Chapter Thirty-Nine

Jasper

The rest of our stay at the cabin was spent outside enjoying the beauty of the bay. Except for the second last day we were there when it rained throughout the entire day. To occupy our time, we stayed inside the comfort of the cabin and played a variety of card games and watched movies that mum and I had left in the entertainment unit.

We decided to head home at about noon on the Wednesday after we arrived. Addison and Ryan were happy that we were back. Well, Addison was the only one who admitted to it. But Chris and I could both tell that Ryan missed the heck out of us whether he said it or not.

Since we got back, Ryan has been cleared to leave the hospital and is going to move back to his house. Addison was debating whether to go with him or not but she decided that she was going to stay with Chris and I for a little while longer. She didn't want to move in with him until they were either married or engaged. I felt the same way before mum got sick. I said that I wasn't going to be moving in with Chris until we were married. But after she got sick, Chris didn't want me home alone all the time in case something happened. So he sort of moved in with me for a few weeks before he left for Afghanistan. After he left, I was lonely and called Addison, and a few weeks later, she had moved into the house with me. After we got back from Paris, Chris and I were engaged. Plus, his place wasn't all that nice so he really didn't want to go back there again.

But, Addison had been with Ryan every day since he was admitted into the hospital except for when she got homesick and came and stayed with Chris and I for a night or two. But for the most part, she was with Ryan in the hospital.

Chris, Ryan, Addison and I were all driving back to Ryan's apartment to help him clean the place up considering he hadn't really been living there since before he left for Afghanistan with Chris. Which was about nine months ago. As the four of us stepped in the door, we were all initially shocked at how surprisingly clean the house was. Sure, there was some dust around the house and it neeeded a little vacuuming but I definitely expected much much worse, and I think Chris and Addison did too because they looked just as shocked as I was.

"What, you guys think I lived in some sort of dump or something?" Ryan asked jokingly placing a hand over his heart "I'm offended"

"Well you haven't lived here in like, nine months so I at least expected it to look like it had been run down by a tornado or something" I laughed.

"Well you thought wrong. I happen to be a little bit of a neat freak actually" he said proudy and smugly crossing his arms over his chest and tilting his chin up.

Wait, Ryan Baxter, a neat freak?? I think a pig just flew out the window.

"Ouch babe. That isn't nice" Ryan faked hurt once again.

Apparently I said that out loud. Oops.

I stifled a laugh. "Sorry Ryan. I didn't mean to say that out loud" I walked over and kissed his cheek.

"I guess that I can accept your apology" he said "now let's get cleaning"

"Yeah this place is a hot mess" Chris muttered.

"Ditto that" Addison piped in.

It took the four of us only an hour and a half to clean Ryan's entire place up and make it look presentable. To us, at least.

We plopped onto the couch in unison; exhausted.

"Man! I haven't done that much cleaning in a while" Chris laughed.

"Me neither" Addison and I chimed.

We all decided to leave Ryan after ordering and devouring a pizza and watching a few episodes of Criminal Minds (Addison and Ryan insisted).

When we got home, Addison bid Chris and I goodnight before heading up to bed. Chris and I flicked on the TV and I laid down across his lap before my eyelids became heavy, and before I knew it, I drifted into a deep sleep.

I could feel Chris leaning down and pressing his warm lips to my forehead. "I love you my darlin'" he muttered. I snuggled into his chest a little more before I fell asleep.

The next morning, was June 22nd. Less than a month away from our trip with Addison and Ryan, and mine and Chris's one year anniversary. We had moved pretty fast in our relationship, but both of our feelings were genuine and I felt like I had known him my entire life. I loved him and he loved me. We felt that way the day after we met and feel the same way a year later. I don't think it really matters that we moved faster than most. We stayed within our comfort zone and that's what matters.

I stretched my tired muscles and the smell of bacon and waffles filled my nose. My favourite breakfast in the entire world. I changed into one of Chris's old hoodies and a pair of yoga pants and walked down the stairs. I wrapped my arms around Chris's torso and breathed in his scent. He was wearing a white t-shirt that perfectly showed off his muscular chest and arms.

"Good morning my love" he smiled turning around and hugging me.

"Morning" I muttered.

"Happy anniversary" he said, his face beaming.

