by Claire Adams
"Whoa, what are you doing?" Roman asked me.
"We're not walking, are we?"
"No need," he said, pointing. I followed his finger, smiling when I saw Tiffany.
"I didn't know you called her," I said.
"She volunteered," he said. "This way we wouldn't have an excuse not to go see her."
Tiff had graduated and started a master’s program since we had been gone. She still lived with their dad. He wasn't in a hurry to see her leave, and she could save up for her own place that way. He had started seeing someone in the past year, too, which had shocked everyone because of how long he had stayed single after his wife, Tiff and Roman’s mom, passed. I hadn't had a chance to meet her yet, but maybe this would be the trip that I did.
I hugged Tiff first. We talked almost every day. Texts, phone calls – we were long distance, but she had made a few trips down to Miami since we'd been apart. She hugged Roman and walked us to the car. I sat in the back and Roman in the passenger side. I was still sort of tired, oddly, despite being knocked out for most of the plane ride here.
I watched the city pass outside the window. Things never seemed to change that much every time we would come back, which I secretly liked. It was like it was making sure it didn't leave us behind, become completely different and leave us floundering trying to adjust.
Tiffany was asking Roman how the flight was. "Let's just say first class was a good call," he said, looking back at me and smirking.
"You got us those seats so I wouldn't fall asleep? It's a seven-hour flight, what did you want me to do?"
"She passed out as soon as we were in the air. And didn't wake up till we had landed," he told her. I rolled my eyes.
"Next time you come down, get one of those seats," I said to Tiffany.
"Are you guys going to pay for it?" she teased.
Roman had offered, many times when Tiffany had been making trips to Miami to cover the cost of her ticket. She would never take it. At least she would stay at our house, though. House, not apartment. We moved out right when Roman's lease on the apartment was up to a place on the water. It was this big, a little too big for us, place with a pool and a yard. If you rolled out of bed at night and fell out, you'd end up in the ocean, that was how close to the water we were.
"Of course," Roman said.
"Can I bring a guest?"
"Dad doesn't count as a guest," he told her.
"I wasn't talking about dad," she said. I sat up in my seat behind them.
"What? Who is it?"
"Do you remember Casey?" she asked, glancing at me through the rear-view. I did remember Casey. Last time we had talked, the two of them had been on three dates.
"What's going on with you and Casey?"
"Who's Casey?" Roman asked, barely following along.
"Her boyfriend," I teased. She smirked happily to herself. I had never met this guy, but we had talked about him. She had even shown me pictures of him. He was cute.
"You're lucky we have two spare bedrooms," Roman said. I laughed. I wanted to see that. Roman mad-dogging Casey across the dinner table then giving him the spare room downstairs and Tiffany the one upstairs.
"Oh please, Roman," she laughed. "I'm twenty-three, not thirteen."
"Not under my roof. I love you, Tiff. It's the guy I have a problem with."
"You haven't even met him yet," she protested. I sat in the back letting them bicker.
"Where are we going?" I asked after a few minutes.
"Hm?" she asked.
"Where are we going? This isn't the way to our hotel." Roman was silent in the passenger seat.
"No?" he said. I looked at the side of his face; it was all I could see from where I was sitting.
"No, Roman. It's not," I said, a little sarcastically.
"We have a detour to make first," said Tiffany. Detour? I was looking forward to getting to the hotel. I wanted to wash the seven hours of flight off of me and maybe follow that with a couple more hours napping. Not to mention food. I was starving.
"Where to?" I asked. She didn't say anything. I looked out the windows, mentally tracking where we were going. "Tiff?"
"You'll see when we get there," she said, looking at me through the rear-view mirror.
"Rome?" I tried.
"Hm?" he answered. The same innocent, noncommittal sound his sister had made. I sat back in the seat, mostly giving up. The list of places we could be going were limited, anyway. It wasn't like this would be a surprise when we got there unless something major like a new mall or something had gone up. I watched outside the windows as we took the familiar streets.
