When they pulled into the driveway, she saw the lights were on inside. “Are we having dinner with Silas?”
“No.” Getting out the Escalade, Gavin came around to open the door for her.
About to head toward the house, she was surprised when he took her hand and turned toward their house. She was just there yesterday. The outer structure and the roof were now finished, and tomorrow the electricians were coming, so she couldn’t understand what he wanted to show her.
When he continued walking past their house and went the small knob of the hill, past a copse of trees, she saw flickering firelights. A lump settled in her throat as they grew nearer and she saw what Gavin had done.
“I thought we could have a picnic and watch the stars for a while.”
Staring down, she saw the thick sleeping bags spread alongside each other, and Gavin had placed four lanterns around them. There was also a cooler to the side, a dozen or so pillows, and a thick blanket on one end.
Sinking down onto the sleeping bag, Ginny let him unpack the cooler.
“You did this before coming to the club?”
“Yes.”
The romantic atmosphere Gavin had created tugged at her heart. She had been searching for the perfect moment to share something with him, and he had done it for her. She couldn’t think of a better spot to tell him that he was going to be a father.
Unpacking the cooler, he set out sandwiches and chips. The simple meal reminded her of when they had traveled to Treepoint after she had taken off from Nashville.
“This is where Leah and I sat when we watched the stars,” she reminisced.
“Silas told me.”
As they ate, Ginny planned it out in her head how she was going to tell Gavin she was pregnant. She had been thinking about it since the moment she found out, but she put it off because she was paranoid about it being so early in her pregnancy. Then, as one month turned into two and so on, Ginny couldn’t explain why she held back.
Spending so much time with Gavin for the last two months had only strengthened the love she felt for him, and despite how he never spoke his feelings for her, she knew he cared for her. She no longer heard the silent screams in her head at the level of intensity she felt before speaking with Pastor Dean, but they were still there, as if someone was caged inside of her and wanted to escape.
Clearing away what was left of their meal, they lay down on the sleeping bags with the blanket over them to watch the night sky. Cuddled next to him, Ginny felt Gavin take her hand under the blanket. Feeling something slide onto her finger, she pulled her hand out from underneath the blanket.
A beautiful ring and wedding band.
“Marry me, Ginny.”
Raising up on one elbow, Ginny stared down at the man who she would give her last breath of air to if he needed it.
“Normally, you wait until there is a ceremony before you wear the wedding band.”
“Normally, men aren’t asked to get the pastor’s permission, either. Marry me, Ginny. I’ll get Diamond to undo the paperwork that were married and then we can go to the courthouse and get married properly.”
Ginny raised up into a sitting position to look down at him. “Did you even bother to ask for Pastor Dean’s permission?” She turned her head to the side when Gavin remained silent.
“If you love me, it shouldn’t matter whether he does or not.”
Blowing out an angry huff of air, Ginny stared up at starry sky until she could reply in a calm voice. Then she turned her face back to him. “It’s important to me.”
Gavin sat up in frustration. “Why?”
“Razer or Shade didn’t ask Beth or Lily why. They just did it. Can’t you do the same for me?”
“Did they make it mandatory for them before they were married?”
“I don’t know.”
“Then why are you? Just because they did?”
“No, because it’s important to me.” Ginny placed her hand over her heart. “Do you know that every couple that Pastor Dean has married is still married?”
“No.”
“It’s not a rule to ask for his permission because of our faith, but it makes the women feel special that the men are willing to walk that extra mile for them. Pastor Dean had Harley Evan’s learn ten Bible verses before he gave Janine permission. Harley can’t read. Anytime anyone tried to help, he refused. Three months later, Harley recited the ten Bible verses, plus showed the pastor he’d gotten his GED. I’m sure Shade or Rider weren’t excited to ask for Pastor Dean’s permission, but they did it anyway, because unless he gives his permission, he won’t perform the ceremony. I don’t want to get married at the courthouse. Even if it’s just the three of us, I want him to read the words that I’m willing to pledge my life to you.”
Gavin rested his long arms across his knees. “Then I guess we’re at an impasse.”
“I guess so.” Ginny started to slide the ring off her finger.
Gavin caught the movement. “It’s a good thing then that we’re already married.”
Taking one of the pillows, Ginny bopped him with it.
Plopping back down on the sleeping bag, he reached out to curl an arm around her shoulders to tug her down next to him.
“You’re such a nimrod.”
“Shh … the stars may hear you.”
“They already know,” she smarted off. Then, raising to her elbow, Ginny opened her mouth to tell him she was pregnant and he better get a move on when she stopped. Closing her eyes, she could hear a male voice screaming in her head.
“Planning a ceremony isn’t as much fun as you expect. To this day, I can’t stand cake because Taylor had to try five different bakers before she chose.”
Ginny tilted her head to the side. Was he seriously mentioning Taylor’s name after proposing to her?
Being so close to Gavin, the screams’ intensity became unbearable. They were back to the level that she had heard months ago. The hurt she felt at hearing Taylor’s name dissipated. Gavin was in agonizing pain.
Ginny laid her hand on his cheek, turning his face toward hers. “I love you. No woman on earth will love a man more than I do you.”
His face grew serious at her words.
“You can’t pretend he doesn’t exist because you’re afraid to get hurt again.”
Gavin jackknifed back into a sitting position. “I don’t know what in the fuck you’re talking about,” he snapped.
“The part of you who you’ve locked away; let him out, Reaper.”
“You’ve lost your mind.” He angrily shrugged away from her touch when she reached out to him again.
“No, I haven’t. You know I haven’t. You want to pretend you’re Reaper, but Gavin is still a part of you. Until you acknowledge him, you both will never heal.”
“Drop it. I’m done talking about this.”
“We need to talk about this.” She tried to soothe him while still holding her stance. Someone had to answer the pleas of the man she heard screaming. If Reaper wouldn’t fight for Gavin she would.
“You want to talk about something? I think we have something more serious to talk about than a figment of your imagination.”
“I’m willing to talk about anything. Are you?”