The Love Plan

by Erica Marselas

  “Best thing I ever did.” He kisses the corner of my lips, then my nose, then behind my ear. “But let's get back to the living arrangements. I've been wanting to buy a new, bigger bed. A king and it would fit best in the master, with you.”

  “Fine.” I huff, but there's no real argument. Where else would I want to be than in the arms of the man I love and my best friend every night, in what would be our bed? Sharing a closet and the same shower. Sharing our lives…completely.

  “I don't know what your huffing about. We'll need the extra room for our new dog child, won't we?”

  A grin breaks out on my face and I press my forehead to his. “I love you.”

  “I love you, too.” He flips me onto my back on the couch, and I lose myself in the man that will always be my forever.

  Epilogue

  One year later…

  Meadow

  For my birthday this year, Dexter was loaned a massive house on a lake to celebrate. It was a thank you from one of his clients for the fabulous job he and Julian did designing the house last year.

  I love the contemporary style of this house and all the large open windows that look out to the lake. Inside is a vast open floor plan, and everything is top of the line. I only hope Dexter knows when he designs our house, I’m going to have many requests from his past projects.

  “I can't believe this house,” I say in awe to Mel who is next to me on the patio overlooking the lake. The sun has set and the orange lights from the docks twinkle off the water.

  It's positively gorgeous here.

  The rest of our twenty or so friends are scattered around inside the house drinking and partying away. This year, Dexter and I are limiting ourselves, so there's no chance of blackouts.

  “I know. It's hard to believe sometimes that Dex and Julian actually design these. Like seeing them in person, fully finished. It's amazing.”

  “Speaking of Julian. What is going on with you and him?” Over the last couple of weeks, the two have been seen sneaking around with each other but they won’t admit to anything other than just “hanging out.” Then an hour ago, I caught them coming out of one of the bedrooms, and Mel was a little less than put together, with her hair a mess and her clothes disheveled.

  “We're doing the casual thing,” Mel says, shrugging, her cheeks slightly pink.

  “Casual, huh? I didn't take you as a friends with benefits type of girl?”

  “You only live once, I say, and he's fun.” She winks. “And he happens to like a little kink.”

  “I knew it,” I laugh, smacking the banister. “Well, as long as you two are happy. I'm happy for you.”

  “We are. And don't worry, neither me or Julian are as clueless as you and Dex when it comes to our feelings. We know what we're doing.”

  “Ha Ha.” I nudge her shoulder. “By the way, have you seen my boyfriend?” He disappeared about twenty minutes ago with Steve, Randy, and Julian. Now, as I glance inside I see the three guys standing around talking, but no Dex.

  “Um—” Her lips twist, meaning she knows something, but before I can ask what’s going on, Lady jumps on my back with a loud bark.

  “Whoa!” I stumble a bit forward, but I'm able to catch myself. She barks at me, and then tugs at my arm, pulling me to the stairs. “Lady, what is going on?” I laugh, as she tugs on my arm again.

  “Maybe Timmy fell down the well. You better go with Lassie there,” Mel giggles, pointing towards the edge of the patio.

  “Alright, girl. Take me to Timmy.” I take a hold of her collar and she leads me down the steps. I'm led around the house, closer to the water's edge.

  There's a small bonfire is set up and standing beside it is Dexter. His face glows from the embers.

  “What are you doing down here all by yourself?”

  “I wanted a moment alone with the birthday girl to give her her gift.” He grabs my hand and yanks me into his chest. “But first...” His lips mesh to mine, kissing me so forcefully and possessively that it causes my head to spin. I moan down his throat and grip his shoulders as my legs go wobbly from this earth-shattering kiss that's conveying every ounce of his love for me. I'm unsure how much time has passed when he breaks away from me. “I love you.”

  “I love you too,” I say breathlessly, inching towards his lips again. Wanting more. Needing more. Holy hell, do I want more of what that was. “Should we maybe go back inside?” I run my finger along his chest.

  “Not yet. I need to give you your gift.” He takes my left hand and kisses it.

  “And you couldn't have given me my gift inside?” I huff.

  I'm insanely turned on, and my sex is throbbing. Why couldn't that kiss be a part of my gift and the rest in bed?

  “I wanted to be alone and romantic?” He gestures towards the little bonfire and the lake.

  “Touché.”

  “I put one part of your gift on Lady's collar.”

  “Oh?”

  Interesting.

  “Go on. Take a look.”

