparently, Mateo would make fireworks sounds and crash dinosaurs in their organized imaginary play.

Hearing their stories fills my heart, knowing there will be plenty more as our family becomes one. To say I'm nervous is an understatement. My heart races every time Lizzie put her phone in my pocket, knocking on the black velvet box.

It's been so hard to hide this thing, especially because I cannot find a hiding place to save my life. So I've just been carrying the box around, but it was a constant reminder of everyday my love for Lizzie.

"Woah!" Lizzie's finger points up to the first burst of white fireworks light up the night sky.

The crowd around us cheers as another burst of fireworks illuminates the sidewalk.

"Pew pew." I tease pointing at another burst of crackle.

"That one went so high!"

The day is finally here.

I never had looked forward to any day in the past, but today is a day I've been waiting for and it's finally here.

Up to this point, I don't think I could have had this moment possible without people who I care about to help me.

Yes, I even care about Big Red too.

This whole summer has been busy, but this little memory box keeper made sure everyday we spent with each other was memorable.

She wanted a summer to remember

And so did I.

My favorite memory so far was sex in the kitchen to christen it. Just thinking back, I'm fighting the urge to brick up. How just taking her from behind as her hands sprawled out on the kitchen island.

Besides that fond memory, Lizzie reignited a sense of appreciating summer again, with the activities she came up with. Before we came here, her sun tattoo... I think she'll get one in the future, go to a baseball game, which we had to get a photo with the mascot, we drew each other in chalk on the sidewalk, running in the sprinkler, which was worth seeing her yellow bikini with her mangoes spilling out, blew bubbles, which I got in her hair, jump rope.

It sounds crazy, but with Lizzie, it's worth every minute and every second. With those memories, it makes me want more of them as we marry.

Marriage has never been a model for me. Well, I can't say never because Aunt Lisa and Uncle Steve were the perfect example, but I always wondered what it would be like if Nathan and Mom actually did get married. How much different would my behavior have been? Sometimes, you have to learn to love yourself before you learn to love others.

It was hard to love myself because most of my life I experienced so much loss, but Doc McStuffins proved me wrong.

Little by little, we let go of loss but never love.

Lizzie helped me understand what love is again, how to remember and honor Mom instead of burying her with my pain, and I couldn't be anymore thankful.

"Jaylan, look!" Lizzie exclaims as multiple colors of blue hit the night sky, decorating it along with the stars.

"I see our favorite color." I kiss the shell of her ear.

"Mine, not yours," she teases and I thrust my hip into her ass.

"Careful, your chart is almost filled up."

"Jaylannn."

I purposefully filled up her chart last week on how she bossed me around to make sure everything was organized and packed.

Man, my hand sounds good against her ass. My favorite sound.

"You know Lizzie, this is a great way to end summer." I mention, as bright orange and white fireworks highlight the sky.

I never celebrated summer the way Lizzie made me celebrate.

"Jaylan, summer doesn't end until September twenty-first. We still have more to do." Her tiny finger moves up.

Softly laughing, I bump my chin into her head. "Don't be a smart alec." My hands tap her ass.

Leaping up, she gives me her furrowed eyebrows. "Jaylannn."

"I'm so happy we got to spend this time this week, baby." I kiss on top of her head.

She hums and nuzzles herself into me. "Me too, I hope I didn't tire you out with the itinerary."

"Nahhh."

"You know Jaylan, I never thought we would be here."

"Me neither. Took me a lot to convince you. After you made that PowerPoint presentation."

That night I told her, she made a huge PowerPoint, which was thirty slides long about rules and regulations of Disney. I'm still wondering how she got the pointer.

That's my future wife.

"Nooo silly, here with you."

"How come?" I rasp.

"Well... That night when we had our first argument, I didn't think we could ever be here."

Her mentioning the night she walked away from me hits me like a ton of bricks. I don't ever want to experience that again. I don't ever want to hurt Lizzie. And ,if I do, then I will never forgive myself.

I know I'm not perfect, but I will always fight for us.

"I have a confession too. I thought I did lose you forever."

I stayed up all night trying to figure out what to say, but everything I wanted to say sounded dumb or just not sensitive. I know now that, at that moment, I was helpless because I didn't know how to help myself.

