Chapter 2.

AURELIA'S P.O.V

Halfway into cutting my steak, I hear Thorne's voice, I should totally not call him that,  "So Aurelia, how did you and Cooper meet?" 

"Well uh, it was through a friend that we met. My bestfriend's dating Cooper's friend and she suggested that we all went on a double date. Things sort of just hit off from there." Underneath the table, Cooper grabs my hand and rubs it softly as I look at him with a smile which he reciprocates.

"Awwn aren't they so cute." Caroline coos, and I blush in embarrassment before returning my attention back to my meal.

"Dad, Aurelia's actually a nurse and you wouldn't believe that she works at your hospital." My head snaps to look at him in surprise as I begin choking on a piece of meat at his words, why hadn't he ever mentioned this to me?

"Easy there." Cooper rubs my back as he hands me a glass of water. 

"Oh really? Now that's a shocker. Beauty with brains."

"I uh..I didn't know that Sir as Cooper never told me, but I must say I really love working the hospital." I say, trying to ease the tension.

"It's alright, I'm sure Cooper kept it a secret so as to not make things awkward." I hold back a snort at Thorne's words. "And please call me Thorns."

The conversation carries on fairly comfortably until Cooper speaks.

"May I have all your attention please." We all keep quiet as we look at him, he seemed a bit nervous.

"Thanks, firstly I'd like to thank you all for being here." Then he turns to look at me as he takes my hand in his. "Lia, I honestly don't know where to start. Ever since I met you, I felt like I had found my missing piece. Every time spent with you felt like I had all the happiness in the world, I hated being away from you and I hated having issues with you." Okay what the fuck is going on? I sort of had an inkling as to where this was heading to but I hoped it wasn't what I was thinking. "You're my happiness Aurelia and I want to be yours  forever." Just then, he fishes out a small box from his pocket and opens it to reveal a beautiful ring, Oh God, "What I'm trying to say is, will you marry me Aurelia Mia Rowland?" A wave of emotions overwhelm me as I hear Caroline cheering at us, Thorne looking at us with a slight smile, and Cooper looking at me hopefully urging me to say yes.

"Uh...I....I....yes." Caroline cheers, Cooper smiles as he kisses me while fixing the ring onto my finger before walking over to his dad who hugged him, giving him a pat on the back as Caroline hugs me warmly.

"I'm proud of you Son." Thorne smiles at Cooper who reciprocates the gesture. 

"Congratulations Aurelia." He says, pulling me into a hug and I swear his touch felt all so familiar. He released me a second later as we all returned to our seats, Caroline more chattery, Cooper and his father talking a bit more about business and I......well I felt lost.

Finally, the dinner came to an end and I couldn't be more grateful to go home and just be by myself. But just before Conner and I left, Caroline pulled me aside.

"Is everything alright dear?" She asked softly, her voice laced with genuine concern which touched me.

Returning her smile I nod, "Yeah sure I am, I'm just tired."

"I understand, it's been a long night for everyone especially with the proposal. Oh I'm so happy for you both." She smiled enthusiastically as she pulled me in for a hug which I couldn't help but return. Saying our goodbyes to both parent, Cooper and I left.

We had been driving for quite a while in silence until Cooper spoke.

"Well that didn't go so bad babe, the dinner was lovely and my parents loved you." I didn't have the willpower in me to respond so I just let out a low hum while still staring out the window.

"Babe...you okay?" I remain silent not knowing how to answer his question. Was I okay? Was I ready for this big new step?

"Babe?" Coopers voice startles me out of my reverie as my neck turns to look at him.

"Yeah? Sorry I..I..um" 

"What's wrong baby? Talk to me." Taking my hand in his, he raised it up to his lips and placed a kiss at the back of my hand while still keeping his eyes on the road.

I keep silent for a while, not really sure on how to put my words out to him in the best way possible but then I just decide to be out with it.

"Why did you propose to me?"

"What do you mean babe? I proposed to you because I love you and I want to spend the rest of my life with you."

"And you just had to propose to me in the presence of your parents knowing fully well that I couldn't refuse? We're still trying to move past our most recent issue and then you just go ahead and do that? Cooper that's not right." At this time we were pulling up to my apartment building.

"Babe c'mon, the fact that we just came out of a recent issue shouldn't be a problem for us not to get engaged. And besides I see nothing wrong with me proposing to you before my parents."

"It's my first time meeting them, how do you propose to your girlfriend when she meets your parents for the first time? I thought this dinner was just to get to know each other?" He remains silent, biting his lips as he looks away.

Realization dawns on me as I clench my jaw, "Or not, you just wanted to put me in a situation where I couldn't refuse you Cooper. And that's fucking low, even for you." He turns to look at me and I see him slightly flinch upon seeing the hard look in my eyes.

"Babe you're just tired okay, sleep over the events of tonight and you'll realize that tonight wasn't even a big deal. Okay, i'm sorry." I listen to his words in shock as he leans forward to kiss my forehead. Pulling away, he smiles at me as he rubs my cheek but I just scoff in disbelief.

"Fuck you Cooper." And with that I storm out of his car in anger, leaving behind a very flustered Cooper.