by Anna Brooks
“I’m sorry I lied about that, but I had something to do down there.”
“Yeah, a slut,” she huffs.
A smile plays at my lips at her misplaced anger.
“Don’t laugh at me, Travis.”
“I’m not. I had to go get something, that’s all. Since I was down there, I decided it would be a good time to meet up with her.”
“What the hell was so important that you had to lie to me about working?” Her hands are now folded on her hips, and her head is cocked to the side. Even angry, she’s fucking beautiful.
“I can’t tell you, yet.”
“Then you can go to hell, Travis.” She hops off the rock, and I catch up with her in a couple strides. When I grab her arm, she jerks it free and starts to walk away again.
“I said, don’t touch me.”
“I was getting your ring,” I shout to her back.
She freezes. The only movement is her long blond hair blowing in the wind. I walk up behind her and pull the ring out of my pocket. Reaching around, I hold it up for her to see.
“It was my grandmother’s. I had it cleaned up and replaced the stone. The jeweler called yesterday and told me it was done.” I slide it on her finger. “I was going to do this big romantic proposal, rose petals, candles, and all that other shit. But this seems as good of a place as any, don’t you think?”
Charlotte
I’m frozen. I take in the ring on my finger and have to blink away the tears to get a good look at it. It’s gorgeous. A shiny gold band and a princess cut diamond in the center with two smaller diamonds on either side. The heat from his body surrounds me, and once again, I kick myself for being such an idiot.
“Yeah. This is a good place.” Slowly, I turn around and look at him. His dimple is showing, and the sun makes his blue eyes shine. “I’m sorry, I’m an idiot and–” He shuts me up with a kiss, and I melt into him.
I was hollow when I saw him with her, and the only thing I thought was to get out. If I just cut him out of my life, it would be easier than going through an actual break up. So, I ran. I dropped Mary off and sped all the way back to his place. I threw my clothes in my trunk and came to the only place that has always brought me peace.
Now, I’m standing here, wearing a ring, and I don’t even know what to say. I did it again. I doubted him. Yet here he is. Holding me, kissing me, being there for me.
I pull away and hold my hand out. My lips hurt I stretch them so wide smiling.
“I fucking love you, Charlotte. I want to buy a house, get married, have babies, and hold you every night when I go to sleep. Well, when I’m at home, at least. I don’t think the guys would appreciate being kicked out of their bed so I could be alone with you at work.”
I laugh and make a very unladylike snort. I cover my mouth and laugh more. He chuckles, too, and drops down on one knee. “Will you marry me?”
I can’t talk because I’m crying tears of joy. I nod my head and he stands up and lifts me. He kisses me hard and quick, before twirling me around. I giggle and wrap my legs around him.
“I love you, Travis,” I say when he sets me down again. “I’m sorry I doubted you again.”
“Let’s not talk about it right now, okay?”
“’Kay.”
“You’re gonna marry me.”
“Yeah, I am.”
“Holy shit. What did you just say?” We turn and see Meara and Pierce a few feet from us.
“We’re getting married!” I run to her, and we jump up and down and squeal like little girls.
“Let me see the ring.”
I hold out my hand, and we both admire the bright stone.
“Dang, Travis, you did good!” She walks up to him and gives him a hug while Pierce does the same to me.
“Congratulations,” he whispers. “You deserve this so much, and I’m so happy for you.”
“Thanks. What are you doing here anyway?” I ask both of them, returning to Travis.
“He called looking for you, so I grabbed Pierce, and we came to look for you, too. We were worried,” Meara answers.
“I see. Well, you found me. Us. And we’re getting married!”
Travis wraps his arm around my shoulder, and I smile even bigger when I see him trying not to laugh at my excitement. I haven’t had many things to be excited about in my life, but this is definitely one of them. I’m milking this for all it’s worth!
“Welcome to the family, man.” Pierce shakes Travis’ hand. “It’s about damn time.” He laughs.
“It is,” Travis agrees.
