But now that I’m back to active duty status, including deployment, it’s a situation where I almost want to go back in time and tell myself to be careful what I wish for. It’s going to be very hard to be away from Whitney. At least this deployment is only six months long.
I haven’t told Jensen, or anyone, yet, but I’ve been thinking about a proposal of my own. I don’t want Whitney getting swept away by anyone while I’m gone. And planning a wedding might give her something to look forward to in my absence.
It’s only been a short time since we’ve been together, so maybe I should wait. But I’ve always been someone who jumps right into things, so why should I stop now? My relationship with Whitney has been fast and intense so far, just like everything else in my life.
“I’m sorry I initially doubted you and Whitney,” Jensen says, as if reading my mind. “That’s before I knew what a great girl she is. And I guess, like I learned with Riley, sometimes when you know, you just know.”
“All right, gentlemen,” says the wedding coordinator, in that everything- is- urgent tone that everyone involved in any way with weddings all seem to have. “In just a couple minutes we’re going to need you to perform your ushering and musical duties and then take your places in front, with Jensen first of course and then everyone lined up after him in the order we had rehearsed. Does anyone have any questions?”
“Just one,” says Ramsey, emerging from behind the wedding planner with a fist- full of miniatures. “Who’s ready for a shot, to start this celebration off right?”
Everyone laughs and grabs a miniature. Ramsey obviously still knows how to get a party started.
“To Jensen’s future as a love- sick, captive husband,” Ramsey says, and we all clink our plastic tiny bottles and take the shot.
The liquid burns as it goes down my throat, and Jensen shakes his head back and forth as he forces it down, shouting, “To captivity indeed!”
I find Riley’s mother and escort her to the front row, and then I escort our own mother to a front row seat across the aisle. Mom squeezes my arm and says, “I’m so happy for Jensen.”
I squeeze hers back. “Me too, Mom.”
I’m happy for all of us. Mom has been doing better lately, and that’s about as best as we can hope for. She looks lovely in a light blue dress, with her hair and makeup done.
Mom looks over at Ramsey, who is playing his guitar under a tree, and whispers to me again under her breath.
“But I’m worried about Ramsey. Something has seemed… off… lately.”
“It’s okay, Mom.”
I pat her arm. But I’m worried about Ramsey too. He’s seemed even more irrational and angry since his subdued blow- up at Los Cuates. I don’t know what I’ll do if his strong shell cracks, since he’s the glue that holds our family together.
I kiss my mom’s cheek and then help her lower herself into her seat. Then I take my place next to Jensen and I catch Whitney’s eye after I find her seated in the audience. She smiles at me, her cheeks red with excitement and happiness for my brother and Riley.
As I stare at Whitney— thinking of how lucky I am to have found her— and time stands still before my brother ties the knot, I think about what he said, about how when you know, you just know. I definitely did know as soon as I met Whitney that she was the one for me. I just hadn’t wanted to trust myself, because it had been scary. But I still know, for sure this time: she’s the one for me.
Chapter 55
I’m a sucker for weddings, but Jensen’s and Riley’s is even more beautiful than the average ceremony. It’s outdoors at a bed and breakfast in Old Town, and decorated with red roses, white calla lilies, black lace and a pop of turquoise ribbon to match the Southwestern décor.
Jensen and his brothers and some military buddies are dressed up in their formal military uniforms and look dashing. Harlow always looks good but today he is particularly stunning. And he even looks a bit nervous as he stands proudly next to his brother.
“Your man is looking good,” Lance whispers to me, while jostling my leg with his own.
I jostle his back.
“I know.”
Things are working out well for both of us. After everything that happened with Dr. Davis, and Piñon parted ways with him, it still wanted a program focused on helping service members who had suffered catastrophic injuries requiring reconstructive surgery. Piñon was so impressed with Lance’s work with Harlow and his dedication to honesty and service members that they put him in charge of the program.
So although Lance had originally feared he would be fired for his involvement in exposing Dr. Davis, he was in fact promoted. It’s a great outcome because an even greater number of service members will be receiving the follow- up treatment they deserve, and a trusted, internal physical therapist is running the program instead of a corrupt outside doctor with his own agenda.
I find Jesse Morrow in the audience and wave at him; he waves back, with a big smile on his face. Jesse is a patient at the clinic, and Lance himself has been working with him for further physical therapy treatment.
He’s progressed quite a bit physically. And he and Harlow have become good friends. They encourage and motivate each other, and sometimes we all hang out at Gecko’s, or at Louie’s when Jensen can manage to drag us there.
While Piñon was developing its new program, I graduated from college with a good GPA, good GMAT scores and high recommendations to medical school, not only from Lance but also from many others at Piñon. Piñon offered me a job as a full- time, full- fledged physical therapist, but I had to decline because in the fall I’m set to start medical school.
I’m looking forward to medical school as a welcome distraction and something I’ll be forced to focus on while Harlow is deployed. But I’m also proud of myself for finding the courage to apply. Perhaps I’ll be referring patients to Piñon one day, and working closely with Lance to oversee their treatment.
