Everything Has Changed

by Mia Kayla

  “All right. Let’s do that,” he said, breathing more heavily.

  After showering, he shuffled both of us out the door.

  Jimmy hailed us a cab, and we got inside. I could sense his anxiousness. He couldn’t keep his knees still. I leaned into him, and when our eyes locked, that adorable dimple popped on his cheek. I savored it. I still couldn’t believe that he was mine for keeps. His hot self was all mine, mine, mine.

  “What?”

  “Nothing,” I said, smiling big. “Can’t I be happy for no reason other than going to breakfast with my boyfriend?” I practically sighed aloud at the word. Boyfriend, boyfriend, boyfriend, I chanted in my head.

  He smiled and bent down to meet my lips as our cab pulled to a stop. “Me, too, Boo.”

  He pulled me out of the cab, held my hand, and ushered us down Michigan Avenue on a mission. The traffic was crazy, even at this time of day, and cars honked behind us. I glanced down at my jeans and fitted white T-shirt, suddenly wishing I didn’t look like I’d just rolled out of bed. I squeezed his hand as he moved us through the crowds.

  I realized we weren’t headed where I’d thought. “I thought we were going to Mac Cristos Grill for breakfast.”

  When I’d stepped out of the shower this morning, I’d imagined our day would be a simple. I’d thought we’d head to breakfast and make out like teenagers at my apartment, but observing Jimmy’s sneaky grin as he stopped in front of Tiffany & Co., I knew now he had different plans in mind.

  “Jimmy, I don’t need a ring, not right now.”

  He opened the door for me. I stepped inside, and he followed behind.

  His face turned serious. “You think this is for you? Hell to the fucking no, this is not for you. This is for me. I’m going to get the biggest rock I can afford and put it on that finger, so everyone and their mama can see from a fucking mile away that you’re mine and that you’re taken.” He was still smiling, but there was a hard edge to his voice. “So, all the Evans or other wannabe boyfriends can stay far away from my girl.”

  “Jimmy, really?” I asked incredulously. I knew I shouldn’t, but I sort of loved jealous Jimmy. I loved his possessiveness if it meant he was mine, and I was his.

  “Yes, really. Would you rather have Taken tattooed on your forehead?” he asked. “Cause it’s that or a ring.”

  I tried to search his face for any hint of humor and found none. “I’ll take the ring,” I muttered as he approached the first display cases of rings.

  The woman in front of us was beautiful. She wore her blonde hair in a ponytail that hit the middle of her back. Her makeup was immaculate, and there wasn’t a strand of hair out of place on her pretty little head.

  Her eyes devoured all of Jimmy and his over six feet of tall, muscular, and handsome. Her attention never made it my way to the woman beside him, holding his hand. I would have been pissed if Jimmy didn’t pull me even closer.

  “What’s the biggest diamond you have here?” His eyes lit up like a kid at the candy store.

  She pulled at her shirt, so the curvature of her perky breasts was showing. “Do you know what cut, clarity, or type you want?” she asked, slightly leaning over the glass. Her voice was soft, a caress. There was no doubt that she was flirting.

  A big part of me wanted to punch her to the next display case. I could sense Jimmy’s uneasiness beside me because he squeezed my hand.

  “I want to buy my future wife here something big and beautiful just like she is—minus the big, obviously.” He kissed our entwined hands and gave me a wink.

  I didn’t know if his display of affection was for me or more for her. Either way, I appreciated it as I leaned into his embrace.

  Miss Blondie, on the other hand, had no reaction. If anything, it seemed as though she was upping her game as she pushed her chest out further.

  The nerve of some women, I swear.

  “We keep our larger flawless diamonds in the back. I could show you some back there,” she said with a voice that insinuated she would show him more than diamonds.

  He frowned at her, catching her unprofessionalism, and scanned the room. “I think I’ll be dealing with that guy over there.” He pulled me forward, leading us toward the only male salesclerk on the floor.

  It was too bad though because the salesclerk was obviously gay and checking Jimmy out as much as Miss Blondie.

