Zee grabs my arm, pulling me down the sidewalk, as I protest moving forward.
“Guys, we don’t have plans with Daisy and Reggie until 11:30! We can stay out a bit longer, and if we are a little late, they aren’t going to care! It’s Daisy and Reggie for heaven’s sakes; it’s not that big of a deal!” I say with a confused laugh about why Zee was being so intense on getting back to my apartment and finally pulling my arm away from his grasp, and stopping in the middle of the sidewalk, the snow falling around us and melting on our jackets.
The group, which is made up of Zee, Perry, Pia, Nathan, Dani, and Archie, all look at me like I’m crazy for wanting to stay out a little longer. It wasn’t like we were club hopping, it was New Years Eve after all and almost all of us were native New Yorkers or New Yorker adjacent and knew how crazy it gets in the bars and clubs, so we opted to walking around central park, and acting like we were tourist, buying the overpriced stuff the vendor’s were selling, and having the time of our lives. The only thing that could have made this night any better was if Mason was here, but he unfortunately had to work the night shift, as they needed extra hands on staff for the night. The two of us instead decided to do something tomorrow instead, and that was just fine by me. As long as I get to see him, I’m happy.
“Come on, Mi,” Dani says, pulling her coat unnaturally close to her, as Archie stands behind her, trying to keep her warm. “It’s freezing, and knowing Daisy and Reggie, I’m sure Daisy has homemade hot chocolate waiting!” She is currently wearing white ear muffs that divides her brown and pink afro perfectly down the middle of her head.
“Yeah, and the sooner we get back, the sooner I can start baking!” Pia says, as it has been her New Years tradition for years to bake well into the new year, saying she wants to start her year off right, and in her mind that’s baking.
“And this year she is actually letting me help,” Nathan chimes in, referring to the years past where Pia got mad at the two of us for trying to help her with her baking extravaganza.
“And you don’t want to be tired from staying out too late when you see Mason tomorrow,” Archie says, piping up.
“Yeah, and…“Perry trails off, trying to figure out what else to say to add to the list of everything everyone else said trying to convince me to go home. I raise an eyebrow at him wondering what he is going to say next, “what they all said!”
Zee gives his boyfriend’s hand a comforting squeeze, a way of saying “thank you for trying”, and a small smile.
“Fine! Fine!” I finally say, with a laugh at all their excuses, “If you would really like to go back, I will happily join you guys!” I lock arms with Pia and Nathan as we walk, as New Year’s Eve has always been our trio’s thing. We don’t celebrate a lot of holidays in our friendship, as gifts and surprises are none of our strong suits, but on New Year’s Eve we always do something. Maybe because my dad always tried to make it special for us, as it was also his and my moms wedding anniversary. Even after she passed, he would always do something in order to celebrate, and by the time I ment Nathan and Pia, my dad was only too happy to invite them to join the celebration, thus starting the celebration of the new year together.
The other two couples walk in front of us, hand and hard, bodies brushing up against each other just enough that I know causes them butterflies. Everyone always says that Valentine’s day is the most romantic day of the year, and while I think that is true, as it is the celebration of love, I think that real love always appears within the New Year. The kisses at midnight, with someone you know, or maybe even someone you don’t. The thought of spending time with someone you like, or might even love, in the new year, is always special no matter what, because everything that you have done this past year has led you up to that very moment, together, and I think that is magical.
I am brought back into the moment, when we get to the stoop of Daisy and Reggies building, and Dani says, holding the door open for everyone “Come on! It’s warm in here!”
I laugh, unlinking arms with Pia and Nathan, and join everyone else inside.
“Oh good!” Reggie says, as he sees us walk in all happy and snow kissed. “You are right on time!”
I look down at my phone, confused. “It’s only 10:30, I thought you and Daisy didn’t want us back here until 11:30?”
“Oh,” Reggie says, stalling to figure what to say, and runs a hand through his white beard, “Dani texted a little while ago, and I am just glad that you guys are back here okay. Big snow storm is coming tonight night, I guess!” He pauses, and then continues, “I’ll join you guys upstairs in a minute. Mate just ran out to get a couple of more things for tonight, so I wanted to wait for him.” Everyone, but me, nods like this is something they all knew. I knew that Daisy’s kids and grandkids, all 3 kids - Christina, Leo and Mate - , 2 spouses - R.J. and Lydia, and 3 grandchildren - Parker, Liam and Mia -, were staying with them this holiday season, but I have never once seen Reggie wait for one of them to return home from running down the street to the bodega to grab something.
I narrow my eyes at him, and look between him and the rest of my friends, and back again, clearly missing something.
“Okay,” I say, deciding not to question it any more, and start to walk up the stairs to my apartment, first stopping by Dani’s to drop off hers, Archies, Zees, and Perry’s coats, as they were all staying with her tonight, and then up to mine and Masons to drop off mine, Pia’s and Nathans, who were both staying with us, before going up to Daisy apartment.
