Maybe Now (Maybe #2)(97)

Jake cocks an eyebrow and glances at Maggie. “Sounds like a win-win to me.”

Maggie’s eyes widen. Jake smiles at her while he takes a sip of his drink. And then he says, “It makes sense if you think about it. At the risk of sounding like a medical professional, your life expectancy isn’t as long as mine. So…I’m ready when you’re ready.”

Maggie stares at him blankly. We all do, actually. I don’t think anyone was expecting him to agree with Warren.

“I hope that wasn’t a proposal,” Maggie says to Jake. “It didn’t even come with an I love you. Or an engagement ring.”

Jake stares back at Maggie for a moment. Then he reaches his hand out across the table. “Give me your keys, Ridge.”

I don’t even hesitate. I give him my keys, and Maggie watches him in bewilderment as he leaves the restaurant.

“What is he doing?” she says. “Is it something I said?”

Warren is shaking his head. “Fucker is gonna beat me to it.”

“To what?” Maggie says.

She seems confused, so none of us gives her any hints that we know what’s happening. When Jake walks back into the restaurant, he approaches the table with purpose. He’s holding the ring I gave him earlier, but before he opens the box, he stands at the head of the table and looks at Maggie. Warren signs everything he says.

“Maggie…I know it’s only been a few months. But it’s been the best few months of my life. From the moment I first saw you, I have been absolutely consumed by you. I wish I had this speech and this moment planned out, but we both like spontaneous.” He gets down on one knee and opens the box. None of us can tell what Maggie’s thinking. This could go one of two ways, and I’m not so sure it’s going to go the way Jake wants it to.

He opens the box. “This ring belonged to your grandmother. And I wish more than anything that I could have known her, because I would have thanked her for raising such an amazing, independent, perfect woman. And the perfect woman for me. Whether you marry me or not, this ring is yours.” He pulls it out and lifts her hand, then slips the ring on her trembling finger. “But I would really love it if you would take the biggest risk you’ve ever taken and marry me, despite knowing very little about me or if we’re even compatible for a lifetime or—”

Maggie interrupts him by nodding her head and kissing him.

Holy shit. He did it.

Sydney is crying. Even Bridgette wipes away a tear.

Warren stands up, grabbing his wine glass to make a toast. “Congratulations, you two,” he says toward Maggie and Jake, even though they’re still kissing and not paying attention to him. “But this also kind of sucks because tonight was supposed to be my night.”

To everyone’s shock, Warren pulls a box out of his pocket. He opens it and turns toward Bridgette. “Bridgette, I wanted to propose tonight. I still do, even though I’m irritated that Jake did it first. So, before Sydney and Ridge steal the rest of my thunder, will you please marry me?”

Bridgette is looking at him like he’s crazy. Because he is.

“You didn’t get down on one knee,” she says.

“Oh.” Warren drops to his knee. “Will you marry me? Is that better?”

Bridgette nods. “Yes.”

“Yes what?” Warren says. “Yes, that’s better? Or yes, you’ll marry me?”

She shrugs. “Both, I guess.”

Holy shit.

What in the hell is happening tonight?

We sat down to dinner as three couples who were dating. Now four of the six of us are engaged. I look at Sydney and she looks radiant…smiling as always as she watches everyone else. Jake and Maggie and Sydney are all clapping for Warren and Bridgette.

Warren pulls away from Bridgette and looks over at Jake and Maggie. “Congrats. You might have been engaged longer than us, but we’re getting married first.”

Maggie laughs. “You go right ahead, Mr. Competitive.”

“Or…” Warren says, turning to look at me. “Maybe we should just do this right now. Ridge, ask Sydney to marry you. Then let’s all go to Vegas.”

I laugh. If there’s anything in our relationship I want to be taken more seriously than anything else, it’s the moment I ask Sydney to marry me. I have it all planned out already. I’m writing a song for it. I’m going to perform it on stage at one of Brennan’s concerts. Sydney deserves more than a spontaneous proposal.

“Oh, come on,” Warren says. “What are you waiting for? You gonna write her a love song and play it on stage like you’ve already done twice before?”

That fucker. “I mean…that was the plan,” I sign, defeated.

“Well, it’s predictable. And lame. But six best friends getting married all at once is memorable and fucking epic. Let’s all go to Vegas and do this shit!”

Bridgette is looking at me with her hands beneath her chin, mouthing, “Please, please, please, please.”

My heart is beating twice as fast as it was two minutes ago. I turn to look at Sydney—to gauge her response—and she smiles. “Just say when,” she signs.

“When,” I say. I blurt it out faster than I would have been able to sign it.

Sydney’s mouth is on mine and we’re both laughing. And…I think we just got engaged.