Page 55 of Chasing Elliott
"Okay, baby," Cooper said before he placed a quick kiss on my cheek and slid away from the table. Turning my attention back to Kara and Benjamin, I noticed how much moreaffectionate they seemed.
"So how was your scavenger hunt?" I questioned as I put my attention on Kara. Sheinstantly blushed as she leaned forward, excitement lighting up her eyes.
"It was amazing," she gushed as she giddily looked over at Benjamin and back to me. "He had me go all over town to where we had some of our best dates and then I ended up at thebotanical gardens. Benji had all sorts of lights set up and music and-"
"Let's wait for Coop, honey," Benjamin cut her off as he squeezed her shoulder softly. Kara nodded as she turned back to me and gave me a smile. I cocked a brow at both of them in confusion but they refused to say a word.
Cooper came walking back over and put my drink down in front of me and placed a kissto the top of my head before sitting down in his chair.
"So why did you pick here, Ben?" Cooper questioned after he took a sip of his drink. "Ifeel like this is a little high end, even for you."
"Well," Benjamin replied as he glanced over at Kara. "We have something very important that we wanted to tell you both."
"So, as I was telling El, Benji sent me on this scavenger hunt thing today which led meall over town to all of our best date spots and it ended with me at the botanical gardens. He had all these lights strung all over the place and soft music playing in the background and he was even in dress pants and a really nice dress shirt.
"Of course, Benji being the romantic he is, started declaring his love for me and god did Icry like a baby," she trailed off. "But next thing I knew."
Suddenly, Kara pulled her hand out from under the table and held it out to us and my mouth dropped open in surprise. On her ring finger sat a beautiful diamond ring. Cooper and Isat there silently for a minute in awe, and I saw Kara's face fall slightly.
I quickly jumped out of my chair and pulled her to her feet, wrapping my arms aroundher tightly.
"Congratulations," I whispered in her ear as she wrapped her arms around me. "I'm so happy for you."
As if snapping out of his trance, Cooper quickly jumped up and walked over to us and shook Benjamin's hand, pulling him into a hug. Once Kara let go, Cooper gave her a hug as I congratulated Benjamin before we all sat back down.
"I'm going to go get a bottle of champagne for the table," Benjamin announced as hestood up. I slapped Cooper's leg under the table which resulted in me receiving a small glarebefore I gestured for him to follow his best friend. Finally catching on, he ran after Benjamin.
"I'm just so happy," Kara gushed as she stared at the ring. "I love him so much and it was just so unexpected. I can't believe he wants to spend the rest of his life with me. Me! I never imagined I'd get someone as amazing as him."
"I'm happy for you," I started saying before I reached across the table to grab her hand. "But are you sure it's not too soon? It's only been like eight months, Kay. I just don't want you rushing into anything especially since we only have a semester left. You have your whole lifeahead of you."
"I know, El, but when he got down on one knee I just knew. As he was spilling his heart out to me, I was nervous and didn't know but once I knew where it was going, it just felt right."
Giving her a small half smile, I squeezed her hand gently and nodded.
"Then I support you one hundred percent," I informed her which caused her to beam widely at me. "Did he ask your mom?"
"He did actually," Kara told me as her smile grew. "Apparently they met up at the cemetery so he could ask in front of my father. When he told me that I lost it."
"He's definitely a keeper."
Cooper and Benjamin came strolling back to the table but Kara looked at me with atwinkle in her eye and spoke up before they reached us.
"Will you be my maid of honor?" She rushed out as she squeezed my hands in hers. My eyes started to well up as I nodded my head which caused her to squeal. Kara jumped out of her seat and hugged me tightly.
The boys finally reached the table and looked between the two of us suspiciously, but they didn't say anything. The rooftop was finally packed with people and suddenly the DJ walked up to the booth and reached for the microphone.
"Before we get this party started, we're gonna start the night off with a slow song forKara and Benjamin who, I've just been informed, got engaged today."
Everyone started clapping as he dragged Kara onto the dance floor and other couples started to follow suit. I leaned against Cooper as we watched them dance and while I was happy for my best friend, I just hoped this was the right decision for her.
“Come on, Elli,” Cooper pleaded as he knelt on the ground in front of me, holding my hands in his. “Please?”
“I have a party I have to get ready for,” I reminded him for the fifteenth time. “We don’t have time.”
Cooper looked at me with puppy dog eyes and I felt myself faltering for a moment. “Please, baby, it’ll be fun and only take an hour, I promise.”
“You know,” I started to say as I pulled my hands out of his and walked over to the closet to change out of my sweats and sports bra and into something more presentable. “Maybe if youtold me what you wanted to do, I’d be more apt to do it.”