My parents were happy to hear of all my recent news— not only did I dump Tony and get with Harlow, but I also got back on the path to medical school.
“We’re so proud of you!” My mom beamed, when Harlow and I went to visit them last month. “We always knew you could do anything you set your mind to.”
And they were right. It doesn’t matter how confident they were for me in the past, because I myself didn’t share that same confidence in myself. Their words of encouragement felt like empty platitudes, but they are great parents.
When I see everything that Harlow has been through, with his deceased father and unstable mother, I’m even more grateful for the love and support my parents have always provided. Maybe one day they’ll be here for my own wedding, with Harlow…
Harlow smiles at me, jolting me back to the present, which I’m glad for because I don’t want to miss a moment of Jensen’s and Riley’s big day. As Jensen and the groomsmen took their places, Ramsey was singing and playing the guitar to Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah.”
I never expected Harlow’s brother to be such a good musician, but I’m pleasantly surprised. Now, as the bridesmaids begin walking down the aisle, he switches to a “Somewhere Over the Rainbow/ What a Beautiful World” mix.
The ambiance is casual yet elegant. The bridesmaids wear black and white dresses that Riley was clearly kind enough to let them choose on their own, which definitely fits her laid- back and thoughtful personality.
A cute little boy and girl pair toddle down the aisle as ring bearer and flower girl. And after Ramsey puts his guitar down and joins Jensen in front, Pachelbel’s Cannon in D starts playing over the speakers. We all know to stand up, because the bride is on her way.
Riley looks beautiful in a ruched white dress with lace and pearls woven throughout. I want to cry when I sneak a glance at Jensen’s face, because the look I see there is so touching.
The wedding officiant begins a unique and personal ceremony, which she says that Jensen and Riley wrote together. She mentions how they met under tumultuous circumst
ances but began to rely on each other as both advocates and lovers.
The story sounds rather similar to that of Harlow’s and mine, and he winks at me, letting me know he thinks so too.
“Before today’s festivities, I met with the bride and groom and their families to go over the type of ceremony they wanted,” the officiant says next. “Both of the groom’s brothers were quick to let me know that they can’t believe he is getting married. But he told me privately that he knows he started a trend, and that they’ll both be next. I hear one of them is already in a committed relationship that Jensen himself at first couldn’t believe.”
Harlow winks at me, and I know our turn is coming soon. His deployment will be hard, but I know it’s for a good cause, and I know he’s worth the wait. He is the best thing that has ever happened to me, and he’s changed my life for the better in every possible way.
I know for sure that we’ll be together for the long haul. One of these days it will be him and me standing front and center as we exchange vows in front of our friends and family members.
I’m not sure exactly when we’ll get to that destination but I sure am enjoying the ride.
THE END.
Miss Veronica and Isaac yet? Their related follow up story I Bought a Fake Fiance is the last bonus book in this collection.
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Copyright 2016 by Juliana Conners; All Rights Reserved.
Chapter 1 – Brynn
"Oh geez. I think this skirt is too short."
I cringe as I look at myself in the mirror, and then at my best friend Riley Bradford.
It’s Halloween night, and I’m second guessing everything. Including this obnoxious cheerleader costume. And the way my ass is hanging out of it.
Sure, it sends the message I’m looking for: Come and get me. I haven’t gotten laid in a long time, and tonight’s the perfect night for it.
"Don't be silly, Brynn," Riley says. "It's Halloween. It's the one time of year when there's no such thing as a skirt that's too short. In fact, Halloween is the excuse that young hot women everywhere use to flaunt their goods without feeling slutty."
"Yeah, but that category doesn’t even apply to me anymore. I'm getting old. And frumpy."
"No you're not. You look just as hot as you did when we'd go to Halloween parties in law school."
"I’ve gained like twenty pounds since then."
"So? You were hot then but you're even hotter now. Curvaceous is the new skinny."
I roll my eyes.
"Remember that one time I went as a ghost? What the hell was I thinking?"
"I think you were thinking of saving time and money," Riley replies. "You were busy preparing for that big trial coming up in moot court— not to mention studying for mid-terms— and it was easy to throw a sheet over your head after cutting some circles out of it for eyes."
"That's true," I agree.
Good old practical and reassuring Riley.
"But I totally ruined my chance to flaunt my goods when I was younger and looked a lot better."
I can't help but reminisce about the past, when I would get laid on the regular. I wish I could be that carefree and fun now, because I haven't gotten any in ages.
On that note, I peek my head into the living room to make sure my son Caleb is okay. He is, so I go back to looking at myself in the mirror.
Being a mom is the best thing that ever happened to me, even though I wasn't so sure it would be, back when I was first pregnant with Caleb. I didn't even know back then that I'd be a single mom.
I was just scared and unsure— with good reason— of going through a pregnancy with Caleb's dad Steve. My worst fear was that he would bail on us. Which is exactly what happened. But still, I wouldn't trade Caleb for the world.
