Chapter Text
Bianca was busy with her preparations. It was their eight year anniversary and they had been living together for a while. Even though they both worked a lot, they still managed to make enough time for each other. Luckily she was great at aligning agenda’s. She had to be. Her job at the creative agency was a busy one where she continuously worked on multiple campaigns. Her ambition was to become a lead creative strategist for fashion brands, though that might take a while. Meanwhile Wilshire worked as a sous-chef at an exquisite restaurant and she could not be prouder of him.
She decorated the table at their home painstakingly, constantly refining her set-up. Wilshire would be home soon. She eyed the clock nervously. Maybe they should have gone out after all? Was this really a good idea? She was not as romantic as he was, but had no doubt he would appreciate the gesture. Pacing through the house, she eyed herself in the mirror one last time. She wore an asymmetrical black dress with one sleeve on the left side, and a barren shoulder on the other side. Would he like it? She had ordered his favorite food, from their favorite place. Even though he worked in the restaurant business, he still like wholesome, simple foods. She eyed the bags of take-away food critically.
‘Calm down, Dupree,’ she muttered to herself. ‘It’s just Wilshire.’
Empress seemed to notice something was off and walked up to her. Her darling dog was twelve by now, but still going strong. Bianca picked her up and cuddled her.
‘Sweetie!’ she nuzzled the dog. ‘Oh, I should be careful. It’s a black dress after all.’
She put Empress down and quickly sprinted to the kitchen to remove the hairs.
***
Bianca hadn't caught the sound of his car, nor his footsteps.
‘Have you been cuddling Empress again?’ Wilshire was behind her. While it was not his selling point as a teen, she now loved hearing his voice when he came home. it helped that his voice had deepened over the years. He put the groceries down, looked surprised for a moment, and laughed.
‘I see you have plans.’
‘Hm,’ she shrugged her shoulders.
‘Bianca, you look absolutely stunning,’ he embraced her. She sighed, happy that he was home and that the long wait was over with. She was still nervous, but it was a good feeling now. He was so warm and soft. She rested her head on his shoulder, nuzzling his neck.
‘Glad to hear you like it,’ she said softly.
‘And the table looks so nice.’
Bianca smiled, proud of her handiwork. She put as many flowers and candles on that table as she could possibly fit.
‘What’s the occasion?’ he asked, raising his eyebrows. ‘Did I forget something? Should I wear something else?’
Bianca straightened his grey jacket, which was one of her favorites. ‘No, you’re fine. We are staying in to celebrate.’
‘Celebrate... You mean for our anniversary? But that’s tomorrow.’
‘Correct. I thought we’d celebrate early. I wanted to surprise you.’
‘You succeeded,’ he smiled, leaning in to give her a kiss which she happily returned.
‘You are incredibly sweet, Bianca Dupree.’
***
A few years ago, those words seemed unimaginable. Bianca, sweet? But she had really softened up since they were together. She tried to be nicer to other people and was generally less self-involved. Her emotions had often been fed by insecurity and perfectionism. By now, she tried to let go of those feelings. Did she need approval of everyone? Of course not. She was her own person. Sometimes she reflected on how she’d changed. Maybe she had grown older, or maybe he’d had a good influence on her. Quite possibly both.
‘I can’t believe that you planned a romantic dinner. At home. With candles!’ His eyes teared up a bit. There he went again, overwhelmed by emotions. He wore his heart on his sleeve. Some days, it still annoyed herk, but today she found it most endearing.
‘I was hoping… that we could dance first,’ she picked up the remote from the kitchen table and turned on a slow song. Her head was fuzzy. Had she picked out the best song, the song that fitted them most? She couldn’t really register it anymore, but offered him her hand.
Dancing with him was always pleasant. They hadn’t done this in a while, but Bianca took the lead and made it matter. She was precise, until he gently placed his hand in the small of her back and pulled her a bit closer.
Stay sharp, Dupree. You are on a mission, she told herself. Today was going to be exceptional.
***
They enjoyed dinner together, and it was lovely. Bianca was content. This was all going according to plan. After she cleared their plates, she walked up to him and put her hands over his eyes.
‘Keep your eyes closed,’ she stated. While she tried to sound playful, it was clearly a command.
‘Yes,’ he softly replied.
She had put the ring on a desert plate, which she quietly put down in front of him.
‘You can open them again.’
Wilshire was blushing. When he saw the ring, he choked up a little.
‘Wilshire Brentwood, will you marry me?’
When he didn’t respond, she smiled lovingly.
‘Oh, Bianca! I never thought you would… I..’
Bianca smiled as she listened to his rambling. It was clearly a yes, but it took a while for him to get there.
‘Yes, a thousand times yes,’ he took her hands lovingly and looked into her eyes deeply.
‘Good,’ she simply stated. ‘I hoped as much.’
‘You… asking me? This is so… unexpected! I didn’t think you wanted to get married. Oh, Bianca.’ He hugged her and lifted her up a little. ‘You are the love of my life! I never would have dreamed that you…’
She reached out for his hand and put the ring on it.
‘You are mine now.’
‘B…I don’t know what to say… I….’
She kissed him to stop his rambling, and he deepened it. Her skin felt electric.
Wilshire sighed deeply, content.
‘I’m so happy you asked me,’ he said. ‘Of course I thought about asking you, but I wasn’t sure if you cared for marriage. Every time I brought it up, you didn’t really respond. I suppose I just assumed…’
Bianca felt a bit hurt hearing that. She had considered marriage, but Wilshire had often asked her when they were teenagers and in their early twenties. They were simply too young.
She considered her answer: ‘You are right. It took me a while to warm up to the idea of marriage, but I feel comfortable about it now. I really wanted to ask you. I hope I didn’t jump the gun on you.’
‘Absolutely no,’ he said. ‘It made me so nervous, the idea of proposing to you. And the idea that maybe you’d decline.’
He looked sad for a moment. Even though they were together for years, he sometimes still worried about losing her.
‘I wouldn’t have declined,’ she said softly. ‘I love being with you.’
Emotionally overwhelmed, he again hugged her and she quietly patted his back. Even though she had a sadistic streak – a quality which he loved about her – she didn’t mind the aftercare either. Holding him exhausted in her arms, emotionally overwhelmed or depleted, was perhaps the best feeling in the world.
***
Against Bianca’s proper sense of etiquette, they had desert on the couch. Their knees were touching and she often rested her head on his shoulder. Eventually, she put her hand on his and slowly traced his fingers and the ring.
‘Did you get yourself a ring too?’ Wilshire asked as she tapped his softly.
‘Oh, I did! Do you want to put it on?’
‘I’d love that.’
She got the ring and was surprised by how gentle he touched it. Like it was their most precious possession. He put it on her finger gently and when he was done, she kissed him on his cheeks and lips.
‘My beautiful fiancée,’ he said, touching her chin softly. ‘I can’t believe it.’
And neither could she. Sure, their relationship was sometimes hard work, but they complimented each other. Their rings sparkled in the candlelight. Empress was sleeping quietly.
Bianca Dupree had never envisioned this type of life when she was sixteen, but it was exactly the life that she needed. The ring around her finger felt surprisingly light, and fit her surprisingly well.