  “Maybe I should be the one buying you a big ring,” I muttered under my breath, noting everyone checking out my man.

  “What?” Jimmy tugged on my hand, turning me to face him directly.

  I shook my head, and he lifted my chin to meet his eyes.

  “What did you say?” he repeated again.

  “Maybe I should buy you the big ring, so girls know to back the hell off,” I said in a discreet voice, glancing at the male salesclerk in front of us.

  Jimmy dropped my hand and framed my shoulders. “I love you and only you. You know that? There wasn’t anybody before you, and there’s never, ever going to be anybody after you. Never.”

  I nodded as my ears warmed from the people turning our way.

  Jimmy ducked his head to get my undivided attention. “I’m never going to jeopardize what we have by messing up. I’m never going to look at another woman ever again. I never want to. I only have eyes for you. I only want you. I never want you to doubt me or wonder if I have wandering eyes when we are apart. I give you permission to gouge my eyes out, but you won’t because I can promise you that it will never, ever happen. These eyes will never stray.”

  I noticed the girls around me swooning at his words. A couple of girls whispered to each other, plucking their camera phones out, and I realized that they recognized him—Jimmy, the quarterback.

  His gaze followed to the direction where I was turned, but he ignored them and placed both of his hands to frame my face. “Who cares about them? I need you to listen. I need you to understand,” he said, meeting my eyes. “I love you, and there will never be another. I’m not him. I’m never going to be him because I’ve already put it in my head that I’m not. I’ve wanted you since forever, and now that we’re here, I’m never going to let you go. We’re going to do this, and I believe in that death-till-we-part shit. Okay?”

  I smiled up at him and bit my lip as more people shifted in our direction.

  “I’m serious,” he said. “It’s forever for me, and I’m not going to mess it up.”

  “Okay.” I leaned up on my tiptoes to meet his lips.

  He pulled us forward toward the glass case. I noticed the male in front of us swooning over my man. I smiled politely. If I were any other female or male in the room who had just witnessed Jimmy’s proclamation of love, I’d be ogling over this beautiful massive male as well.

  “All right, let’s do this.” Jimmy threw his black Amex card onto the glass and glanced at the guy’s name tag. “Todd, I want the best that you’ve got here.”

  Todd blinked at the card as though he didn’t come across a black Amex card every day. “Do you want to go in the back, sir, to look at our inventory?” There was an undertone of excitement in his voice.

  “Just bring up the best thing you’ve got. I want my girl to have some choices but nothing less than the best.”

  Todd excused himself and returned moments later with a rectangular blue velvet box. Cradled inside were the largest diamonds I had ever laid eyes on. There were four very distinct rings sitting in one straight row. The only similarity was the single thin platinum band.

  Jimmy rested his hand on my hip, and I felt so cherished in that one small touch.

  He angled his head toward my ear. “Pick your ring, Boo. Sky’s the limit.”

  His breath tickled my neck, and goose bumps rose on my arms.

  There was one particular ring that stood out. It matched the necklace that my father had given me years ago. Only, the ring’s diamond was immense in size. I gripped my necklace, the single solitaire that rested against my neck.

  As if Jimmy had read my mind
, he picked up the only round engagement ring among the four. I smiled up at him as he handed the salesclerk the ring.

  We shared a glance, full of meaning, history, and love.

  “This is it,” he said, his tone confident.

  “This is the best that we have here,” Todd bragged, his eyes wide. He was probably cha-chinging the commission in his head. “Five carats, internally flawless, and D in color. It’s the largest we currently have in inventory. Of course, we do have bigger, but we would have to get it from our New York store.”

  “Nope. I want to put it on her finger today.” He gave Todd a conspiratorial grin. “Making it official.”

  Todd’s eyes widened even more. “Don’t you want to know how much it is, sir?”

  “Nah.” Jimmy waved him off. “Ring me up, buddy.” He pushed his credit card toward Todd.

  Todd took the black Amex, and when he turned, Jimmy finally picked up the tag attached to the platinum band of the ring.

  “Oh shit!” Jimmy chuckled, his eyes bugging.

