After I threw on a t-shirt, I followed him into the kitchen and helped fix dinner. Once we were done, we piled up in the living room and watched an old Western, then went to bed. The next morning, we got up early, very early, and Jared helped me pack up my things. I didn’t have much, so it didn’t take us long to get it all bagged and boxed up and put into my car. Once we’d cleaned up a bit, we locked up the apartment and headed over to Jared’s place. I should’ve been nervous about us taking such a big step so soon, but I wasn’t. I loved Jared, and I was excited about turning the page on my past and starting this new chapter of my life with him.
When we got over to his place, Jared helped me get my belongings out of the car, and we carried them inside. We usually stayed at my place, so it felt a little strange bringing my things to his house. I looked around at all the dark colors, the enormous TV mounted on the wall, and the computer in the corner and tried to imagine what I might add to make the place seem a little less like a bachelor’s pad. At the moment, I didn’t have anything, just my clothes, but a quick run to Marshalls, and we’d be set. Jared gave me a funny look when he said, “I see those wheels turning in your head. Change anything you want in here... the whole house. Whatever you wanna do. I just have one request.”
“Oh? And what’s that?”
“Don’t go and get a bunch of those girlie throw pillows for the bed.”
“But throw pillows make it look so pretty.”
“Yeah, but they’re just gonna end up on the floor, and then ya gotta put them back.”
“But they make it look pretty,” I pouted.
“Fine.” He came up behind me and slipped his arms around my waist. “You can get the damn pillows.”
“I’m just teasing, Jared.” I giggled. “I’m not a big fan of throw pillows either.”
“See! I knew there was something I liked about you.”
When he started trailing kisses along my neck, I shied away from him and said, “You keep doing that, and we’ll never make it to the cookout.”
“I’d be okay with that.”
“Jared.”
“Okay, okay.” He kissed me one last time, then walked over to his dresser and started making room for my things. I’d just grabbed one of my bags and had started unpacking when he turned to me and casually announced, “I think we should get a dog.”
“What?”
“Not one of those little yippie ones, you know, like those Taco Bell dogs... What are those?”
“A Chihuahua?”
“Yeah, definitely don’t want one of those Chihuahua type dogs. I’m thinking something more big and gruff, like a Great Dane or an Alaskan Malamute. Maybe even a Doberman Pincher.”
“A Doberman Pincher?” I gasped at the thought. “What’s with the sudden interest in getting a dog? You’ve never mentioned it before.”
“Well, there are times when I have to work late.” He took a big handful of clothes and shoved them into the bottom drawer. “Having a dog around would make me feel better about you being out here alone.”
“I’ll be fine. Besides,”—I motioned my hand around in a circle—“it’s like Fort Knox in here with all your security mumbo-jumbo.”
“Security mumbo-jumbo?” He brought his hand up to his chest. “Damn, woman. You really know how to hit a man where it hurts.”
“Oh, stop. You know what I meant,” I fussed. “I feel perfectly safe here, but if you want to get a dog, by all means, get a dog. Just be prepared to help with the potty training.”
“You got yourself a deal.”
As Jared helped me finish unpacking, I thought about our time together. We’d been through so much, but it hadn’t torn us apart. Instead, it had only brought us closer together. That’s the funny thing about love. When it’s the real thing, you’re willing to do just about anything to hold onto it. You face the struggle, you fight the good fight, and in the end, you have something worth holding onto. I certainly had something worth holding onto with Jared, and I wasn’t ever letting go.
Menace
“I thought you said we were taking a quick ride to town.” Aubrey got off the back of my Harley and removed her helmet. “That was not a quick ride.”
“Seemed pretty quick to me.”
She glanced over at the small white chapel behind us with a confused expression. “What are we doing here? Is someone getting married?”
“As a matter of fact…” I reached into my pocket and pulled out the ring I’d bought her. As I opened the small box, I said, “We are.”
“What?” she gasped.
“I love you, babe. I want to spend my life with you.” Aubrey and I had been living together for the past couple of months, and while it was great having her there, I wanted more. I wanted her to be mine in every way possible, and I didn’t want to wait a second longer, so I got Marlowe to help me plan out our big day. As I stood there in front of the wedding chapel, I knew I wanted nothing more than to make Aubrey my wife, and I prayed that she felt the same way. “The question is, do you want to spend your life with me?”
“Of course, I do.”
“Then, marry me.”
Her eyes were wide with wonder as I slipped the ring on her finger. She stared down at her hand for several moments, then looked up at me with a warm smile on her face. “So, we’re getting married right now?”
“That’s the plan.”
“But I don’t have a dress.” She looked down at her jeans and t-shirt with horror in her eyes. “And I’m a complete mess.”
“It’s been taken care of.” I motioned my hand over to the front steps of the church where Marlowe and Rafe were waiting for us. Marlowe smiled as she held up the dress she’d bought for Aubrey to wear on her special day. “I might’ve had a little help putting all this together.”
“Wow, oh my God, you really thought this whole thing out.”
“I did.” I slipped my arms around her, pulling her close. “I wanted it to be perfect for you.”
“We’re really getting married?”
“Yeah, babe. We’re really getting married.”
I lowered my mouth to hers, kissing her with all the love and passion I had for her. It was a kiss filled with the promise of what was to come. We were still kissing when I heard Rafe shout, “Are you two gonna stay out there putting on a show, or are you gonna get in here and get married?”
I pulled back, breaking our embrace as I looked down at Aubrey and asked, “You ready to do this?”
“Ready as I’ll ever be.”
Aubrey and I walked up the front steps, and after Rafe and Marlowe gave us their congratulations, we all headed inside the chapel. Rafe and I waited in the congregational hall while Marlowe helped Aubrey get changed. I was feeling a little eager to get the ball rolling when Rafe looked over to me and asked, “You sure about this, brother?”
“Never been more sure about anything.”
“I gotta say, I had my doubts in the beginning, especially with all the secrets and shit, but I like Aubrey. I think she’s good for you.”