"What are we doing here?" I asked as Tiffany parked.
I hadn't been here in years, literally. During all the visits we had made back home, we had never come back to the park for a picnic. Back home, at our place in Miami, we had sort of carried the tradition on, taking a basket down to the beach sometimes when it wasn't that windy, but the last time we'd been to our spot was... It had been when we got back together. The weekend before I moved to Miami with Roman. Roman got out of the car and came round the back to open mine. He offered me a hand and helped me out.
"I thought we'd do something special this trip. We're celebrating."
"You didn't want to go to the hotel and drop our stuff off first?" I asked.
"Tiff's waiting for us. It can stay in the car."
"Waiting for us? She's not coming?" I asked as he pulled me to follow him.
"Come on," he said.
"Where?"
"Don't tell me you forgot this place already," he said. I hadn't, I was just confused. Why was Tiff waiting in the car for us? What was happening? Why were we here instead of the hotel?
"Are we having dinner?" I asked lamely.
"Why? Are you hungry?" he asked. We started into the trees that lined the clearing we used to visit.
"Roman," I whined.
"Come here, I want to show you something." He was walking ahead of me. I had to walk kind of fast to be able to keep up with him.
"Show me what? Roman-" I was about to complain some more, but cut myself off.
We were there, our spot, but I it looked different the last time we had been there. The grass was perfectly manicured, lush healthy green like it shouldn’t have been this early in the year. It wasn't dark yet, but dark enough to see the light from the strings of fairy lights strung across the trees.
"Roman, what's going on?" I asked. There was a sheet of white rose petals sprinkled over the grass. He pulled my hand gently and walked us right to the middle of the clearing.
"What do you think?"
"I think it's beautiful... Who did this?"
"All I asked was that they get the flowers right, but the lights are a nice touch," he said.
"You did this?"
"Tiffany made it happen, but yeah. I asked her to do it."
"For us?"
"For you. Do you remember the last time we came here?" he asked me.
"It was a long time ago," I mused.
"Do you remember what happened?" he asked, standing in front of me, taking both my hands in his. I blushed. I remembered. Clearly. Thinking back, I couldn't believe how often we had done it out here. Anyone could have seen us.
"I remember we got back together. Then that Monday I moved in with you."
"This is where it all started. I wanted to do this somewhere special."
"Do what?" I asked.
"I was holding off till after the Super Bowl to do this. I knew that I wanted that win and then we got it. I thought that would be it, but it wasn't. With the championship, and you, and our home, I thought I had everything I wanted. But I don't," he said. My stomach clenched listening to him. The last two years had been incredible.
After the summer that he got signed, we had had to get used to living together, me being this far away from home for the first time. It had been hard at times, but we were a team. We figured it out together. After what we had been through, we had learned the hard way that
whatever happened, we wanted to do it together.
"What do you want?" I asked nervously. We had talked a lot about the future, but mostly, we were just taking it a day at a time. Roman's career was going great. I had graduated and after a year off, had started working on a second degree. We took trips together when he had the time off, and before his offseason training began this year, we were planning a trip to Puerto Rico. We were focused on what we had to be for now and I had always felt comfortable doing that. Till now.
"You, Veronica," he said.
"We're already together."
"Not the way I want," he said. He squeezed my hands, pausing before he sunk down on one knee. I swallowed, looking down at him. His hands left mine and went into one of his pockets. He pulled out a ring and looked at it in his hand, smiling.
"Do you know how long I've had this thing?" he said, looking up at me. I didn't know whether he wanted an answer, but words were failing me. My heart pounded. He kept going. "The only thing I still don't have is a wife and I think that needs to change," he said. He was smiling, but he was blurring in front of me because I was crying.
"You're the love of my life, Veronica Kanter. I could stand losing everything as long as I got to keep you. It happened twice, and I never want it to happen again. If you'll have me, I want to make you my wife," he said. Tears streamed down my face. He reached for my hand, squeezing it in his. "Ron. Will you marry me?"
"Yes," I whispered.
