by Arlo Arrow
Mac must have told them to expect me because they usher me right back into the private emergency area. It’s not until I walk into the room and see her with my own eyes that I truly feel she’s alright.
“Griff!” Julia almost sobs and holds her arms out to me.
“Babe, thank God you’re okay,” I say as I hold her close. “What happened?’
She tells me the story of how she got taken, and I fight to maintain my composure. Mac jumps in that Pete tried to track her, but to no avail.
“Wait, then what happened?” I ask in confusion.
“She knocked Pete’s dumbass out with a tire iron and took off, flagged down a car, and got to the police,” Mac says with a hint of pride in his voice. “If you ask me, Griff, this one’s a keeper.”
I look down at Julia. “You fought back?” I ask.
She nods. “There’s only one man I’ll tolerate having his way with me.”
I laugh. “That’s my girl.”
Epilogue
Julia
The last month seems to have flown by. My feet and ribs are finally fully healed, and today’s an exciting day.
“Is that the last box?” Griff asks.
“Yes, sir,” I say in a voice I know will get a rise out of him.
“You cheeky girl. You’re going to pay for that later,” he says with a grin as he puts the last box in the truck and smacks my ass.
I squeal, but don’t argue. Little does he know how much I like paying for my antics.
Griff hops into the driver’s seat of the truck, and I get into his car. He asked me to move in with him officially a couple weeks back, and we’re finally getting my stuff out of storage. It’s a big step, but all things considered, I don’t think it’s too soon—not with everything we’ve been through together.
Now, I just hope our stuff meshes as well together as we do. I wonder what Griff’s stance on Pop-figurines is… I guess I’ll find out.
As I was getting treated in the hospital, the police went back to where I’d smacked Pete upside his head and found him still lying on the ground. Turns out I gave him a pretty severe wallop after all. I chalk it up to adrenaline, mostly. He was unconscious for a good few hours then arrested as soon as he came to. They took him to the County Jail when he was well enough to leave the hospital and his bail application got refused.
The police built a strong case against him since it turns out not only is Pete a creepy stalker, he’s a seasoned criminal, too. Once the police began to dig, the charges began to pile up. The case is so strong, they don’t even need me to testify against him to put him away—a huge relief on my part. I never have to see that motherfucker again. Pete ends up plea bargaining. With all the evidence and charges against him, he still ends up with over thirty years behind bars before he’s eligible for parole. By the time he’s out, we’ll be elderly… that’s if he makes it out at all.
Somehow, I don’t regret this experience. If it wasn’t for it, I may not have found Griff—or at least things may not have worked out the way they did. Griff saved me in so many ways. He empowers me to be stronger than I thought I was. It gave me the strength to fight back against Pete. No way was I going to let that bastard take my time away from Griff like that—no way in hell.
* * *
Griff
I pace nervously while I wait for Julia to get home. One of the cloth napkins on the place settings is crooked so I fix it. It’s stupid, but everything has to be perfect tonight.
If I thought I was nervous any other time in my life, it’s been nothing in comparison to now. I hear the car pull into the driveway and light the candles. Then I stand next to her chair and wait anxiously.
“Babe?” Julia yells out when she walks in.
“In here,” I call back to her.
The alarm system beeps back on, and Julia walks in. “What’s all of this?” she asks.
I grin. My anxiety disappears in her presence. She always has that effect on me. “I’m not sure if you realize it, but today marks the six-month anniversary of you strolling into my office,” I explain.
Julia looks so happy at the revelation. “Really? I hadn’t realized.” She studies me for a moment. “You remembered?”
“How could I ever forget?” I reply softly. She wraps her arms around my waist, and I kiss her deeply before she nestles into her favorite spot in the crook of my arm.
“I love you, Griff,” Julia says. I’ll never get tired of hearing that.
“I love you too, Julia,” I say into her hair. “Now, let’s eat before it gets cold.”
“You cooked?” she asks in surprise. I do on occasion, but the kitchen has become her domain.
“I ordered,” I correct her. “I didn’t have that much time.”
She laughs. “I’m just teasing you.”
“I know,” I assure her with a smile. “I’ll go get the first course.” I hold her chair out for her and slide it in place as she sits.
“Okay, we sure are fancy tonight,” she jokes.
I stick to my plan, despite my eagerness. First, I bring out the appetizer. I wait until Julia takes her first bite. “Wow, that’s amazing!” she says.
“I’m glad you like it,” I say. “Oh, I forgot our drinks. I’ll be right back.” I excuse myself and make my way into the kitchen.
It’s go time. Now or never. My nerves almost boil over again when Julia’s voice calls out. “Is everything okay, babe? Do you need help?”
“No,” I quickly tell her. “I’m good. I’ll be right there.”
I make quick work of the champagne cork and pour it into two tall flutes. Julia’s glass clinks. Inside it is an engagement ring I hope like hell she accepts.
I steady my trembling hands, take a deep breath and return to the dining room. It seems Julia has waited for me to return before she continues to eat. I set the glass down in front of her.
“Thanks, baby.” She smiles up at me.
“You’re welcome,” I reply and slip into my chair. I wait patiently for her to notice, but she goes back to eating.
“This is so good,” she says.
I scramble for a way to make her notice the ring inside her glass. “It is. Hey, how about a toast?” I suggest.
Julia swallows her food and raises her glass next to mine. She looks at me and smiles, her eyes sparkling in the candlelight, then down to her glass. I look at the expression on her face from the corner of my eye and wait for a reaction while I take a sip from my own. It’s not until Julia raises her glass to her lips that she notices it. Her eyes narrow and a frown appears momentarily on her brow before a big beaming smile appears on her face.
“Griff?”
“Yes, babe,” I say, nonchalantly.
“There’s appears to be something in the bottom of my glass,” she says.
She stares at it, and I can tell by her expression that she’s happy. I use the moment to drop to the floor beside her on one knee.
“Julia, my life is so much better with you by my side. It’s my hope you’ll stay there for as much time as we both have. Julia, will you do me the incredible honor of becoming my wife?”
Tears pour down her cheeks, but the smile on her face glows with its intensity.
“Yes, Griff. I would absolutely love to marry you,” she agrees and launches herself at me. “Let’s forget dinner for now. Take me upstairs and make love to me like you mean it,” she orders.
And who am I to refuse her? Never would I have thought this beautiful young woman would settle for me.
But thank God, she did.
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Amanda xo
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