"I don't ever want to feel that way."

Brushing strands from her face. "I don't want to feel that way either."

"Do you think we'll ever have arguments?" she quizzes.

"I don't want to. But I know we will work it, baby."

"Me too."

"I think that's part of just being a couple, but learning to communicate."

"You definitely taught me that." She hums as she rocks on her heels as another burst of fireworks hits the sky.

I think this is the moment.

Help me Mom.

"And there are so many things I can't wait for us to grow together on."

She tips her head back, sparks reflecting in her eyes. "Like what?"

"Maybe learning Spanish."

"Don't worry, I have lesson plans and everything Jaylan for when we get back," she assures. "And flash cards."

Of course she does.

"Ooooh, teacher student. I like it." I tap her conga drum

"Jaylannn!"

I breathe into the shell of her ear and she shrugs up her shoulder.

"I want to learn how to be better and speak up." Lizzie hums.

"I think you're doing great with that."

She really is, especially with things going on at home and communicating with me from her crawl space at home. She opens up more and I don't have to pry it out, but let her have the floor as much as she has mine.

She was so scared to ask if Isabela could stay with us, but I know those two need each other. It would be best for her sister to be here so she doesn't feel like she is by herself when I'm on road games.

It will be interesting, but I think it will be worth it. Besides, I'll be in training when we decide to have a child of our own. Malachi already gave us a run for our money this summer when Aunt Lisa and Uncle Steve went away for their anniversary last week.

Malachi definitely has a sugar streak like his best friend Wizzie.

"It's scary sometimes." Lizzie tunes me back in.

"I know what you mean." I plant a kiss on her ear.

As the fireworks decorate the sky, my heart begins to beat out of my chest.

What if she says no?

Or, what if she doesn't feel like she is ready?

Is it too early?

Maybe I didn't ask soon enough?

I've had this battle in my mind of rejection for weeks and weeks, but with confirmation in Lizzie and I expressing love to one another physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually I have no doubt in my mind that she is the one for me.

"Lizzie, we haven't finished our conversation about our bucket list."

She grunts softly but giggles. "Go on."

"Okay, I always wanted to do snorkeling."

"That sounds fun! But next year. I wonder if they have water shoes your size. Or, do you even need flippers?"

"Of course, marine biologist."

Laughing, I thought about our aquarium date. If we did go snorkeling, she would want to count every fish and bring a fish dictionary to be a diver for a day just nerding out. And get a picture with every one of them.

"Okay, I guess I would want to do a hot air balloon festival in New Mexico."

"Next year, right?"

She grunts softly and giggles. "Yes."

"That's different, I think that would be cool."

I could see Lizzie now wanting to make sure there were safety checks.

"What about Niagara Falls?"

"That sounds fun! But next year," she reminds.

As the fireworks come up multiple times I know this is definitely my moment.

"But, most of all Lizzie, we forgot something." I slip out the box in my trembling hand.

"What?"

Here we go.

I take my deep breath, lower myself on my knees, and take her left hand. "There's just one thing. I absolutely want to do it with you and I hope you agree."

"And what's tha...t Jaylan?" Her eyes get so big, they might pop out of her sockets.

"I think we could both agree on this one thing to plan for next year, baby." I shake the box.

"Jaylan." Her voice rasps, and dampness touches my hand as she lets out a soft whimper. "Oh, Jaylan."

"Elizabeth...'' The speech I want to say sits heavy on my chest. Lizzie softly squeaks and switches her legs back and forth.

"Elizabeth, there is no one else in this world that I would rather be with than you. You challenge me to become a better man each and every day and without you I don't know where I would honestly. I cherish every moment we spend together, and you are worth more to me than I can say."

My chest shakes with a deep breath. "You literally complete me in every way, teaching me to care for myself, all of myself, and I don't want to spend another day without you, babe...... You challenge me to grow into a man I never thought I could be, but a man I'm proud of. You taught me to remember and appreciate what I love about Mom..."

