The Marriage Pact (Viral Series)

by Mara White

  Ryan stopped laughing, cocked his head and studied her. “Are you serious?”

  “Yup.” She nodded. “I think I’m a dog person, though.”

  “Wait, for real?” he spluttered.

  “Yes, Ryan. Do you want a dog or not?” She laughed, as he nodded his head vigorously.

  “I want.” He pulled her around the counter and into his chest. “I want a lot of things, Jack and I’m going to get them all.” She grinned into his chest. She had no doubt that what Ryan wanted—Ryan would get. “First things first . . . I want you. Now.” Jackie squealed as he threw her over his shoulder and carted her to the bedroom.

  The shelter wasn’t crowded. They basically had the place to themselves. Ryan held her hand as they walked up and down the aisles of kennels looking and loving on a variety of dogs. She leaned against the wall as Ryan crouched down in front of a mangy looking white dog. He stuck his hand against the chain-link, letting the dog sniff him. He was a sad looking little guy. Scruffy with big brown eyes. He whined when Ryan pulled his hand away. When Ryan turned around and looked at Jackie, she knew they were bringing the dog home.

  “Okay,” she said.

  “Really?” Ryan asked. He pushed from squatting to standing.

  She nodded. “Yeah, he seems like the one,” she said.

  Ryan grinned and wrapped his arms around her. “As far as dog’s go . . . maybe.” Jackie rested her ear on his chest and reveled in the steady thump thump thump.

  Together. It was a word she was adjusting to easily. Together they filled out the adoption paperwork. Together they paid the adoption fee. Together they brought the dog home and together they stared at each other wide eyed as they realized what they’d gotten themselves into.

  “No,” Ryan said firmly. The dog lifted his leg and peed on the arm of the couch. Jackie scurried to the kitchen to get paper towels and fabric cleaner. “No. Bad Digby.” Jackie snorted at the name. Ryan had really wanted to name the dog Digby, even after her protests that it sounded like a stripper name.

  “I’m going to bring him outside. See if I can get him to go out there,” Ryan said. He kissed her on the cheek as he and Digby passed by.

  “Ok. I’ll just scrub this dog pee out of the couch.”

  Ryan shot her a look but she could only laugh. It figured they’d adopt a dog that was going to have a big personality. The apartment door clicked closed behind her, as she dropped to her knees and began to spray the arm of the couch.

  Chapter 40

  Ryan

  He’d never met anyone who could spend as long in the shower as she could. In the beginning, he had knocked on the bathroom on more than one occasion out of concern for her well-being. She wasn’t drowning, merely dawdling. Shaving every square inch of stubble on her body, different soaps, gels and lotions for different parts. The reward, Ryan admitted was well worth the high water bill. Jackie needed methods to self-soothe and Ryan was grateful for the long showers. She came out of her steam cocoon, skin pink, proud towel wrap on her head—relaxed. She’d exit glowing with a sleepy-drunk, doe-eyed look on her face. The scrubbing and massaging gave her relief, her relaxed muscles were visible in her stance.

  “Take your time, Jack.” Ryan would soon respond to the sound of cascading water hitting her skin.

  Today, when she finally crawled out of the tub, her face still held tension, the number eleven hovered between her brows.

  “What’s the matter?” He asked over his paper. He’d been downstairs to fetch the paper, walk the dog and stop at a local cafe for two Danish and their coffees.

  “I’m nervous,” she said flatly. Jackie blew air with her lower lip out.

  “Are you serious? You have nothing to be nervous about. This one is in the bag already, Jack. Believe me when I tell you, it’s already a done-deal.” He admired her curves through the terrycloth, the water dripping off of her long hair all over the hardwood floor around her. Digby licked the stray drops off of her lower legs. Apparently, it tasted better than the water out of his dog bowl.

  “Your ex was a Sunday School teacher. You can’t even get any more decent than that.” He sat up and folded his paper. He didn’t want her to be nervous.

  “They’ve wanted to meet you since my junior year. Since the first time I spoke about you.”