  I call for Lady to come over and she trots over happily with her tongue hanging out. “Daddy says you have something for me.” Kneeling beside her, I twist her collar looking for what could've been added. The only thing new is a pink dog tag. I lift it and can tell there's something engraved, but I can't make out what it is in the dark. “Dex, I can't read it.”

  A phone light casts over my shoulder, and as soon as I read the words; they steal every last bit of my breath and every beat of my heart.

  Meadow,

  Will you Marry Me?

  I drop the dog tag and my head spins to Dexter, who is now on one knee in front of me. The phone is now on the ground, illuminating the diamond ring in his hand.

  “Meadow, you've been my best friend since we were in diapers and I plan to spend my life with you until we're in diapers once again.”

  “Oh my god...you didn't just go there.” I laugh, but how could I expect anything less from this man?

  “Of course, I did. I wanna grow old with you, Meow. Wrinkly, old and gray, and senile. I want to spend the rest of my life making you smile. Kissing your face and protecting you from harm. You're my favorite person and I love you so much, baby. So, Meadow Jane Lexington, will you marry me?”

  “Yes, a million times, yes.”

  Dexter grabs my hand and slips the ring on my finger. “It’s perfect,” I whisper, admiring the white gold, princess cut, diamond ring that will now sit proudly on my left hand for a lifetime.

  “Just like you, Meow.”

  I go to wrap my arms around his neck to kiss him, but before I can get my lips on his, Lady jumps on both of us, knocking us to the ground.

  “Maybe one day we will get a normal dog,” Dexter grumbles.

  “Honey, we're not anywhere close to normal, our dogs won't be either. Now, where were we?”

  Fourteen months later…

  Dexter

  Meadow and I are sitting in front of the Christmas tree at my parents' house wearing the most hideous ugly Christmas sweaters ever.

  It's a tradition they said. It'll be fun, they said.

  Translation: Let's add it to the wall of embarrassing pictures

  “I think these are the worst sweaters yet,” I groan pulling on the giant white fuzz ball on Santa's hat, who by the way, is riding on the back of a reindeer.

  “I like them, they match your eyes.” Meadow touches my cheek and leans in to kiss me.

  “You're so full of shit,” I whisper against her lips.

  “Hey, there will be none of that right now. Let me get a picture of you guys in front of the tree. I need a new one for my mantel,” my mother says holding up her camera. My dad stands beside her, biting his tongue, trying not to laugh at us. Something he's been doing since my mom made us slip on these repulsive outfits.

  Lady comes running up and jumps on my lap, licking my face, not wanting to be left out of the family photo. “Settle, girl.” I rub behind her ear, which makes her drool, but also calm down and she lies down in f
ront of us.

  “God, she's such a daddy's girl now.” Meadow rolls her eyes, and I chuckle.

  “That's only because somebody else has taken up all your attention lately.” I place a kiss to her temple.

  “Oh, my god. What was I thinking?” My mother stops the clicking of her camera. “We can't have a family picture without Wesley.”

  “No, we can't. So, I vote we take these things off till…”

  “I have him right here.” I'm cut off by Valerie walking into the room holding our two-month-old son. He's wearing a Santa Claus onesie and I'm totally jealous of my little dude. I would much rather be sporting the onesie.

  “Bring my baby here.” Meadow reaches out her arms. “I didn't hear him wake up.”

  “I might have picked him up, no longer wanting to wait to see the little guy.” Valerie tries to look shameful, but we all know she isn't.

  “Mom!” Meadow exclaims as she takes our son from her mother's arms. “I swear. I bet you didn't wake me up when I was a baby like this.”

  “Oh, hell no! I wasn't crazy. But it's also Christmas. Now take your pictures, so I can hold my grandson again before Joy hogs him.”

  “Me?” my mother argues. “Martha’s the hog.”

  “Hey!” Aunt Martha stands from the couch, leaving Uncle Frank's side. “You can't blame me, he has the same little chubby cheeks Wes did when he was a baby.”

  Oddly enough, he does, compared to baby pictures. But also, so did I as a baby, but I don't say anything.

  My father and Frank shake their heads and turn on the TV as the women playfully bicker. We are forgotten in our ugly sweaters on the floor, and little Wes falls back to sleep in my wife's arms.

  I rub my finger down the side of my son's face and remember when I found out Meadow was pregnant with him. We were still two months away from the wedding when she came barging into my office one Thursday afternoon.

