“I’m not playing games. I’m clueless here,” I admit.
“I saw you. With that girl outside the restaurant.”
Taken aback, it hits me.
“In Chicago?”
“Yeah. Why, is there more than one? Got a different girl in another city?” she snaps.
“Why were you in Chicago?”
“That doesn’t matter. What matters is I saw you with another woman. It’s fine. I figured it would happen eventually, you were too good to be true. Just go. I get it.” She turns her head back, and I laugh.
“Oh, sweetheart, that wasn’t what it looked like.”
Apparently she’s back to ignoring, because she doesn’t answer.
“Char, look at me.” I lower my voice.
She slowly turns her head, and I reach to wipe the tears that are now falling.
“Don’t touch me.” She stands and backs away.
“That was Tanya, Tammy’s sister.”
Her lips part, but she doesn’t speak. I stand as well.
“She’s been calling me to talk. She took Tammy’s death really hard and is getting married soon. She just needed to vent, and I listened. We gave each other a hug before we parted ways. That was it, I swear.”
“It looked like more than that to me.”
“Well, it wasn’t. I promise. Do you really think I’d cheat on you?”
“No. I never thought you would. I trusted you. But what was I supposed to think? You had your arms wrapped around someone else.” She avoids my eyes and begins wringing her fingers in front of her. “I thought you were working anyways. You already lied about that. Why should I believe you?”
“I’m sorry I lied about that, but I had something to do down there.”
“Yeah, a slut,” she huffs.
A smile plays at my lips at her misplaced anger.
“Don’t laugh at me, Travis.”
“I’m not. I had to go get something, that’s all. Since I was down there, I decided it would be a good time to meet up with her.”
“What the hell was so important that you had to lie to me about working?” Her hands are now folded on her hips, and her head is cocked to the side. Even angry, she’s fucking beautiful.
“I can’t tell you, yet.”
“Then you can go to hell, Travis.” She hops off the rock, and I catch up with her in a couple strides. When I grab her arm, she jerks it free and starts to walk away again.
“I said, don’t touch me.”
“I was getting your ring,” I shout to her back.
She freezes. The only movement is her long blond hair blowing in the wind. I walk up behind her and pull the ring out of my pocket. Reaching around, I hold it up for her to see.
“It was my grandmother’s. I had it cleaned up and replaced the stone. The jeweler called yesterday and told me it was done.” I slide it on her finger. “I was going to do this big romantic proposal, rose petals, candles, and all that other shit. But this seems as good of a place as any, don’t you think?”
Charlotte
I’m frozen. I take in the ring on my finger and have to blink away the tears to get a good look at it. It’s gorgeous. A shiny gold band and a princess cut diamond in the center with two smaller diamonds on either side. The heat from his body surrounds me, and once again, I kick myself for being such an idiot.
“Yeah. This is a good place.” Slowly, I turn around and look at him. His dimple is showing, and the sun makes his blue eyes shine. “I’m sorry, I’m an idiot and—” He shuts me up with a kiss, and I melt into him.
I was hollow when I saw him with her, and the only thing I thought was to get out. If I just cut him out of my life, it would be easier than going through an actual break up. So, I ran. I dropped Mary off and sped all the way back to his place. I threw my clothes in my trunk and came to the only place that has always brought me peace.
Now, I’m standing here, wearing a ring, and I don’t even know what to say. I did it again. I doubted him. Yet here he is. Holding me, kissing me, being there for me.
I pull away and hold my hand out. My lips hurt I stretch them so wide smiling.
“I fucking love you, Charlotte. I want to buy a house, get married, have babies, and hold you every night when I go to sleep. Well, when I’m at home, at least. I don’t think the guys would appreciate being kicked out of their bed so I could be alone with you at work.”
I laugh and make a very unladylike snort. I cover my mouth and laugh more. He chuckles, too, and drops down on one knee. “Will you marry me?”
I can’t talk because I’m crying tears of joy. I nod my head and he stands up and lifts me. He kisses me hard and quick, before twirling me around. I giggle and wrap my legs around him.
“I love you, Travis,” I say when he sets me down again. “I’m sorry I doubted you again.”
“Let’s not talk about it right now, okay?”
“’Kay.”
“You’re gonna marry me.”
“Yeah, I am.”
“Holy shit. What did you just say?” We turn and see Meara and Pierce a few feet from us.
“We’re getting married!” I run to her, and we jump up and down and squeal like little girls.
“Let me see the ring.”
I hold out my hand, and we both admire the bright stone.
“Dang, Travis, you did good!” She walks up to him and gives him a hug while Pierce does the same to me.
“Congratulations,” he whispers. “You deserve this so much, and I’m so happy for you.”
“Thanks. What are you doing here anyway?” I ask both of them, returning to Travis.
“He called looking for you, so I grabbed Pierce, and we came to look for you, too. We were worried,” Meara answers.
“I see. Well, you found me. Us. And we’re getting married!”
Travis wraps his arm around my shoulder, and I smile even bigger when I see him trying not to laugh at my excitement. I haven’t had many things to be excited about in my life, but this is definitely one of them. I’m milking this for all it’s worth!
“Welcome to the family, man.” Pierce shakes Travis’ hand. “It’s about damn time.” He laughs.
“It is,” Travis agrees.
“Let’s go celebrate!” I shout. “I’ve gotta go change, but we’ll come by The Pub in a little bit.”
“Yeah, that sounds great. I’ll make a few calls. Give me a couple hours,” Meara says.
“I think we might need more than two,” Travis responds, squeezing my butt.
“Dude, I might be cool with you guys getting married, but I don’t need to hear that shit.” Pierce backs away. “I’m bouncing all night, so whenever you guys show up, I’ll be there.”
“Fine. Is four hours enough, eight o’clock?” Meara asks.
I look up at Travis, and he eyes me from head to toe, then licks his lips before nodding.
“Yeah, that’s good. We’ll see you then,” I tell her.
“Here.” Travis reaches in my pocket and throws my keys at Pierce. “Can you take her car back to my place?”
“Sure, man. Bye, Char. Congrats you guys.”