  “Jimmy,” I protested, reaching for the tag.

  Both dimples emerged as he grabbed my hand and kissed it. “It’s okay, Boo. Just gotta do more endorsements. I got this covered.”

  I started to panic. I didn’t want him to work more. He didn’t need to do that for a stupid ring. “Seriously, I told you, I don’t need a ring. Jimmy, I do—”

  “Shh…zip it.” He kissed me on the lips. “I don’t want to hear it. My money, my problem.”

  “Jimmy,” I whined.

  He kissed me again and motioned with his hands for Todd to speed it up.

  “Jimmy,” I whispered fiercely.

  “Zip it, or I’m sticking my tongue down your throat,” he warned.

  My ears burned up in embarrassment.

  I shut my mouth, knowing he would do exactly that, even in front of the many people casting curious glances our way.

  Jimmy signed the receipt, and I thought Todd teared up a little.

  “Do you want to wear it out?” Todd asked in a strangely breathless but still professional voice.

  “Sure.” I felt a super cheesy smile creep up my face. I couldn’t hold in my excitement. I am engaged!

  When I extended my hand toward Jimmy, he put the box back on top of the glass and wiped his palms down the front of his jeans. “Shit. I’m nervous.” He chuckled.

  “Cold feet?” I asked, quirking an eyebrow at him.

  “Nah. Just jittery and excited.” He blushed a little at that, looking strangely sheepish. “I get this feeling right before a big game, except this is better—more butterflies, more excitement.”

  He rubbed his hands together, seeming to work up to something in his head, and I stared at him. Then, he took the box in his hand.

  I frantically scanned the room, once again noticing the amount of spectators accumulating.

  “Oh, Boo, come on, who cares?” His grin turned boyish as he straightened his stance.

  I wanted to slap him, but I couldn’t help from tearing up.

  “I hope they TMZ this shit, so everyone knows that I’m taken, and you’re mine.”

  I laughed at his adorable face.

  “Bliss Carrington,” he spoke loudly, his voice echoing as he began his speech, “I’ve loved you for as long as I can remember… since forever, and I will love you until I’m six feet under dirt just like my grandfather.” He gave me a solemn nod, and then his eyes filled with emotion as we stared at each other. “Marry me, Boo?”

  My knees turned weak, and I felt myself barely nodding, overcome by emotion.

  His smile turned soft as he slipped the diamond ring onto my finger while everyone around us erupted into applause. He pulled me into his arms and passionately kissed me, making me breathless in the crowded room.

  “I can’t believe you’re finally mine,” he whispered in my ear before pulling back to look down at me. “I love you, Boo.”

  I gazed into his shining deep-brown eyes, the same eyes of the man who had once been a boy—a boy I had watched grow up, a boy I had shared my first kiss with, a boy I had watched turn into a man. He was my best friend. I would now be spending the rest of my life with the boy who loved me and who I had fallen in love with.

  We had shared so many memories, and this was just the beginning.

  “To infinity and beyond,” I said, my throat getting thicker, as I wrapped my arms around his neck.

  Both dimples showed on his face. “To infinity and beyond,” he whispered back before capturing my lips with his once more.

  I CONTINUED TO RUB THE back of my neck as I wrung my hands together, alternating between rubbing and wringing and rubbing and wringing. Glancing quickly at the clock, I see again that we're tied, six more minutes left in the fourth quarter.

  Is it me or is it hot in here?

  Normally, I loved the skybox. Today it felt like a cage, all four walls keeping us in like bars in a jail cell. I should've been down there in the action, watching him take this team their win, their first Super Bowl.

  I glanced frantically at Claire, Jimmy's mother. She was on my right, holding the same expression I was or maybe even worse. Her boyfriend, Glen, was holding her hand and rubbing her back to calm her. Funny how Claire had once been married to a football god and here her son was—one of the top quarterbacks in the NFL. And Glen wasn't even a fan of football. How ironic.

  When Claire had introduced him to me and Jimmy, we'd laughed out loud because they had met at church. I remembered Jimmy's comment before we got together and how he'd wished I would meet my man at church.