“Let’s go celebrate!” I shout. “I’ve gotta go change, but we’ll come by The Pub in a little bit.”
“Yeah, that sounds great. I’ll make a few calls. Give me a couple hours,” Meara says.
“I think we might need more than two,” Travis responds, squeezing my butt.
“Dude, I might be cool with you guys getting married, but I don’t need to hear that shit.” Pierce backs away. “I’m bouncing all night, so whenever you guys show up, I’ll be there.”
“Fine. Is four hours enough, eight o’clock?” Meara asks.
I look up at Travis, and he eyes me from head to toe, then licks his lips before nodding.
“Yeah, that’s good. We’ll see you then,” I tell her.
“Here.” Travis reaches in my pocket and throws my keys at Pierce. “Can you take her car back to my place?”
“Sure, man. Bye, Char. Congrats you guys.”
“Yeah, congratulations. I’m happy for you both. See ya in a little while!” Meara shouts trying to catch up with her brother.
I wrap my arms around his neck, assaulted with the memories of the first time I met him, right here. “I love you.”
“I love you, too.”
“I’m going to be the perfect wife for you.”
“I don’t want perfect. I just want you.”
25
Charlotte
“You’ve gotta get up or we’ll be late.” Travis nudges me, but my sated body flops like a rag doll.
He laughs and crawls over me, nuzzling my neck. “Come on, sweetheart, you said you wanted to shower.”
He blows on my neck and tickles my ribs. “Okay! Okay! I’m up.” I push his rock hard body and slide out from under him.
I run my hand through my messy hair, and sand sticks to my fingers from the beach. I smile, remembering how rough and urgent we’d been when we couldn’t make it to the bedroom, and he took me against the wall. He carried me to bed and we made love again, slow and sweet.
Standing under the steam, his woodsy body wash is still lingering in the stall. I hold up my left hand, and elation warms my bones. I’m getting married. To Travis. I smile, and carefully wash my hair, trying to avoid getting any strands stuck in the diamond.
With my hair in a towel, I apply lotion with my right hand only. I twist and turn trying to get all angles of my body, but curse when I can’t reach my back.
“Travis! Can you come here, please?”
The door opens a minute later, and with my back to him, I begin to ramble, “I need you to put some lotion on my back. I’m trying to reach, but I can’t get this one spot,” I wrap my arm around and pat my back with one hand, indicating the area.
“Can’t you use your other hand?” he asks, quizzical.
“No. I don’t want to get lotion on my ring.” I’m still reaching around my back, trying to get that one spot, when he comes up behind me.
He chuckles, and grabs my hand. “It’s okay to use your left hand, babe. The ring can be washed.”
“But I don’t want to get it dirty.”
“It’s fine,” he says, reaching for the lotion and squirting a dollop on his palm, “but, if you want me to touch, you all you have to do is ask.” The cool lotion and his warm hands make my knees weak as he rubs the vanilla scent all over my back, and of course, my butt as well.
“Shut up,” I laugh. “I don't want to ruin it. It’s so pretty.” Once again, I hold up my hand
to admire the square stone.
“Not as pretty as you,” he whispers in my ear before biting it.
“You’re such a cornball.”
He shrugs and slaps my ass before walking out of the bathroom.
“We don't have a long drive, but there’s two things I need to talk to you about.”
My hand freezes on the volume dial then I twist in my seat to look at him. He’s so handsome tonight in a dark blue button up shirt with the sleeves rolled to his elbows.
“Okay?”
“First, why were you at Mary’s after I told you I didn’t want you there alone?” His tone is light. Thank God, he doesn’t seem mad, I think.
“I called you.”
“You did?”
“Yeah, you didn’t answer, and I figured you were busy, so I just hung up.” I swallow hard, still nervous. “I didn’t want to text you or leave a message ‘cause I figured you’d be pissed.”
“You’re right. I told you I don’t want you there alone. Not because I’m some prick that wants you locked up, but because that place is bad, sweetheart. Drug dealers, prostitutes, you name it, it happens there.”
