Swing Batter Swing

by Zaida Polanco

  Marty frowned as Jay sat on her bed and patted the spot next to him.

  “But I’m hungry,” she pouted.

  “Then I guess I better make this quick,” Jay said, smiling as Marty joined him on the bed.

  “Okay, here we go. I’m so sorry I keep fucking up and making you feel like you don’t have a say in this. I’ve never had to do this before, consider someone else in my decisions, and I’m sorry I’m not very good at it. I’m viewing everything through my extremely basic lens wherein there’s a problem or a roadblock to you being with me and I have the means to remove it, so I do. And I’m not considering the implications of that for you, or the fact that maybe you need that roadblock to help you grow. So I’m really sorry for that, and I promise you I will try my best to be cognizant of it in the future, if you’ll let me.”

  He took a deep breath for courage before continuing.

  “You’re everything to me, and I imagine you’re probably getting whiplash from the force of my emotions. I know I fought this at the beginning because I’m a stupid guy, but I’m all in with you. It’s okay if it takes you a bit to catch up to me. I won’t force you to do anything until you’re ready. I’m going to keep the office the way it is, and I made you a key so you can use it any time you want, even if I’m not there. But you don’t have to use it. I won’t feel bad.”

  “Jay, I want the office. I want to use the office.”

  “You do?” he said, a huge smile on his face. “That’s great! We can add or change whatever you want, it’s just something to get you started.”

  “It’s perfect,” she said, looking around her room. Now she was the nervous one. “I want to apologize too. For running out without resolving things last night. It was cowardly and wrong and you didn’t deserve that.”

  Jay shook his head. “No please, don’t apologize. It’s okay, I’m okay.”

  “No, I’m sorry. I really am.” She let out the following sentence in a big rush of air and words: “Also does the offer still stand for me to move in with you because I really fucking hate this place and I really fucking love you and I do want to be with you because sleeping without you is terrible and I miss Bruce.”

  The smile on Jay’s face was brighter than any Marty had ever seen. “Are you serious? You want to live with me?”

  She nodded. “If the offer still stands, that is.”

  Jay pulled her into his lap, unable to keep his hands off of her any longer. “You kidding me? Of course the offer still stands. The offer is there forever. God I love you so much.”

  He gazed into her eyes and she really did believe him.

  “I want to help contribute to the household expenses—”

  “Marty...not necessary —”

  “I know, but it will make me feel better if I can, okay?”

  Jay nodded like it pained him to agree.

  “Great. So I’m going to take on some more dog walking clients in the neighborhood for a little extra cash while I work on my pilot, and then I can pay for groceries or utilities or whatever I can help with while also saving some of my own money. Does that work?”

  “Sweetheart, you know you don’t have to pay for anything ever. But I respect that this is important to you. So whatever you want to pay, you can do it. I do want you to know that I’m in this with you for the long haul though so... I did some stuff this morning.”

  Marty eyed him suspiciously.

  “Is it stuff that’s going to make me mad again?”

  “Maybe a little annoyed but I think you’ll like it,” he said.

  He moved her off his lap and grabbed a manila envelope out of his jacket pocket. Jay stood up and opened the envelope, pulling out a sheet of paper and handing it to Marty.

  “I didn’t want you to be scared about being with me and not having ownership over things, so I added you to the deed on the house. Our house.”

  “Jay...”

  “I know, I know. But I wanted you to know that it’s your house, whenever you want it. I did this before I knew you wanted to move in, but that makes it even better.”

  Marty stared at him, speechless. Was this real life? How was this happening?

  Jay pretended like he didn’t notice her shocked state as he pulled out a smaller envelope and handed it to her.

  “This one you’ll definitely get mad about but I’m not sorry about it. I opened you a bank account and added some money to it, money that’s only accessible by you. Plus, I added you to my main accounts as well, in case you need to make bigger purchases. I literally don’t care what you spend it on. If you want a new wardrobe, do it. If you want to send your parents on a trip to the Dominican Republic for a month, do it. You don’t need to ask me. It’s yours.”

  This broke Marty out of her shock.

  “Holy crap, Jay, why on Earth are you doing this? You’re infuriating,” she said through hysterical tears. “I’ll never be able to repay you, you know.”

  “And I’ll never expect you to. Everything I have, it’s all for you. It’s nothing without you there with me. Also, I fully believe that one day you’ll be making way more money than me as a super successful writer, so the positions will eventually be reversed, I’m sure of it.”

  She glared at him. “I hate you.”

  Jay looked at her with a panicked expression on his face. “What?”

  Marty sighed, unable to take the pain on his face. “No okay I don’t mean that. I love you. I love you too much. This is all too much. I love you so much I want to hate you so I could love you a little less.”

  “Baby,” he said gently, “that doesn’t make any sense.”

  “I know! I hate it!”

  Jay chuckled as Marty cried some more.

  He reached into the envelope for something else. “And finally, the last thing on the agenda today,” he said, pulling out a ring box.

  He got down on one knee and held it out to her.

  “I hope you believe that I’m all in with you. I hope you trust that you’re all I’ve ever wanted. I know you’ll say it’s too fast, and I’m happy to stay engaged to you for as long as you want until we make it official. And if you say no, I’m happy to propose to you every month until you say yes. It doesn’t matter if it’s today or —”

  “Yes.”

  Jay blinked at Marty, who got off the bed to kneel in front of him. “What?”

  “I said yes. Now give me the damn ring and give me a kiss, you ridiculous, sexy, infuriating, insane man. Also, I want brunch.”

  She watched in awe as Jay slid the gorgeous and enormous vintage diamond ring on her finger.

  He pulled her close and kissed her like it was the first time and the last time and every time in between. They stayed there on her bedroom floor, kissing and touching and making love.

  Yes, Marty hated that phrase. But she could admit that’s what it was when they were together.

  They were making love, and they were going to do it everywhere and as often as possible. Marty didn’t care what they called it, as long as she was with him.

  Want more from Jay + Marty?

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  Thank you!

  Thank you so much for reading my first book! I’ve been a romance reader for a while, and I was growing increasingly frustrated with the lack of diversity in the genre. So, I decided to take matters into my own hands! I appreciate you taking the time to check this out, as I know there are countless options for you to read.

  If you feel so inclined, I’d love to hear from you! Rate and review the book on Amazon and get in touch on Twitter @ZPolancoWrites. I can also be reached through my website here or via email at zaidapolancowrites[at]gmail[dot]com.

  This is just the first of what I hope are many books to come, so I appreciate all the support I can get. Thanks again!

  Love,

  Z

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  Zaida Polanco, Swing Batter Swing