  My heart swooned at Glen's constant attention toward her. She truly deserved her very own happily ever after, and I was happy that she had found that in Glen.

  To my left, my mother was bouncing Victor on her knee. She was oblivious to the biggest game of the season, the biggest game of Jimmy's career. All that occupied her world was her precious grandson, giggling in her arms.

  An inner glow was shining through her eyes, a familiar look on her face that made her look younger, refreshed. It was as if she had discovered her newfound purpose in life—to spoil her grandson rotten.

  Giggles from the dark hair, brown-eyed two-year-old echoed through the room, and Grandma continued to tickle his belly while kissing his cheeks over and over again. For a brief, tiny second, I basked in her happiness because that was better than wishing and hoping for another touchdown to secure this game.

  I rubbed the back of my neck, feeling beads of sweat breaking out on my skin. All this nervousness was making the room feel hotter. Though it didn't help that I was forty pounds overweight and fully cooked and ready to pop at thirty-nine weeks. Just then, I felt a kick right above my bladder and patted my belly, "It's okay, baby girl. Daddy's going to win this. Don't be nervous."

  I knew how stressed Jimmy had been, leading to this day. And of course, Jimmy being Jimmy and not wanting to worry me, he never voiced his frustrations. He would just constantly shower me with affection and kiss my belly and hug our Victor. Still I sensed his anxiety in the tenseness in his eyes and his overall quiet demeanor during dinner.

  Claire smiled besides me, but her eyes were focused on the field, while Glen gripped her hand tighter. Something told me that this baby, Super Bowl or not, was coming soon. I just hoped she'd stay in long enough. Suddenly, I jumped, feeling my baby girl shift in my stomach and bringing me back to when I was in labor with Victor.

  Past

  In and out. In and out. My breaths were coming in and out in short huffs, while I tried to focus on anything but the excruciating pain.

  "Ah!” I yelled out, because screaming made me feel better.

  Every time I squeezed Jimmy's hand, his eyes would widen and bulge out of his face, but I couldn't have compassion for him right now. I was having his child!

  When the contractions died down and I was allowed to breathe for a second, Jimmy begged again, "Please. Just take the drugs."

  He wiped the sweat from my forehead with the wa
shcloth as another contraction slowly built in my stomach. I didn't even have the energy to answer him back because I screamed again, loud. After a few seconds, I collapsed against the bed. I knew another one would be coming shortly.

  The nurse peered down at the paper feeding from the computer. "They're coming closer together. I'm going to get the doctor to come see if you're ready to push."

  One look at Jimmy's face, and I knew he couldn't handle me in this much distress. He was past his breaking point. "Please, baby." He kissed my hand and then my forehead. "I can't see you like this." He looked utterly broken, even though I was the one in physical pain.

  And then another contraction hit. Harder. Stronger.

  I gripped Jimmy's hand and knew it was going to be soon as the first of my tears sprang from my eyes. I started to cry because the pain was unbearable. "I can do this. I can do this." Though my voice was strained, I repeated my mantra out loud, hoping I had enough power to bring this child into this world naturally. I saw tears prickling Jimmy's eyes as the doctor entered the room.

  He swiped under his eyes. "She needs the epidural. Now."

  This time I didn't deny him as another contraction hit me, making me buck forward. The pain was strong enough that I could barely breathe. I tried to scream but no sound left my mouth because my body could not do anything but absorb the contractions.

  I felt myself being shifted and was barely aware of the doctor putting on gloves. The nurses moved around me. I couldn't comprehend what was happening because all I felt was excruciating pain to the tenth degree.

  "You're ready to push. There's no time for an epidural," the doctor said. "I need you to push when you feel the next contraction."

  They moved me into position, and I cried out as another contraction overtook my body.

  "Alright, count with me and push."

  I bared down, pushing like my life depended on it.

  "One, Two, Three," the nurse counted.

  Right when I thought there was a break, the build up in my abdomen intensified again. I fisted my hands together and started to push on the doctor's command. I felt like there was no end in sight. Energy escaped me as my legs went limp.