"And to you as well" I laughed. I truly couldn't believe that I had really only known Chris for one year. I felt as if I had known him my entire life.

"I have somethin for ya" he smirked nodding his head toward the living room table.

I redirected my attention to the bouquet of twelve roses in a vase sitting on the coffee table. I gasped and made my way toward the table. Hidden in the flowers was a velvet case. I took it in my hands and rubbed my fingers on the soft material. I looked up at Chris who was still making breakfast.

"Well, you gonna open it or what?" He chuckled.

I made my way to the breakfast bar with the roses and box in hand and sat down. I put the vase on the counter and continued to eye the box.

I pryed the box open and my hand flew to my mouth. It was beautiful. I pulled the gorgeous necklace out of the box and held it in my fingers. It was a gold locket that had a picture of my mum and I together on one side and Chris giving me a piggyback on the other. The chain also had my mum's rings dangling from it.

"Chris, how did you? I don't remember taking that picture" I mumbled.

"I took it while the two of you weren't looking. You both looked so happy laughing together, I figured that moment needed to be captured." He smiled.

"I love it" I smiled at him and wrapped my arms around his neck, the necklace still entangled in my fingers. He took it from me and clasped it onto my neck.

"There. Pretty girl deserves pretty things" he laughed kissing my cheek.

Guilt washed over me. I didn't exactly get him anything.

"Chris"

"Yeah Nikki"

"Was I supposed to get you anything?"

"Nope. You were not my darlin'"

Phew. But I still felt bad.

"Come on. Eat your breakfast. I have another surprise for you"

"Chris, you don't have to do all of this for me. You proposed like, on the Eiffel Tower. You don't have to do much more"

"That alone ain't good enough for me" his accent gets me every time.

I followed his previous order and gobbled up the delicious breakfast he had made and headed upstairs to get dressed. I came back downstairs and Chris was nowhere in sight. Eyeing a piece of paper on the kitchen countertop, I walked over and read the note he had left me.

Ran out of milk. Be back soon. X Chris

I lightly traced over where his hand had written just moments ago.

I set the note back on the counter and walked over to the couch. I plopped myself down and turned on the TV. There wasn't much on, so I settled on an old Bugs Bunny cartoon marathon. I heard the front door open and I turned to find Chris carrying a box with him. There wasn't milk in it, I'll tell you that much. Chris threw his keys into the bowl on the counter and set the box on the floor.

"Hey Nicole"

"Yeah honey?" I asked suspiciously.

"C'mere for a minute"

"Okay" I said hesitantly.

I got up from the couch and slowly made my way toward Chris who was sitting on the floor beside the box. I sat myself down next to him, the box in front of me and shot him a curious look.

"Open it" he smiled warmly.

I reached for the ribbon that was tied around it, and the top of the box became loose. I lifted it and placed it on the floor next to me and peered into the box. There sat an adorable little german shepherd puppy making puppy dog eyes at me. He grinned when he saw me and jumped out of the box and onto my stomach. He began licking me furiously. I let out a loud laugh causing the little pup to stifle what resembled a bark. I turned to Chris with a gleam in my eye.

"Happy anniversary" he smiled.

I rested the puppy on the floor and threw my arms around Chris. He stood and spun me around. He set me back down and kissed the top of my head. Our puppy barked once again and began happily jumping around.

"What's his name?" I asked.

"Haven't gotten that far yet. Got any ideas?" He smirked.

"Hmmm I like Jasper"

"He looks like a Jasper. I like it"

I looked down at Jasper. "Jasper!!" I called. He looked up at me and walked to my feet and plopped himself down on them.

"He already knows his name" Chris chuckled.

I laughed and picked Jasper up off the floor and gave him a kiss before walking over to the living room where somehow, a dog bed and toys were hidden. How I didn't notice them before, I have no idea. I sat down with Chris beside me and set Jasper on my lap. He couldn't have been more than eight weeks old. He was so small! Chris put his arm around my shoulder and kissed my forehead. I nuzzled into him and continued to play with Jasper in my lap. We were already turning into our own little family.

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Aww. This chapter is so cute I had so much fun writing it! Isn't Jasper just the cutest?? I added a picture of him above, Chris is the greatest fiancee ever! I want one

Keep commenting and voting! It's awesome motivation!

Happy reading!

Eagle_Eye_13 xx