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Where was it? Where the hell did she put it? She stands on her toes and pulls another basket down. She looks through it but it’s not there.
How the hell did she misplace it?
She pulls another basket down and rummages through the basket. But it’s not there. She sighs and puts it back up making sure it doesn’t fall. And then she goes and looks under the bed but all she sees is Tim’s slippers.
Fuck.
Where did she put it?
She stands up and goes over to Tim’s bedside drawer. There’s no way she would have put it in there, he was there all the time but—
She pulls it open and digs through it. Her hand hits something and she looks down to see a small bag. She pulls it out and opens it only to find another bag.
Of course. And she really shouldn’t keep digging but her curiosity got the best of her.
She opens the other bag and pulls out a box. A small velvet box. She swallows and looks at it in her hands.
Don’t open it.
Open it.
Don’t open it.
She swallows again looks around to make sure Tim isn’t coming in the room but he’s preoccupied with fixing the leak in their bathroom that almost has them staying in hotel.
Open it.
She opens the box and sees a ring nestled in the box. A beautiful, perfect, diamond ring.
Oh.
Was this Tim’s Valentine’s day present? Was he going to propose?
Oh.
She stares at the ring and it really is beautiful and perfect. And it’s her, it’s her style. This is exactly what she would pick out for herself. Tim really did know her. Like really, really well.
Oh how she loves him.
The thing is though, the thing is—she wants to marry Tim one day. She would love nothing more than to stand in front of him and declare her love for him. She wants to marry him, because she can picture it so clearly in her head.
But she’s not ready.
Not yet.
They just got back together, they just moved in together. They were just getting their life started and she’s not sure she’s ready to marry him.
She wants to.
One day.
She shuts the box and puts it back in the bag and then the other bag. She puts it back in the drawer and shuts it.
She stares at it for a few seconds before she heads outside to the hallway. She sees Tim on his knees shirtless and prying something up.
Lucy leans against the doorway and admires him. “Hey.” She says and Tim looks over his shoulder and gives her a smile.
“Hey.” He says. “I know this isn’t what you had planned for Valentine’s Day.”
“It’s fine.” She says. “Is it almost done?” The ring flashes through her mind and she closes her eyes.
“No.” Tim says and he stands up and heads over to her. “How does a hotel tonight sound?”
“A hotel on Valentine’s Day?” Lucy asks and now the image of them in the hotel room last year flashes through her mind. “That’s kind of our thing.” Tim shoots her a look and then leans in to kiss her.
“I guess it is. But I know how you like your warm showers and working toilets.”
“Who doesn’t?” Lucy asks. “And we will celebrate there?”
“Why not?” Tim asks. “We might as well right?” Lucy nods and thinks of the ring in Tim’s bedside drawer.
Oh.
He was going to propose tonight.
And she’s not sure she’s ready.
“You good?” Tim asks. Lucy looks up and nods her head. She doesn’t want him to think anything is wrong especially on Valentine’s Day.
“Yes.” She says. “Everything is fine.” Everything is fine.
***
“So what are you and Tim doing for Valentine’s Day?” Celina asks Lucy. “It’s your first back together.”
“Our bathroom is leaking.” Lucy says. “We are going to a hotel and celebrating there.”
“That’s kind of… sexy.” Celina says. “Besides the leaking bathroom.” Lucy nods and focuses on the road ahead.
“Yep.” She says. “I misplaced his Valentin’s day present and I’m pretty sure he’s planning to propose tonight.”
Celina stares at her, and she looks surprised and a little confused. “What?”
“I found ring.” Lucy says. “A perfect, beautiful ring and god—”
“You are going to say yes.” Celina says. Lucy sighs softly and taps her fingers on the steering wheel.
“I love him. I want to marry him… eventually.” Lucy says. “I just don’t know— right now.”
“Oh.”
“I want to marry him. But I didn’t know he was there yet. We just got back together.” Lucy says. It sounds even worse saying it out loud.
“I get it Lucy.” Celina says. “But he’s obviously ready. He was ready to move in with you. He thinks you are ready for this too.”
Lucy sighs and focuses on the road. She doesn’t want to break his heart. She doesn’t want to mess everything up when everything was so good.
“I love him.” Lucy says. “And that’s all that matters.” Celina nods and looks over at her.
“It will be okay.” Celina says. “Tim will understand.” And Lucy really hopes she’s right.
***
Tim doesn’t see Lucy all day, and when he catches a glimpse of her she avoids him. She doesn’t look at him, and walks away.
Tim blows out a breath, he wonders if a night at a hotel instead of their own home was a good idea. It’s not what he has in mind for Valentine’s Day but they would make it work.
They always did.
Always.
He had the perfect gift for her and they would have dinner and just spend the evening together. It sounded pretty damn good to him.
If only she would stop avoiding him of course.
“Hey.” There’s a knock on the door and he looks up to see Angela stepping into the office. “Big plans for Valentine’s Day?”