A lump forms in my throat and strains my voice. Lizzie's round eyes shining with tears isn't helping, but I swallow and push through, "You are selfless, gentle, patient, kind, full of love, light, and adoration... and I want to spend the rest of my life with you, baby..... "

"There is not a day that goes by that I don't appreciate you, all of you. I love you and I want you to be mine forever.... Elizabeth Maria Lucero... Will you marry me?"

The silence swirls around us but the fireworks are the added touch, along with awes and coos from around us. Lizzie's eyes are so light and tears stream down.

I can't tell if she's going to kill me or if she really is taken back.

A moment like right now feels like a lifetime. My heart pounds between the explosions overhead. I know in Lizzie's mind she's wondering how this could be happening, and how I got away with keeping such a big secret. I rub her ring finger and she nibbles her lip.

As she pauses, I take in the moment I'll never forget. On my knees, we're face-to-face. Colored bursts of light flash across her face, shine over her hair, and reflect in her teary eyes. She's so beautiful and... She'd better say yes.

Her little foot stumps and her voice rasps out a whisper, "Jaylan."

I bite my lower lip, waiting for her on aching knees, and her throat muscles move down slowly.

"Yes Jaylan, I... I will marry you." She chokes up, as I slip on the ring that fits so perfectly around her finger.

I could burst out of my skin right now. My heart swells with pure happiness. She said yes. "You will?"

"Yes." She cups her hands over her mouth. "I will."

Springing up, I close the gap between us and dip her down, kissing her. She giggles with her cheeks damping mine in happiness.

The relief in my chest subsides as I lift her up and she giggles so loudly. I don't care, I love that sound. "Yes?!"

"Yes Jaylan!" She giggles. Her body tilts back as I spin her around.

"SHE SAID YES!"

The crowd cheers and joy fills my veins as we spin around. Her giggles fill music in my ears, until she says "I'm going to throw up!"

I immediately put her down and she giggles, clasping onto me "I love you so much, Jaylan."

"I love you so much too, Lizzie."

The words never felt more real than this moment.

"Jaylan and Lizzie?" We turn to see Alexis' friend Gina with her expensive camera around her neck.

Lizzie looks up at me in awe. "You planned this?"

"Eh, with a little help." I shrug.

Lizzie dips her chin down and plants a quick kiss on my cheek, but the cobra spikes up when she says, "You're going to get a very special reward later."

"I can't wait." I growl in her ear. Lizzie pats my face

"Okay, ready to take photos?"

"More than ready." Lizzie beams, as she holds her hand out. The diamond reflects in the night.

With countless photos and outtakes, Lizzie gets her perfect Pinterest Disney engagement photo, but the Instagram took an additional hour because she wanted to post a reel, boomerang, and three whole different sets of photos.

But that's my fiancée.

Wow.

Fiancée.

"Okay, one more." Gina snaps the last photo.

"Oh, my gosh! I have to call Mamà!" Lizzie frets.

"Lizzie, how about we wait till we get to see Mateo and do it with him?"

I try so hard to bite my tongue to not spoil the surprise.

"Okay," she sighs softly.

"Mrs. Parkerrr," I tease.

The smile she couldn't hide makes her blush in the night. She bumps into my arm. "Jaylan, you do know we have to start planning tonight."

"Oh, I know Mrs. Parker." I bump into her.

"Jaylannn."

"Lizzieeee."

With her laughter filling the night, Hand in hand, step by step, our permanent life together starts now. It won't always be easy, but I can't wait. There's no one better to face any challenge with than my love, my wife, and Doc McStuffins.

"I love you, Jaylan."

"I love you too, Lizzie."

Squeezing her tiny hand, her ring presses into my ring finger. This was the best decision I could have ever made... shooting my shot with Lizzie. 

A special thank you to @still_just_me without her I don't think this story would come to life the way it did! Please show her the upmost love and support to her creations on her page! 

Thank you for all the commenters, readers and voters who took the time to show love to this story! This story was made out of pain and heart ache when I failed my first semester of nursing school and this was a complete outlet to just vent and dream big.

Now that I'm back in Nursing School, I will try to my best to start Max's book.  In the mean time please continue to recommend this story on tik tok, share and spread love! 

This book will be going into some serious editing! So please be patient with the process!