I was getting ready for my picnic date with Marco. I wore a baby pink scalloped skirt with a white lace top and I put my hair in a messy bun. I applied some makeup and I was ready to go. Earlier today Reina went to go sightseeing with Luca and his parents and she told me she would be home by midnight, because Luca was planning to take her for dinner tonight. And with dinner, I don't mean five star restaurant. More like his apartment and lace. Lots of lace, probably handcuffs too.
I heard a knock on the front door and walked out of my room to open it. Marco was standing there in a pair of brown jeans and a denim shirt. Like always, he looked handsome.
"Hello pudding." he greeted, flashing me his oh-so dazzling smile. My panties just melted and I didn't even wore panties.
"Hey, Vasilios." I said smiling, closing the door behind me.
"Ready to go?" he asked, lacing his fingers with mine.
I nodded. "I'm excited."
We exited the apartment and in his bugatti we drove to the place he was taking me. He brought me to the East River State Park. It was not a fancy place, but the view of Manhattan is breathtaking. The park was flush against the river, offering stunning—and previously fenced-off—views of Manhattan's skyline. Aside from the barbecue platform and children's playground, it's a mostly wide-open lawn dotted with picnic tables, making it a perfect locale to set up blankets and have the most amazing picnics.
I stepped out of the car and saw that Marco was holding a basket in his hand. "What's in there Vasilios." I asked curiously.
"Food of course." he replied, taking my hand in his and walking down the park.
I rolled my eyes. "I know, but what kind of food?"
"You will see in a minute."
We stopped in the middle of the park and he put the basket on one of the picnic tables. I sat down and looked around. It was beautiful. There were not a lot of people and the view was breathtaking. And I wasn't even talking about the Manhattan's skyline. That's just a bonus.
I watched Marco as he took the stuff out of the basket. Subway sandwiches, strawberries, apples, juice, water, yogurt, and chocolate cake.
"Did you made that yourself?" I asked, pointing at the chocolate cake.
He nodded disappointedly. "Nope, bought it."
"Oh."
He handed me a subway sandwich and poured juice for me. "Have I already said that you look stunning?" he asked, giving me a once over.
"Well you just did." I chuckled, "You look great too."
"You look better pudding." he winked, sitting down.
"Oh I know." I flipped my hair and smiled at him.
He just shook his head and laughed loudly. "Cute."
We ate in silent, Marco occasionally throwing bread crumbs at me. After that we talked about plans for the future. And then about Ximena and family.
Half way he stopped talking, and held my hand. His touch sent shivers down my spine. "I want to ask you something." he said nervously, grabbing something out of his pocket.
If he's asking me to marry him, I swear I will drown him in that river.
"No." he said, as if he could read my mind. "I'm not going to ask you to marry me. Who the hell goes from friendzone straight to marriage? Even though I wouldn't mind, it's just unrealistic."
Oh thank goodness.
"But," he said. He pulled his hands out of his pocket and my eyes widened at what he was holding. A round cut white fire opal gold ring. So goddamn pretty. "This is a promise ring. I swear I didn't meant to fall in love or I thought I wasn't capable of falling in love. But then you appeared and yeah how cliche it may sound, I started wanting everything. Your smile, your jokes, you. Just all of you. I'm not the best, but I promise I'll love you with all my heart. So Jillian Pudding Malik, this is my way of stepping out of the friendzone. Do you want to be my girlfriend?"
I couldn't hold back my tears. This was all so unrealistic. I thought this only happened in fairy tales. Reina was right. He is the modern version of prince on the white horse.
Gentleman in a bugatti.
My heart was pounding against my chest and I wiped my tears away. "Of course, oh my god. This is so cute."
The things I felt for him right now were indescribable. Butterflies were erupting in my stomach as he slid the ring on my ring finger of my left hand. I was so surprised that it fit perfectly.
"It's so beautiful. Oh my god Vasilios !" I squealed walking around the table and straddling him. I didn't care if there were kids in the park. He tilted my face and planted a kiss on my lips.
"Will you please come up with a better nickname pudding?" he whispered against my lips.
I chuckled. "Maybe, but I like that one."
"My last name is not a nickname pudding." he put his hands around my waist and at that moment I realized I was wearing a skirt.
How did I managed to straddle him in a skirt?
"Black thongs. Cute." Marco whispered in my ear, making me jump out of his lap, but he held me firmly in place.
"Vasilios, let go of me."
"Oh pudding. The only time I will let go of you is when I'm gonna grab your ass and right now is not the right time since we want to keep things pg-13 for those kids over there." he smirked, pointed at two kids playing on the grass.
As I already mentioned before. Marco without dirty jokes, is not Marco.
He placed another kiss on my jaw, when his face turned serious. "I need to tell you something."
"What?" I asked. I remembered him saying the same thing when we were in the plane, before I fell asleep. "You said the same thing in the plane, but I fell asleep and you never told me anything afterwards."
"Well," he said, "Because it needs to be said at the right time. And I think this is the right time."
"So what is it?" I was starting to get curious.
"Remember that---"
I put my finger on his lips when my eyes darted to a couple behind him. The man looked exactly like Marco. Well, a little older.