“Did you have a good shift?” I ask when we’re almost finished eating. Though we text nonstop, I always like hearing her talk about her day.

“Yeah, I did. My dad surprised me with flowers and balloons, as usual. My mom wrote me the sweetest card that made both of us cry. Kenzie bought me something that I’m currently wearing under this dress…” She waggles her brows. “And a few of the guests sang me ‘Happy Birthday.’”

“Wow, sounds awesome.”

“And now I’m ending it on a high note and get to be with the man I love.” She gives me a sweet grin, and I can’t stop the burst of happiness that radiates through me.

After we finish eating, I take the opportunity to do what I’ve been anxious about for the past month.

“What would you think about spending every birthday night with me?”

“What do you mean?” She tilts her head in confusion.

“And all my birthdays too,” I add.

“Well, of course.” She licks her lips.

“Forever?” I ask.

She furrows her brows in confusion. Deciding it’s now or never, I stand and pull the velvet box from my pocket, then kneel in front of her.

“Wh-what are you doing?” She turns her body to face me.

“I have a special gift for you—well, two actually—but the most important one is this.” I open the box so she can see the diamond I picked out for her.

“Oh my God…” she whispers barely over a breath as her eyes zero in on it.

“I’m not looking for a girlfriend, Maize. I don’t need to date you any longer to know you’re the one for me. I want to fall asleep with you every night and wake up to you every morning. I’m ready to settle down and start a life with the woman I’m madly in love with. I want forever with you, baby. Now the question is if you’re ready for that too.”

Maize licks her lips, her eyes catching mine for a split second before she looks back down at the ring.

“I love you so much, Maize. Will you marry me?”

Her hands fly to her mouth as tears spill from her eyes. She nods furiously. “Yes! Yes, I will marry you.”

Her arms quickly swing around me, and she buries her face in my neck. I capture her to my chest and squeeze her tightly as my emotions start to boil over.

“I love you,” she tells me, cupping my face, then kissing me. “I can’t believe you just proposed!” She’s half-laughing, half-crying, which causes me to chuckle.

“I have something else for you, sweetheart.” I dig into my other pocket and pull it out. “This key is hypothetical since you already have a key to my place, but it’s a promise.”

She takes it from me and squints. “A promise for what?”