  “I should kick your butt!” Meadow stands at the front of my desk, with her arms crossed over her chest. Usually, this stance would tell me I'm in trouble, but the goofy smile on her face is throwing her off altogether.

  “And why is that?”

  “Because thanks to you, I'm now going to have my wedding dress let out.”

  My head shakes, totally lost. “What are you talking about?” How am I to blame if she gained a couple of pounds? Though I have no idea where they are. She rounds my desk and straddles my lap. She's still grinning like a loon as she presses a kiss to each of my cheeks. “Meadow, I think you have successfully lost me, babe. What's going on?”

  “Well, besides donuts and too many tacos what else could make me put on some weight?”

  “I don't know? Too many margaritas and chicken wings?”

  She rolls her eyes and sighs, annoyed. “Sometimes I wonder about you.” Opening her purse, she pulls out a thin piece of paper and then hands it to me.

  “What's this?”

  “Look at it.”

  My eyes drift down to the four by seven paper in my hand. It's a black and white picture…

  “No?”

  “Yes.” She nods her head vigorously and places her hand on her stomach. “We're having a baby.”

  A baby? I gape at her in amazement as I examine the sonogram. If it wasn’t for the arrow, pointing at the sac telling me what it was, I might not believe it. After the initial shock wears off, I yank her to me and hug her tight. “I'm not sure if I could love you more.”

  “I'm taking that you're happy?” She giggles, throwing her arms around me.

  “Happy? I’m ecstatic, baby. Fuck.” I grab the back of her neck and pull her lips to mine. Ravishing her, tasting her, and never wanting to let go. My hand roams over her stomach, and it’s hard to believe that I’m going to be a dad. We are going to be a family.

  There's a loud knock on the wall of my office, making us separate. We both turn to see Julian in front of the glass shaking his head at us as he enters the room. “I thought we talked about this.”

  “Sorry.” Meadow flushes. “I had some big news I had to share with him that couldn’t wait.” She grabs the sonogram and shoves it back in her purse.

  “Oh yeah?” He crosses his arms and looks between us, eyeing us curiously. “That good, huh? Where it looked as he was about to take you on his desk?” He chuckles softly.

  “Yes. I got those little crab balls and the bacon wrapped scallops he wanted so badly for the wedding.” Meadow smiles cheekily and gives me a wink.

  “Mmm-hmm.”

  We were able to keep the pregnancy a secret till the wedding, announcing our little surprise at the reception—alongside those mini crab balls—And the moment we found out we were having a boy, there was no doubt in our minds that we wanted to name him Wesley James after our best friend. To honor him and always carry on his memory.

  “Okay, you two let’s try this again.” My mom calls out.

  “Hey,” I grab her face and run my hand gently down her cheek, “I love you.”

  “I love you, too.”

  “Forever and ever…” we say together, kissing each other on the lips before turning to smile at the flashing camera.

  The End

  BEFORE YOU GO….

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  PLAYLIST

  How Am I Supposed to Live Without You—Michael Bolton

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  Right Here Waiting —Richard Marx

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  The Hardest Thing — 98 degrees

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  I Will Remember You – Sarah McLachlan

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  ACKNOWLEDGMENTS:

  To my husband: Thank you for being the most supportive person in the world as I take on this publishing journey. For taking care of the rugrats so I can write and also reading every chapter against your will. (HA! I’m just kidding.) At least till the point where you get annoyed with me because I ask you every hour if you read the last chapter. Love you.

  To the best group of women I know: Denise, Lexi, Leslie, Melissa, Aakriti, Paula, Suzan, Helen, Colleen, Q.B., Carmel, Harlow, Gemini, Kelsey, Kristen, Rose, Danielle J, Erin, Danielle, Hala, Kelly H, Kelly R, Kim, and Jeanette. I would be lost without you guys! Thank you guys for always having my back, listening to me, reassuring me, motivating me, and helping my stories grow. I owe you guys more then you’ll ever know!!! Love ya all.

  To my readers: You guys are pretty flippin’ awesome too. I love you guys. Thank you for coming along with me on this ride and enjoying the words I write. (then asking for more?? )

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  Erica is a
wife, a mother of four, and a tequila drinking smart mouth. When she’s not wrangling her children and trying to keep them alive, she’s writing. She’ll write anything from steamy erotica, to HEA romance novels because not all love stories are created equal. As long as she can dream it, she'll write it.:)

  Erica Marselas

  Living The Dream Through Words

  “Dreams come to us when we sleep—but when you write them down, they come alive.”