“We are staying at a hotel.” Tim says. Angela raises her eyebrows. “Our bathroom is a mess. It’s not very romantic when we don’t have a bathroom.”
“Okay.” Angela says. She sits down in front of the desk. “You got her a present?”
“Of course.” Tim says and he is very proud of it. He worked so hard to get it and wrap it up. And hide because he knows Lucy snoops. And she has her stuff in all the nook and cranny’s of their house.
“Good.” Angela says. “Do you still have the—you know.” Tim raises his eyebrows at her.
“What?”
“The ring. You bought it like months ago.” Angela says. Tim winces a little and maybe he was a little premature in buying the ring. He bought the boxes before she said yes and he bought the ring before he even thought about asking her.
“I do.” He confirms. “It’s hidden away and that’s not her Valentine’s Day gift.”
“Of course.” Angela says. “That’s for a later time.” Tim nods and he really wasn’t planning on proposing anytime soon. He wants to marry Lucy, and he wants to get down on one knee but they weren’t quite ready for that yet.
He loves living with her, and he loves having her around and he wants it forever but—just not yet. Besides proposing on Valentine’s Day was cheesy and he wanted it to be special for them.
Just for them.
“Well have fun tonight.” Angela says. Tim nods and watches her go. He spots Lucy talking to Celina and he gets up and hurries towards her but she starts moving away.
“She’s just getting changed out.” Celina says but she looks nervous. “Going to the hotel?”
“Dinner first.” Tim says. “Did she say anything today?”
“About?” Celina asks raising her eyebrows at him. Tim swallows and looks around the station.
“She has been avoiding me.” Tim says. “Maybe spending the night at the hotel isn’t what she wants.”
“Maybe she’s not ready.” Celina points out. “You know.” Tim frowns at her, and he is confused.
“For a night at the hotel? We hooked up in—” He pauses as Celina looks at him. “Never mind.”
“Maybe you should talk to her.” Celina suggests. “So you both are on the same page.”
“Right.” Tim says and he gives her one last look before he’s heading off to the locker rooms.
They just need to be on the same page. That’s all.
***
“So.” Tim says looking at Lucy over when they are settled down at the table. “Are you excited?”
“About?” Lucy asks. “Valentine’s Day?”
“Sure.” Tim says softly. “And you know celebrating it for real?” Lucy nods and tears a piece of bread.
“Yes.” She says. “This is nice. You did good.” Tim grins at her and reaches across the table to grab her hand.
“Really? You don’t mind spending the night at a hotel? It’s not—” He starts but Lucy shakes her head.
“Of course not.” Lucy says. “It’s kind of sexy.” Tim grins at her and he’s glad she’s not upset about that.
“Right.” He says. “You have been quiet and you were avoiding me earlier.” Lucy’s face pales a little and she shakes her head.
“No not avoiding.” She says. “It’s just—you said I was going to love what you got me and I’m sure I will. But I’m not—ready.”
“What?”
“I love you. And I want to do it eventually. You are the only one I see myself with.” Lucy says. “But we just got started again.”
“Right—” Tim says and he’s beyond confused now. “What are you talking about? Is this about the hotel room?”
“No.” Lucy says and she takes a deep breath. “I found it.”
“Found what?”
“I found it. The ring.” Lucy says and this time Tim feels panicked. What? She found the ring? How—
“I misplaced your gift. I found it eventually but I found the ring first. It’s beautiful Tim but I’m not ready.” She says and continues before he can say anything. “I love you so much. I do. I just think we should have more—”
“Okay Lucy listen—” He says. “I should have moved that ring. But it’s not what you think it is.”
“It’s not—” Lucy starts and her face falls a bit.
“I wasn’t asking you tonight.” Tim says. “I’m going to ask eventually but I’m not ready either. I want to marry you Lucy.”
“I want to marry you too.” Lucy says and she looks relieved. “But I thought—I thought we were going a little slower.”
“We can go at your pace.” Tim says. “I’m not rushing anything Lucy. I mean one day right?”
“Absolutely.” Lucy says. “I thought—” But she trails off and shrugs her shoulders like she’s not sure what to say.
“How did you find the ring?” He asks and he’s going to have to hide it again.
“I was looking for your present and I just opened your bedside drawer.” She says as Tim raises his eyebrows at her. “Maybe I was snooping a little.”
Tim gives her a smile and leans in closer. This definitely wasn’t the Valentine’s Day he planned. But then again he didn’t plan on hooking up with Lucy last year.
“I love you.” He says. “One day I will put that ring to use.” Lucy nods and she leans in even closer.
“One day.” She says. “But not too far into the future.” Tim presses a kiss to her lips, and maybe it wouldn’t be so far off as he thought.
“Happy Valentine’s Day Lucy.” He says because despite everything this was a good day.
“Happy Valentine’s Day Tim.”