For some reason, I am leading the pack up the stairs to my apartment, even though I know I am walking slower than most of them, mostly due to the fact that the boats I have been wearing are making me extra hot now that I am in a heated building and not in the cold winter snow. Pia has a spare key even, so she and Nathan can rightfully pass past me and go into the apartment, and the other 4 can continue up to Daisy and Reggies “penthouse” without any problem if they just pass me.
“You guys can head up!” I say, when I reach my door, trying to indicate that they don’t have to wait for me. “We’ll be right behind you!”
“Oh, that’s okay,” Zee says, leaning on the frame of my door, waiting for me to unlock it. “We can wait for you. It’s not a problem.” Zee is also smiling like a manic right now, along with the rest of them, as they stare at me like this is the best thing since sliced bread, or Betty White, since technically she is older than sliced bread. I pull my key out of my pocket, and insert it into the door, only to realize it is already unlocked.
I pull my key out, and turn around to stare at my friends.
“What the hell is going on right now?” I don’t get an answer, so I can’t help but roll my eyes, and put my hand on my door, I see that it’s already unlocked, “I swear to god, if Daisy allowed some guy to enter my apartment again, and you guys all know about it…”
I push the door open, and it’s like my breath is taken out of me, and I start crying, dropping my coat to the floor, covering my face with my hands, openly weeping.
Why? Because Mason has covered the apartment in fairy lights, and roses, and an instrumental version of Can’t Help Falling In Love is playing in the background, and Mason, standing in the middle of the room, in a white button down and black dress pants, and a smile plastered across his face when he sees me.
The smile fades almost immediately when he sees me break down crying, as I am now kneeling on the floor, weeping in my hands, barely able to comprehend what’s happening. He comes running over to me, asking me what is wrong, and wondering if there is anything he can do to help. And I just shake my head.
“No,” I say sniffling back my tears with a light laugh, “No, I’m okay. Just overwhelmed with happiness, that’s all.” I smile up at him, and I finally see that Mason smile come back to his face, and I realize how much I love that smile, especially when I’m the one who causes it.
“Okay,” Mason says, helping me up, as I wipe my eyes.
“Well give you two a minute,” Zee says, smirking and closes the door, and I remember that Mason and I are not alone. I look back, and see Pia give me a thumbs up, and I smile even more.
“I wanted to ask you something,” Mason says, bringing me to the middle of the room, and I laugh lightly.
“Oh really?” I say, sarcastically. “I was wondering what all this was about!” I motion around me as I laugh.
“Oh yeah,” Mason says, playing off my sarcastic energy, “It was just something I was wondering about lately, and wanted your opinion on.”
“Makes sense why I broke down crying when I saw all of it.”
“One-hundred percent.” Mason plays with my hands as we talk, a suddenly shy smile spreads across his face.
“It’s perfect,” I say, trying to calm both of our nerves, “Everything with you is always perfect.”
“Which brings me to my question,” Mason says, looking at me, his green eyes glossy with unshed tears. “Mina, you are one of the most passionate, trustworthy, determined people I know. Everything you do, you do it with love, even if you don’t necessarily love doing it.” I laugh at that, and he continues, “I know life with you won’t always be easy, and there will be hard times, but it will be perfect, because I will be spending it with you.” I can feel the tears start to form in my eyes once again, as I try my best not to kiss him, and tell him how I feel, but I restrain myself and let him finish. “I have almost lost you more times than I could count: to psychopathic murderers, and to Bradley.”
I interrupt with a laugh, tears now rolling down my cheek, “You could never lose me to Bradley!”
This just makes Mason smile even more, as he continues, “So I don’t want to take any chances. I want you to be a part of my life for the rest of my life. I don’t want to wait any more. I want you to know how much I love you, and how much you mean to me, and how much you have affected me in the best way possible. You have made me so incredibly happy, and I love you beyond words.” I’m now openly weeping once again, smiling hearing all of Mason’s words, as he gets down on one knee. “Mina, will you do me the honor of being my wife?” And even before he can get the box out of his pocket, I am nodding my head.
“Yes, yes of course I will!” I kneel down so I am at his level, and kiss him with all my heart, never wanting this moment to end.
After a while Mason picks me up and sets me down on the couch, and sits down next to me.
“I guess I should give you this,” he says with a laugh and reaches into his pocket and pulls out a little black box, and opens it so it’s facing me, and I gasp when I realize what it is.
“Is that my mom’s?” I ask, starting to cry all over again.
“I hope you don’t mind. Pia helped me find it when we were visiting her and Nathan a couple of weeks ago. Every ring I looked at didn’t fit you, and then Nathan suggested your moms.” I still haven’t been able to sell my dad’s house, and thankfully it was already all paid off when he passed, so I didn’t have to worry about it just yet. One day I’ll sell it, I’m just not ready yet . I gave Pia an extra key just in case and asked her to make sure that nothing bad happened, and apparently she took that as searching for an engagement ring with my boyfriend.