I gasp. “What? I knew it was dirty. I didn’t think it was dangerous.”
“Yeah, it’s bad.”
“But Mary’s there. She lives there,” I shriek. “I’ve gotta help her. She can stay at my place or something.”
“Brandon’s got it covered.”
“What does that mean?”
He looks at me briefly, shrugging, before concentrating on the road. “I trust him. If he says he’s got her, I believe him.”
“But, she–”
“Char, he’s got it. I still don’t know much, but I talked to him while you were napping today.”
“Wow. Well, okay. Can you get her number from him? We didn’t get a chance to talk this morning, since I left before we got to sit down and eat.”
“Yeah. I’ll get it. That brings me to number two.” He pulls into the parking lot and shuts the car off.
He turns in his seat and pulls my head forward so he’s inches from me. Our eyes connect, and he says, “I would never cheat on you.”
Embarrassed, I look down, but he lifts my head with a finger under my chin.
“I know. I’m sorry. I should have trusted you.”
“Yeah, you should have. But what you really should have done is confronted me. If I pulled up somewhere, and a guy had his hands on you, I would not drive away, that’s for damn sure.”
“I know.” I lean my head against the seat. “If it ever happens again, I’ll trust you.”
“I appreciate that.” He kisses the tip of my nose. “Ready to celebrate?”
“Hell yeah, I am!” I hop out of the car and meet him around front. We walk hand in hand to the front door. There’s a live band and bass pumps through the old wooden building.
When we get inside, Pierce meets us and shouts over the music, “We’re in the back.”
I nod and Travis tugs on my arm, putting himself ahead of me to clear the way. I shake my head at his caveman antics, but secretly love that he wants to protect me all the time. I grip the waistband of his jeans and watch his firm ass the whole way there. When we round the corner, I see a bunch of familiar faces and tears spring my eyes.
“Congratulations!” they shout in unison.
One by one, everyone comes over and hugs us. Meara, Travis’ parents, my aunt and uncle, some of the guys from Travis’s work, Brandon, and Mary.
I hug her last, and her presence warms me. Aside from my cousins, I don't have any friends. Although an unconventional beginning, I felt close to her from the start.
“I’m so happy you’re here.”
“Me, too. It’s been a while since I’ve gone out.” She looks around the room and to the
door, but when her eyes lock with Brandon’s, he gives a subtle shake of his head. She nods and takes a deep breath. “I’m really happy for you guys.”
The clink of a knife on glass draws our attention to the other side of the room where Travis’ dad is standing with a cane and a goofy grin on his face.
Meara walks around, handing out champagne as Steve gives a toast. “When Brandon called me with the news that Travis proposed to Charlotte, I wasn’t shocked. I knew from the first time I met her she held a special place in my son’s heart.”
He lifts his glass at me and smiles. “Travis has never been much of a talker, but if you mention her name, he doesn’t shut up.”
We all laugh, and I elbow Travis in the ribs as he looks down and rubs the top of his head, clearly embarrassed.
“I admire the man he’s grown to be, and have no doubt in my mind that these two are going to have many years of happiness.”
He raises his glass. “To Travis and Charlotte.”
The room repeats him, and Travis leans down to kiss me before we clink glasses and swallow the bubbly liquid.
We stand around munching on appetizers and sipping champagne. I can’t stop smiling, seeing all the people who are here for us.
When the food is gone, the younger ones go out to the bar for some dancing. I’ve drank enough to be perfectly tipsy and have a blast dancing with Meara and Mary. Travis comes out when a slower song comes on; otherwise, he hangs at the bar with the guys.
Every time I look over at him, he’s already looking at me.
“You two are disgusting!” Meara shouts over the music while jumping along to the beat.
“Shut up! We’re in love.”
“So what? Liam and I are in love, and we can at least stand on the other side of the room without eye fucking each other the whole time.”