  “I don’t know any prayers and I haven’t done any missionary work. I’ve only ever been to church like twice and that was just because Jonny told me there were free powdered doughnuts in the basement afterward. I don’t know how to knit or cook a casserole—”

  “Jack, shut up. They will love you. They already love you. Come here.”

  “Church reminds me of funerals.”

  “This will be different”

  Ryan cut her off. She went to him, shuffling her bare feet on the polished wood floor. Ryan patted his knee and Jackie took a seat in her towel. He picked up a cloth napkin from the dining table and started to squeeze the excess water out of her hair. He rested his nose and lips on the back of her shoulder, where the dewy warm skin smelled faintly of lilacs. She leaned all the way back into his lap and laid her head on his shoulder. Ryan smoothed her hair away from her temple and thought about why this homecoming might be so difficult for Jackie. Family was a tough subject for her. She’d lost all of her loved ones; of course this trip was going to stir up challenges for her.

  Jackie reached for her Danish and took a bite. Ryan wanted to comfort her, but there wasn’t much he could say. Jackie would have to trust again and learn to let people love her. It was a long journey, but definitely one he wanted to take. He’d been waiting half of his life to be by her side and hold her hand through the rough parts.

  Jackie slept peacefully for most of the flight. She recovered a bit of her vivacious self in the rental car screwing with the radio, while Ryan pulled out of the parking lot. Her favorite game was to blast a lyric of an old song, then immediately turn it down and quiz Ryan on what the subsequent words were. He was so bad at it, that it always got them laughing. He heard lyrics phonetically and would sing them back to her that way. She’d laugh until her eyes watered and continue to belt out the songs with Ryan’s skewered words.

  She’s like the one winged dove, sings a song sounds like she’s singin,’ coo, coo, coo.

  When they finally pulled onto the cul-de-sac where Ryan had grown up, he was hit with the same tingling excitement he always felt when coming home. He knew Jackie didn’t have this luxury, the sense of belonging and safety that a family can bring you. He wanted to become that, provide her with that feeling more than anything in the world.

  “That’s it right there, third from the left. White with blue shutters.”

  She looked up and stared at the house. Jackie didn’t say anything, she just nodded to let him know that she’d heard him. Ryan watched her profile, saw her long lashes blink once or twice. Her brown eyes were wide. She looked to him like a child.

  “Give me a safe-word.” His voice broke the silence.

  “What?”

  “In case you’re uncomfortable or overwhelmed or whatever you’re feeling is too much. We’ll hop in the car or go for a walk—whatever you need in that moment.”

  Jackie’s smile came lopsided, like she could only get one side up.

  “Dude, I need a safe-word for your mom?”

  “Give me one.”

  “D’uh. Shingles!” she said looking at the quaint row of houses.

  “Like the tiles or the disease?”

  “Does it matter?”

  “No. Shingles it is. Watch this.” Ryan broke the silence by beeping the car horn three times in quick succession. He counted, “one, two, three, four—” The door to the house sprung open and a tangle of children seemed to tumble out and take off running in all directions at once. “Let’s go, Babe. I got you.”

  Ryan opened the door and came around to assist Jackie.

  “Ryan!” His mother yelled from behind them.

  “Shingles.” Jackie said. Ryan squeezed her hand an
d dragged her towards the house.

  His mother was in the street, running towards them.

  “Oh, Ryan, Jackie! How was the trip?” She zoomed right past Ryan and grabbed Jackie in her motherly embrace.

  “We’re so glad you’re finally here with us. We’ve been missing you all these years.”

  He heard his mother quietly proclaim to Jack through her strong and protective hug. Jackie sobbed. He wasn’t sure if it was relief or grief, but her body shook in his mother’s arms. His mother was unfazed and only seemed to hug Jackie harder. Ryan yanked the two suitcases out of the trunk, while his mother guided Jackie by the arm toward the house. He smiled. It was good to be home.

  “And then he used to crawl in my bunk after he’d peed, wet pajamas and all!” Carlos hooted. “I swear, the kid had pee dreams until the fourth grade, Jackie. None of us wanted to share a room with him.”

  “Alright, okay, come on!” Ryan said over the ruckus that was that was sixteen people crammed into the family dining room.

