"Marry me." He repeats. "Micha-what?!" I can't seem to wrap my head around this. Did he just ask me to marry him?? "Are you serious?" I ask him, holding on to his arms. "Very serious.." He laughs. "You just said...you were married to your music.." I say. "I don't want to get in between you and your music, you and your fans...We haven't told my mother about our relationship yet..." I ramble on and on. Michael cups my chin in his hand and softly kisses me. "Jay...just marry me.." He smiles, rubbing my chin. "Mike...are you sure?" "I've never been more positive. Being on tour with you has shown me sides of you that make me love you even more. I love how you're always on my side. You've always got my back.. Jay, please... Marry me." He says. "Can I think on it?" I ask. "I'll wait forever" he replies.

My mother had asked Michael and I to come to dinner so I thought tonight would be the night to tell her of our relationship. Everywhere we went there was paparazzi, which was normal, but since Michael announced our relationship on Oprah, the flock was heavier than usual. We get to my mother's house to another swarm of cameras "Hi Jayla, Hi Michael!" "Smile for the camera!" "Can we get a wave?!" They yell. Good thing for bodyguards, they pushed the cameramen out of the way so we can get to the door. I step on a magazine sitting on my mother's patio and pick it up before walking inside.

"Hey, Mike. Did you know you admitted to cheating on me with a gay lover?" I ask sarcastically, I pass the tabloid to Michael. He rolls his eyes and tosses it in the trash. "Hi mom" I smile as she walks in. "Oh my goodness! It's so good to see both of you!" She runs and hugs us. "Hi Ms. Pearson." Michael says. "Come! Come! We're eating in the backyard today!" She exclaims pulling us through the house. "Welcome home!!" I hear people scream. It was all kinds of family and friends. Mom set up a surprise party for us. Great. More people to tell. "Oh mom...you didn't have to do all this" I laugh.

"We have gotta talk now!" My cousin Misty says pulling me away from Michael. "Uh..okay... I guess I'll be right back" I look back at him. Michael laughs and waves "Ok.. Ms Pearson can I help you with anything?" He says turning to my mother.

Misty and my two other cousins Lana and Terri drag me in the living room and sit me on the couch. Growing up it was always the four of us. They were like the sisters I never had. "Ok. Spill it..." Misty says as they all sit around me. "Spill what?" I laugh. Lana puts her hands on her hips "Jayla. We know y'all dating..." "The whole world knows that.." Misty says "What's it like?!" Lana asked. I roll my eyes. "Seriously? What's it like dating him?" "Yes! He's so gorgeous and he seems so sweet!" Lana swoons. "He's amazing. He's so caring and sweet...he's almost perfect. I really love him." I admit. "Jayla...did yall have sex?" Terri whispers. We all giggle "Yes. Oh my God, It was great. Dancing is definitely not all he's talented in." I smirk. "Hi ladies." Michael walks in smiling. I clear my throat. I know he overheard me. "Um, Michael..this is my older cousins Terri and Lana and my younger cousin Misty. Of course you guys know who he is.." Misty moves over to allow Michael to sit next to me. "It's so great to meet you... I used to have so many posters of you on my wall. I am a huge fan" Misty says "Thank you. So much" he smiles. "So Michael..." Terri adds. "I hear that you are not only talented in dance.." I cough loudly. Lana laughs loudly. "Mike, I noticed this is your first time here at moms LA home. Why don't I show you around." I interject as I get up and grab his hand. I shoot Terri a dirty look as they continue to giggle.

We walk around the home, hand in hand. "So have you thought about it yet?" Michael asks. "What happened to waiting forever" I laugh. "I'm impatient. Jayla I truly love you. I'm I love with you. I can't see myself without you." He says grabbing my other hand, placing them to his face and leaning his forehead into mine. "I love how you sleep, I love how you twiddle your fingers when you're nervous." I laugh. "I love it when your nose wrinkles when you laugh, and how you get that cute dimple when you smile" he adds. "Marry me. Jay...." "Okay...Mike" I laugh goofily. "I love you." "I love you more" we lean in to kiss and mom walks outside "what yall doing?" She asks. "Just talking momma." I smile and say back. "Well. Dinner's ready."

We sit in the backyard eating on a long wooden table. Michael and I are being asked a lot of questions. "So have you found anyone special in your life?" My uncle asked. "Actually...uh... Mom" I start off nervously "Michael and I are.... Um.. recently......engaged." "What?" My mother says. I clear my throat and repeat "We're engaged. Mom" my mother has a slight smile on her face giggling "When was the dating? Why didn't I know this?" She asks. "Well, we started dating a little before the tour, I just wanted to wait til we got back to tell you face to face.." I say nervously, I tried to read her face, anticipating some kind of reaction. "Jayla come talk to me in private for a moment" she gets up and walks inside the house. I look at Michael and shrug, walking slowly behind her. "Yes mom?" I say twiddling my thumbs. "Jay, you think I didn't know about you two? I'm disappointed you didn't tell me earlier. But, I knew." I put my head down in shame. I should've known she knew and I should've told her earlier. "How did you know? The Oprah interview?" I asked. "No, there were days you would call me and sound so happy and relaxed. I know my daughter. I could hear it in your voice. Baby girl you have to know, I love you and support everything you do. I'm proud of you. You're all I have left, so I want for us to be able to talk to each other. Ok?" She asks lifting my head. I nod my head and hug her."I'm sorry I didn't tell you" "Congrats on the engagement my love." She smiles "are you sure you're ready for this?" "I'm so sure mom, I really love him. He's great." My eyes brighten at the thought of him. "....Okay" mom responds. She walks back out to the backyard and lifts her glass as I walk back towards my seat. Michael looks at me as I sit, smile and nod at him, squeezing his hand "Congratulations to Michael and Jayla on their engagement." Everyone raises their glasses "congratulations!"