Without a word King digs a hand into the pocket of his hoodie and pulls out a small black box. Jordan looks from him to the box, over to Roman, and back.
"Oh shit," he says.
"Yup, the asshole is going to propose," Roman says, not giving King a chance to speak.
"When?" I ask, watching King open the box. A gold ring with a single diamond sits snug inside a dark gray casing.
"I don't know. Tomorrow. Next week. But before we start next semester. I want to ask her to move in with me after college, but I want it to be right."
"Wow, man, congratulations,” Jordan says.
"Don't congratulate me yet," he says, sliding the box back into his pocket. "She hasn't said yes."
"She will," I say as I peel myself from the couch. "She's crazy about you."
You know those couples who are attached at the hip, always kissing, smiling, touching each other in some way? Well, take that couple, multiply the mushiness by one hundred, and there you will find King and Cherry. It drives Roman crazy, but I think they are sweet.
"Yeah. I have no idea why, but she is," Roman adds.
"Ha-ha. Fuck you, man."
The sound of a car door slam causes all of us to look out the window. Cherry is walking toward the door with Kenzie following close behind. It looks like she’s carrying something but I can’t make it out. A smile grows on King’s face and he stands, but by the time he makes it to the door, Cherry is already opening it.
"Come on, Kenzie," Cherry says, holding open the door for her kid sister. It's clear she's struggling to bring something up the few steps that lead inside. "Did you have to bring everything?"
King walks over, giving her a quick kiss before turning his attention to Kenzie.
Poor Cherry. I feel her frustration from all the way over here. She lets out a long breath and drops her head, shaking it from side to side.
"I got it," King says, rubbing her shoulder before disappearing outside.
"Ugh, kids," Cherry says, walking further into the room before flopping down into an empty chair. "She's lucky I love her, or Mom and Dad would be paying someone else to babysit while they work."
"She's so cute, though." I smile.
"Daisy needs her things. What if she gets hungry?" Kenzie says as King carries a toddler-sized shopping cart into the apartment. It's bright pink with a large picture of Minnie Mouse on the front.
"But I told you we will only be here for a few minutes." Cherry huffs as King pushes the door closed behind them.
Kenzie leans over the cart. There's a Barbie inside wrapped in a blanket with various things surrounding her. Everything from extra clothes to pretend food. It looks like Kenzie packed for a month-long vacation.
"There." She smiles, smoothing her doll’s hair down before looking up to us.
"Gia!" she squeaks, running over and wrapping me in a large hug. I chuckle, my arms molding easily around her tiny body. She's four and adorably pronounces my name with a "g" instead of a "z" sound, which makes me smile every time. Kenzie squeezes between Jordan and me and goes on to tell us about every moment she had today. We listen closely as she describes her meals, time at the park, and Cherry’s music being too loud in the car.
“It was like, boom, boom, boom,” she says, looking at Cherry, who crinkles her nose at her before going back to talk to King. She looks so happy and I can’t believe King is planning to propose. But I know if there’s any couple out there with a real chance of making it, it’s them.
A few hours later the snacks are gone, the cases of beer are empty, and the pizza is well forgotten. I go to check the time on my phone, which seems to sway in my hand, but I think it says 3:14? Or is that 11:14? Beer cans cover nearly every inch of the small coffee table. King lies stretched out on the couch asleep while Roman snores with his head thrown back in the chair. Jordan, on the other hand, is looking down at his phone laughing loudly.
"What is it?" I ask with a broad smile.
"Stupid prank video." He laughs, lifting the phone and pointing it in my direction. His arm is unsteady and by the time the phone stops moving long enough for me to see, the phone has changed to his home screen.
"You clicked it off."
We both laugh until we can barely breathe. King starts to stir and I stand on wobbly legs, hoping not to wake him further.
"We are being too loud," I say, trying to stop giggling. Jordan looks lazily from me to King, then over to Roman.
"I guess it's time for bed," he says. "Let me just go grab my extra blanket and I'll crash here."
"Where?" I look at King's body covering over a third of the couch. He alone is too big for it; I don't know how Jordan expects to fit.
"I'll lounge over here." He points to the other end of the sofa where we were sitting. "King passes out here all the time. He won't move from that spot. But he'll eventually get up and go home." He struggles to his feet and bumps the table when he stands.
"No. That's silly, just come sleep with me," I say. Jordan gives me a hard stare and I swear there’s a darkness there, something carnal and heated. But I know it’s just the beer and wishful thinking on my part.
"No, that's not going to work," he slurs, then starts walking toward the hall. I follow him upstairs, making sure my steps are deliberate. God, I didn't mean to drink this much but at least I had a little fun tonight. Better than the last few days.
"I'll sleep down here. You take the bed."
My body is warm and tingling. A sensation that only alcohol can produce. I feel great but this is the longest staircase in existence. We make it to the top and nearly stumble into his room.
"What?" I ask, drawing out the end of the word. "What do you think will happen?" He’s just about to open the closet door but turns when he hears me. His face is flushed, his eyes hazy, and he's swaying a bit, but he regards me without speaking right away so I continue my teasing. "You think I'm going to bite?"
"No, but I might."
"What?"
"Alcohol," he mumbles, shaking his head.
What did he just say? A heat rolls down my body and I know I should let it go. We're both drunk and he's probably just talking but my curiosity and a bit of liquid courage push me forward.
"What did you say?" I step in front of him and grab his arms, not missing how hard his muscles feel under my touch. His head is tilted downward, eyes fixed on where I'm touching him.
Slowly, he brings his gaze to mine, his breathing becoming rhythmic and deep as his eyes darken. A look I've never seen from him before. It makes my pulse race.
I exhale and his eyes drop to my parted lips, causing me to look at his. My God. Is he about to kiss me? Please be about to kiss me. My heart sputters in my chest as I let myself sink into this need, this yearning for him. It feels foreign but familiar at the same time. As long as I’ve wanted more of him, I’ve never let myself get this deep, but I’m falling. Every nerve in my body tingles, my mind clouds over, my skin starts to burn. It’s too much, and yet, not enough.
“What did you say?” I ask again, only my voice is softer this time.