  “Actually, he still has those. Plastic sheets are like a miracle, though,” Jackie said. The table got quiet and Carlos’ mouth hung open mid-expression. Jackie winked. It was like she was flirting with his whole family.

  “Holy shit, she’s kidding!” Carlos whooped. “I like her! I like this girl!” He leaned over to high-five Jackie across the table. She high-fived him back with a look of satisfaction on her face. She was relaxed. Cracking jokes, actually having fun. They made eye contact across the table and electricity shot up Ryan’s spine like a flash of razor sharp heat. The connection between them was an ever flowing current, a source of spectacular fire and energy. He had dreamed of this moment for so many years. It was a big deal for both of them. It was real. It was finally here.

  Jackie’s face broke into her mega-watt smile. All he’d wanted was for her to feel welcome—comfortable and in the matter of a few hours, they’d already surpassed that.

  “Now, Jackie, I don’t know if Ryan’s explained to you, but during Thanksgiving, the boys like to get into some friendly-competitive decorating. You’re welcome to join them, but I also offer a dessert, coffee and wine refuge right here in our very own kitchen, if you decide to decline.”

  “Jackie, Ryan told me that you’re an expert in all things snow related, we could use your help out there,” Ryan’s father, Cal, boomed. They were asking her to pick sides, to state her allegiance to the boy’s team or the girl’s.

  Jackie raised a brow at Ryan. He grinned back, remembering her talents in the snow.

  “We make a mean, hand-whipped cream with vanilla bourbon. For the coffee and the pie,” Ryan’s sister-in-law Jessica said.

  “We’re doing an upside-down Santa, his boots will be sticking out of the chimney, like he got stuck on the way down,” Cal said to whoever was listening.

  “I think I’ll do pie and coffee,” Jackie said. “Then next year, I can switch to decorating duty so that’s it’s fair.” Ryan’s heart soared with her answer. Next year, and the next and the next and the next. Jackie would be part of his family. They were going to build memories together, a lifetime of important moments lay ahead of them.

  In the chaos of removing plates and the exodus from the dining room, Ryan and Jackie moved across the room toward each other. Ryan took her in his arms in a desperately fierce embrace. Their mouths met and the kiss was an urgent confirmation of their bond, the newfound limits of what together meant to both them.

  “Oh, that’s plenty,” Jackie said, as Inara poured Bailey’s into her coffee. Inara was Scotty’s fiancé and she looked like a Victoria’s Secret model with legs that ended somewhere near Jackie’s head and a milk chocolate complexion that was as flawless as she’d ever seen.

  “So tell us everything!” Inara said. Her big almond shaped eyes were framed in thick dark lashes, with a perfectly painted flick that almost made her laugh, remembering how pathetic her attempts at the same style had been. Jackie glanced around the kitchen to see that everyone had stopped talking. Diane, Ryan’s mother, Jessica, Andres’ wife, and Leona, who was married to Carlos, were all looking at her expectantly. Jackie felt overwhelmed, not only from being in a room with so many people, but being in a room with so many people who cared about her, who were invested in her life and her happiness. She looked from woman to woman and felt an explosion of abundance in her chest. She missed Mia and Angel so dearly. Every day she wondered what they would look like now, who they would have become. The pain dulled but it never stopped, like a latent virus that slowly ate away at her heart. But this kitchen filled with joyous and welcoming women, people who wanted to know her, to hear and understand the stories she had to tell, well it felt like a windfall. Sometimes, she felt like an orphan. But right now, with Ryan’s family around her, Jackie felt like she’d won the family lottery.

  “Tell you everything?” Jackie coughed, nearly choking on her after-dinner coffee.

  “Everyone wants to know how you two got back together! Tell us the story!” Inara’s accent sounded luscious, as if every word were draped in satin.

  “What’s there to tell?” It sounded ugly, came off like she thought it was no big deal. “I mean, there’s a story, but—”

  “Maybe it’s private.” Diane said. She put a gentle hand on Inara’s shoulder. But Ryan’s mother looked sad, like she was dying to hear the story, too. Could Jackie open up to a full room of strangers?

