"Man, it was so much easier when me and Cassie decided to get married." He muttered.
Such a statement naturally prompted Zac to remember that day in January in Tulsa. He and Cassie had just been making out when she decided she wanted to go further. Zac proposed marriage then and there. There hadn't been any time to worry. Cassie never even had an engagement ring.
He smiled at the memory.
**********
"Kel?" Zac asked nervously later that night.
"Yeah?" she asked.
"Umm, ahh, there's something I've been wanting to ask you for, umm, for a while now."
"Yeah?"
"Uhh..." Zac fumbled around for the case with the ring in it.
He soon found it and clenched it in his fist. He took a deep breath.
"Well, I was wondering... would, will you marry me?"
Kelsey stared at him as he opened up the case in front of her, displaying the ring. She gaped dumbfounded.
"I, uhh, oh, I, I don't know what to say." She stammered.
"What about an enthusiastic 'yes'?" Zac suggested hopefully.
Kelsey smiled at him then bit her lip and looked at the ring, then back at Zac, then ring and then at Zac again.
"Zac, I... I..." she leant over and kissed him, then pulled away. "Zac, I love you, you know that -"
Zac turned his gaze away.
"No, no, Zac, it's not like - Zac don't be like this - I, I just don't think... I'm not ready to get married. To anyone."
Zac was silent.
"Please, Zac. It's... I'm not like, I'm not saying 'no'. I'm saying 'not yet'. I just like, need some time to think ok?"
"Umm, yeah, ok, I understand."
"You, you're not like, mad are you?" Kelsey asked.
"No... Just a little disappointed I guess."
There was an awkward silence.
"Ok, umm, let me know what your answer is."
Kelsey winced as Zac abruptly got up and left.