Page 118 of Senior

“Go, woman. Take your time but hurry up.” I slapped her ass and I ushered her into the house then grabbed her bags from the driver and tipped him. Once they were inside, I shot a group text to the kids letting them know to get ready.

My fingers were trembling and my palms were sweaty. I was nervous as hell, but I knew this would all work out for the best. I was ending my night a married man.

I heard the clicking of heels across the hardwood floors and turned to see my baby strutting toward me with a smirk on her face like she knew she was the shit. When she reached me, she did the slowest turn, allowing me to see just how well that dress hugged every curve she possessed.

“Goddamn it, Steph,” I said, licking my lips. “I knew you were gonna look good, but damn, baby. You make me wanna…”

I couldn’t think of the damn words, so I just barked at her. She fell into a fit of laughter.

“I know you didn’t just bark at me!”

“Ain’t that what that song Shar loves said? Bark like you want it.””

She rolled her eyes and playfully mushed me. “Please. You already got me. Hook, line, and sinker.”

“Do I, now?” I asked, pulling her into my arms.

“Mmm hmm.”

“Gimme some suga.”

She wrapped her arms around my neck and kissed me passionately. I had to remind myself that I had plans otherwise I would have bent her ass over this couch and got to work.

“We gotta go,” I said, pulling away.

“Where are you taking me, Stanley?”

“It’s not far, I promise.”

She rolled her eyes and allowed me to lead her out to the garage. I helped her into my car, then climbed in myself. Cranking up, I lifted the garage and slowly pulled out. Steph looked excited until she saw we were headed to the big house. She looked over at me but didn’t say anything. There were so many cars and golf carts out front, but they left a space for us.

“Stanley, What is going on?” she asked as we came to a stop.

“You’ll see.”

I got out the car to retrieve her. Hand in hand, I lead her toward the maze. When we stepped inside, she gasped. The pathway was littered with red rose petals. Pictures were strung up along the walls like a timeline of both of us. As we walked through the maze, they went from baby pictures through childhood, childhood to our teenaged years. That’s when they switched to pictures of us together.

Steph laughed and smiled as we took a stroll down memory lane.

“No you didn’t!”

“I can’t believe you kept this!”

“Look at my Deucy Deuce!”

“Why would you photograph this!”

She had so many reactions. When we got to the pictures we’d taken then last couple months, her smile was ever present.

“We really spent a lifetime together,” she said, dabbing her eyes as we neared middle of the maze where my surprise was.

“We have. That’s why I wanted to ask you something, Steph.”

We stepped into the middle of the maze, and she gasped as she saw the sign that read “Will You Marry Me?”

“Stanley…”

I took her hand and kissed it.