  “Jackie, dear, we’ve been hearing about you since Ryan was in his junior year at the U. We’ve always known what a special place you’ve held in his heart. We feel lucky that you’re finally here with us. For the last dozen years, you’ve been the missing part of our family. So welcome!”

  “Welcome!” Jessica and Leona said in chorus.

  “Yeah, welcome! Now dish!” Inara said, pulling a chair up beside her.

  Chapter 41

  Jackie

  When the men came in, they were red nosed and covered in snow. Boots came off and were strewn all over the hallway. Ryan bee-lined for Jackie and took a long sip of her coffee. He absentmindedly massaged the back of her neck and when his fingers hit her hairline, he combed them through her hair.

  “Is Santa up? Or upside down rather?” she asked. Ryan nodded and smiled, shook his head at his father who was arguing with Carlos about positioning a reindeer to look as if it were jumping over the mailbox.

  “When we grow up, just one string of lights, Jack. I don’t care what the neighbors do.”

  “Let’s do flares,” Jackie said. Ryan felt blood surge to his cock and he gripped the back of her chair. Earlier, he’d told her there was nothing sexier than her in his mom’s kitchen, being fawned over by his family. He moved her hair to the side, leaned down and snuck a kiss on her neck with the tiniest amount of suction.

  “Shingles,” Jackie whispered to him through a feisty smile.

  “This is perfect!” Ryan exclaimed, forking a mouthful of pumpkin pie smothered in fresh whipped cream into his mouth. The next fork-full he held out to Jackie, so she took a bite.

  “The pie? Or Jackie? Or just tonight in general?” Diane asked them.

  “All of the above,” Ryan answered, with his mouth full.

  Diane smiled, one of those smiles where her eyes welled-up with tears. The proud-mom smile Ryan had witnessed for years at graduations, award ceremonies, weddings, every single emotional moment that involved one of her sons.

  “Yours?” He pointed his fork at Jessica.

  “Yes,” Jessica said. She pointed her fork at Diane. “Diane’s recipe, of course.”

  Jackie spent most of the day laughing or observing Ryan’s family. They had an easy dynamic. They were tight knit and playful with each other. Heartache stabbed her chest more than once, but it was a bittersweet pain she could handle. When her eyes welled with tears, his mom patted her back. When she grew too quiet, Ryan pulled her from her thoughts. They treated her like family and she barely even knew them. Being at Ryan’s childhood home was like being at Rose’s house. I
t was filled with comfort and love—naturally—and seemed to rub off on anyone fortunate enough to set foot inside.

  “Jackie, I have some extremely embarrassing photos of Ryan. Would you care to see them?” Diane asked. Jackie grinned, as Ryan started moaning in protest.

  “Absolutely. Yes!” she said.

  The pullout couch in the basement wasn’t the most comfortable, but Jackie was sprawled out on top of Ryan, so it didn’t much matter.

  “I cannot believe you rocked a bowl cut for so long. And those teeth!” The pictures Diane had showed her caused a laughing fit—one she was finding hard to reel in.

  “Everyone had bad hair and teeth in middle school.” Ryan was trying not to smile.

  She shook her head. “Nope. You seriously had some of the worst cuts I’ve ever seen.” She broke into a fit of giggles again.

  “You think this is funny, huh?”

  “It is. I mean did you see those pictures?”

  “I lived them,” he deadpanned. She burst into laughs again. Each time it grew quiet between them, each time she thought she was done laughing, the image in one of the photos would pop back into her mind and she’d start all over again.

  “I’ll stop. I promise,” she chuckled. Ryan laughed at her because she couldn’t even say the words without giggling. “I swear.” She laid her head on his chest. His arms dragged up and down her back languidly. She listened to Ryan’s breathing grow shallow. And burst out laughing again. She couldn’t reign it in. Ryan chuckled and rolled her off him.

  “I’m going to stuff a pillow over your face, woman.” He pulled the pillow from behind his head and held it above her head.

  “Okay, okay. I can stop. I can,” she spluttered. “Distract me.”

  “You think that’ll work?” he cocked an eyebrow at her. One finger trapezed up her bare arm, it hooked a left at her collarbone and traced a line over the sensitive skin.