I wordlessly flip her off and turn back around to look at my fiancé again. I step on Mary’s toes as I stumble back. Britney’s got her arms around Travis’ neck, and I can see her rubbing on him as he tries to pry her hands off.
“You’ve got to be fucking kidding me,” Meara says, anger laced in her voice.
“Hell, no.” I didn’t have the courage earlier to be confrontational, but you can bet your ass I’m doing it now.
The fury must be evident on my face, because people part for me like the Red Sea. My girls are flanking me on either side as I tap her on her shoulder. I make a point not to look at Travis, because I think I’d chicken out.
She turns around and eyes my skinny jeans, tank top, and flats with disgust.
“What?” Her ever-present red nail twirls her fake blond hair while she chomps on her gum.
“Do you mind removing your hand from my fiancé?”
She laughs and turns to look at him before talking to me again. “Wow. You’re engaged.”
I nod. Finally able to look at Travis, he’s looking at me with relief, and my heart
squeezes. The unspoken words ‘thank you for trusting me’ are loud and clear.
“You’re a lucky girl,” she says smiling. “I wonder if he fucks you as hard as he did me? I don’t think I’ve ever been fucked so good in my life.”
Meara and Mary gasp beside me, but I watch as Travis’ face falls, and shame filters through his eyes.
She continues spewing her venom at me while I drag my eyes from his to her overly made-up face. I don’t register what she’s saying because all I see and hear right now is red. My fist flies on its own accord, and I connect with the side of her face. Blood drips down her cheek, and she immediately starts crying.
“Ahh!” she screams. “Call the police, she hit me!” She holds her cheek and looks around, desperate for someone to help her.
“Why would you want us to do that?” Meara asks. “You pushed her, she was only defending herself.” Murmurs of agreement sound from all directions.
“I did not! You’re lying. You’re all liars.” Her bloodshot eyes search for a friendly face, but when nobody steps up, she runs out the front door, crying.
“Nice hook,” Pierce says, raising his fist for me to bump. I absently raise mine to his and watch out of the corner of my eye as everyone slowly walks aw
ay. I’m glad all of the parents are still in the other room and didn't have to see that.
I’m not sure what I’m feeling right now. Embarrassed, proud, hurt, and mad.
“Char–” Travis starts.
Holding up my hand, I cut him off, “Don’t. I just… I need a minute.”
Turning the opposite direction as Britney, I walk to the back door, avoiding eye contact with anyone. Flinging the door open, I rest against the brick in the alley.
“I’m sorry,” Travis says from the doorway. The steel door slams shut, and I hunch down, resting my hands on my knees.
“I’ve never hit anyone in my life.”
“Well, you did a great job for your first time,” he jokes. His shoes come into view, and my eyes roam up his body until they meet his.
“I’m sorry,” he says. “It was after–”
“No. Don’t. I don't want to hear it. We both have pasts.”
Relief flashes in his eyes, and he leans on the wall next to me. He reaches out for my hand, and when he feels my fingers, he intertwines them with mine. Both our heads turn and when we look at each other, laughter erupts from my throat.
“What?”
“I can't believe I hit her.”
“I would have done the same thing if a guy said that to me,” he shrugs.
“Yeah?”
“It was hot.”
I laugh again. “You would say that.” I nudge his shoulder with mine.
“It’s true.” He raises our hands and kisses my knuckles. “Do you need ice?”
I pull my hand out of his and open and close my fist. It’s a little sore, but I think I’ll live. “Nah, I’m fine.” I push off the wall. “We should probably get back.”
He nods and follows behind me. As I’m reaching for the knob, he grabs my shoulders and pulls me into his hard chest. “When I’m with you, inside you, the world disappears. Life makes sense and my mistakes are forgiven.” He turns me so I’m looking at him. “Do you understand what I’m telling you?”
“Yeah.” He’s saying Britney is a bitch, and she meant nothing to him. I get that, but it’s still tough to know she’s had a part of him that I so desperately want all to myself.