Ever since then, though, dating and sex have been last on my list of priorities, and I could certainly stand to be fucked good and hard.
Steve was the last person I’d been with in that way. After that he’d taken off, leaving Caleb and me in the dust. So he must not have thought it was worth sticking around for any more than we were. I can’t say the sex was worth it myself, although it did produce Caleb, and for that I’m grateful.
"You look fine!" Riley is still insisting. "That skirt totally shows off your hour glass figure."
"Awww, thanks Riley."
I can't help but smile at her even though I still feel that the costume is a tad too inappropriate for someone— a mother, no less— my age.
"You always have a way of making me feel better."
"Just seeing you makes me feel better."
"I know, it's been way too long. We haven’t seen each other since your wedding."
"And whose fault is that?" Riley laughs, teasingly. "Ms. Big City, Big Firm lawyer."
"I know, I know. I'm way too busy with work. And with Caleb, too."
I look over to the living room again, where Caleb is playing with Riley's son, Drew. To more accurately state the situation, Caleb is not playing with Drew. I've told him three times to share his truck but he just shakes his head and screams "NO!"
Meanwhile, Drew has been glaring at Caleb in between coloring— or, should I say scribbling?— in his Sesame Street coloring book. He's too young to have gotten the actual act of coloring down yet, but he's sure trying.
Even though the boys are staying in tonight— Trick or Treating having already happened earlier this week— they both wanted to wear their costumes. So Caleb is dressed as a monkey and Drew is Buzz Lightyear from Toy Story.
"Speaking of Caleb," I say to Riley, "I'm sorry he's not better at sharing. I don't think that Drew likes him very much because of that."
"He'll warm up to him," Riley says with a shrug. "They're both toddlers and therefore haven't even learned what sharing means."
I smile at her. She's not only a good friend but a good mother too. She knows when to let things slide. She's a breath of fresh air to be around compared to my moms' group friends who freak out if their kids eat anything but organic gluten-free crackers out of expensive non-plastic, non-toxic containers.
"Well, I'm glad you're in town and I'm really glad you invited us to this party," Riley says.
"Of course, Love," I tell her, giving her a kiss on the cheek.
As my lips meet the powered makeup she’s wearing there, I’m reminded that I haven't even put any one.
"I think I left my makeup in your living room," I tell her. "What kind of makeup do cheerleaders wear, anyway?"
"Lots of it!" Riley says. "But at least you don't have to worry about making yourself look like a loofah."
Riley is wearing a short blue frilly dress reminiscent of a flamenco dancer. She can still pull it off because she has the perfect body even after having had Drew.
"I'm glad you're wearing something pretty provocative too," I tell her. "Even though I feel so slutty in this short skirt."
"Isn't that the whole point?" Riley asks. "As I keep trying to tell you, a cheerleading outfit is the perfect costume for a single gal to wear on Halloween. I, being a married woman, tied down to my old ball and chain, am forced to wear this embarrassing get-up. Because apparently couple outfits are obligatory for married people on Halloween. Or at least, that's what Jensen seems to think."
I laugh.
"I can't believe Jensen has a thing for couple costumes," I tell her. "Never would have guessed that."
"That's my Jensen," Riley says. "Always full of surprises. Which sometimes include ridiculous costume ideas I'm forced to go along with."
"I happen to think you look cute."
"Yeah but you look friggin' sexy," Riley says.
She shoots a glance over to our kids as she says "friggin.'" And the word “sexy.”
"Your cleavage is amazing, your cute butt is on partial display, and you get to wear makeup that makes you look even prettier, rather than scarier like a lot of those Halloween costumes out there. And maybe you'll get lucky tonight. There's not a guy around who wouldn't want to bang a hot cheerleader like you."
"Oh, I need to come back and get Caleb," I protest, even though I'd love to get laid.
"Don't be silly. He's fine here. Why waste a perfectly good hotel room and a free pass to get down and dirty with a random fling while you don't have to worry about your child's well-being for one night of the year?"
I quickly laugh it off, but I have to admit that the idea does intrigue me. One night of passion with a random stranger is just what I need before heading home to New York City. All that awaits me there are long hours as an associate at a stressful law firm, and my life of single motherhood without any companionship or sex.
Riley's right. Halloween is for single people to slut it up and have fun. And that's exactly what I want to do. I just hope I find the right guy to do it with.
The idea is kind of scary, but that's what Halloween is about too. I need to face my fears and leap before I look.
Hopefully someone at this party will catch me when I do. Maybe he'll be dressed as a knight in shining armor. And perhaps he'll play the part of rescuing me from drudgery and spicing up my life, if only for one night.
What could be so scary about that? I ask myself. What's the worst that could happen? I have a feeling I’m about to find out.
Chapter 2 – Brynn
"Oh wow, look at the time," I say to Riley.
I feel like quickly changing the subject both because I'm embarrassed at how much I'd love to get laid and also because I don't want Caleb to overhear this conversation, even though he's too young to understand most of it.
Sold as a Fake Fiancee: A Virgin and a Billionaire Romance Page 82