“No! I love it!” I say and kiss him. It is truly perfect. I always loved playing with my mom’s ring when I was little, and I know she would be so happy that I have it now as my own engagement ring. It’s a gold ring, with little swirls around the band that lead up to two little diamonds that surround the main one. It looks like something a fairy would have, it was what my mom would always say, and that was always my favorite part about it. And now, as I look down at it in the little black box in Mason’s hand, it’s almost as if my parents are still here with me, and I know they are in certain ways, but this feels different. I was able to find someone who was able to acknowledge their importance in my life, and not diminish them, since they are gone. Everyday now, when I look down at my hand, I will not only see the love I have for Mason, but also the love I have for my parents, and that Mason, although he never met them, loves them too.
“Oh I’m so glad!” Mason says, letting out a sigh of relief, the nerves he was feeling slowly wearing off. He pulls me towards him, so that I’m on top of him like a blanket, and kisses my forehead, as he slides the ring on my finger. We sit in silence for a minute, taking in the flowers and lights that have been scattered around the living room.
“You really went all out with the flowers,” I joke, as he plays with the engagement ring on my finger.
“That was all Daisy,” He says and kiss the top of my head, and I laugh, “I asked her to pick up some flowers earlier, so you wouldn’t see them if i got them, and she showed up at the door with all her kids and grandkids and Reggie caring three bouquet each of roses, and when I tried to protest, she yelled at me.”
I turn so I can face him, and kiss him gently, and say “I love them. Everything is perfect, because it’s with you.”
“I love you,” He says as he kisses me.
“I love you too,” I say, and then pull back quickly, and push off of him, and stand up.
“What?” Mason says, jumping up as well, worry spreading across his face.
“I just realized,” I say, starting to smile, “We’re getting married!” I squeal the second half, and jump up and down. “Oh my god! We’re getting married!”
“We are!” Mason says standing up and hugging me, picking me up and spinning me around the living room. He sets me down, just as someone knocks on the door.
“Can we come in?” Pia calls.
“It’s open!” I say, with a smile, as I lean into Mason’s chest as our friends fill the room.
“So…” Dani says, waiting for me to do something.
“Oh, this?” I say, and hold my hand showing off the ring, as Daisy, Pia, and Dani come running over, as the guys pop open the champagne they were apparently hiding in Dani’s apartment, getting glasses from the cabinets.
“Oh my god my best friend is engaged!” Pia says with a squeal, as she hugs me and jumps up and down.
“And it’s not too Bradley!” Nathan says, with a laugh.
“I told you,” Mason mouths to me, and I just laugh along with them all, even though they might not fully understand the context of it or what that means to us.
“Grab the bubbly and then come on up to our apartment!” Daisy calls in a sing-songy voice, as her and Reggie grab some glasses and walk up the stairs to their apartment.
Mason hands me a glass with a smile, as we follow our friends up the stairs and into Daisy and Reggie’s apartment.
“Oh my god!” I say, when I see their living room. Just like mine at the moment, it is covered in roses, but somehow there are more here. The woman must have spent hundreds of dollars in roses, as it looks like she has bought the entire city’s supply of red roses.
“What?” Daisy asks, as if an apartment covered in roses was completely normal.
“Nothing,” I say, with a laugh, as I join the party. Daisy’s whole family, who in a way have become mine, all congratulate me and Mason, and the New Years party - or I guess engagement party- officially starts. Everyone mingles with one another; Pia and Zee come over to me so they can get every single detail of what happened; Nathan congratulates Mason and I, and has a minor freak out when Mason asks him to be his best man. Nathan responded with “Wait really?! … I mean, Yeah that would be super cool.” getting a laugh out of all of us.
Towards midnight, I look around the room, and tears, shocking that I still have them, come to my eyes. I am surrounded by so much love and happiness, I don’t even know what to do other than smile right now.
“You okay?” Mason asks, joining me in the corner of the room where I am admiring everyone’s cheer.
“Couldn’t be happier!” I say, and Mason takes my hand, and nods towards the door.
“It’s almost midnight,” He says, as I follow him up the stairs and to the roof.
“It is.” I laugh. “Mas, what are we doing on the roof?”
“I might have one last surprise for you,” He says with a mischievous grin.
I raise my eyebrow but follow him, as he opens the door, and reveals a fire pit burning bright, and fairy lights covering the pergola Daisy and Reggie had put in last summer.
“Oh Mason!” I say with a gasp. With the snow falling around the fire and lights, it takes my breath away with its beauty.
“I thought you might like it.” He grins, leading me over to the fire.
“It’s wonderful!” I can help but jump a little with how happy I’m feeling right now. I don’t even register how cold it is; I am just here with Mason, and that’s all I can focus on.
We are staring out at the view of the city when we hear, from the open door to the stairs, the chanting of “10! 9! 8!....”
“It’s almost the new year,” Mason says with a grin, and pulls me closer to him.
“7! 6! 5!...”
“4! 3! 2!” I whisper to him, his mouth only an inch away from mine.
“1! Happy new year!” Everyone calls from below, but I can barely hear them as Mason whispers to me.
“I love you,” And kisses me, that I have no doubt in my mind about whether or not that is true.
“I love you more,” I say between kisses, as the snow falls around us and a new year begins.