"What was that?" he asked. I laughed, wiping my eyes.
"Yes, Roman, yes. I will marry you." He smiled, sliding the ring onto my finger. It fit perfectly. I didn't know how he would know what size to get. It was a clear white diamond, oval shaped, set in a white gold band.
"Do you like it?" he asked, standing.
Did I like it? It was beautiful, but it could be two copper wires wound into a circle, and I'd still love it. It could be nothing at all, what mattered was what it meant. It meant forever. The two of us, no matter what. I leaned up, wrapping him in my arms. I wanted to give him what he wanted. There was nothing I wanted more. I took his hand, pulling him over to a tree and we did it, right there, engaged, with the sun setting and Tiffany waiting for us in the car.
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FIREWORKS
By Claire Adams
This book is a work of fiction. The names, characters, places and incidents are products of the writer's imagination or have been used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, actual events, locales or organizations is entirely coincidental.
Copyright © 2017 Claire Adams
Chapter One
Cora
"Finally. Thanks for staying behind with me. I thought the funeral was going to be more difficult than it was." Emily turned around and smiled. "I'm glad I have you."
"You stayed with me while I wrapped up that issue I had with my science credits, and I stayed to help you get through Mimi's death. We're best friends. It's what we do."
"I guess. Remind me to give the other two hell for leaving without us a few weeks ago."
I tugged on the zipper of my suitcase and glanced up. "I'm glad they did. I'd rather they get to the lake house early and clean up the spider webs for us."
"I guess, but I'm sure Cindy already has several guys helping her do anything she wants. I swear the girl sold her soul to the devil to attract any man she wants."
Emily moved over to my bed and pushed down on the top of my suitcase. My best friend since grade school was far too pretty to cover herself up the way she did. I glanced over and let my eyes run over her baggy t-shirt and loose shorts.
"She's just friendly, cute, and looks innocent. Unlike us," I snorted and tugged hard on the zipper. "You're bringing something other than your baggy clothes, right? You have a hot body under all of that, you know?"
"This again?" She gave me a sideways glance. Her dark hair was pulled up in a loose ponytail, her face free of makeup.
"I'll always plague you about this. You're never going to find a guy when you don't look like you want to." I moved back and bent over, tying my tennis shoes and admiring her shapely legs. "And, I know you want a boyfriend."
"I do, but I'm not getting him with nothing more than physical attraction between us, Cora. I've seen how well that's worked out for both you and Cindy. Guys who are head-over-heels for a hot girl are everywhere. And no offense, but it would seem that it's not just the first hot girl they meet that steals their attention. It's every hot girl. How long am I going to entertain a guy that thinks with his dick instead of his brain?"
I nodded and stood up. "I get it."
There hadn't been too many times in my life that I could recall having a boyfriend who didn't sleep around while we were dating. Brandon James was the most recent, and thanks to him, I'd sworn off guys for a while — and blonds forever.
"Hey." She reached out and touched my shoulder. "I didn't mean to insinuate anything. I just don't want a guy who's interested in the size of my boobs and not my personality, nor my intelligence."
"Good luck with that." I walked to the kitchen table and picked up the brochure from Emily's grandmother's funeral. "The service was beautiful. I'm proud of you for speaking at it. I know that had to be hard."
I turned to smile at her as countless memories of our summers at her Mimi's house raced over me.
"She would have been disappointed if I didn’t. I'm sure the silly old goat would have haunted me." The smirk that lifted her mouth didn't take away from the sadness around her eyes, but it was a start toward healing.
"This is true, and she would have haunted me for not supporting you." I laughed and grabbed my sunglasses and keys. "We ready?"
"Yep. I just need to run to the restroom. Get the snacks out of the cabinet that I picked up for us. It's cheaper to buy in bulk." She turned and walked out of the room as I rolled my eyes.
After grabbing the treats, I did a quick sweep through the apartment and let out a sigh. "Four years of my life...over."
Graduation had been a few weeks before, and I was now a grown up — or I was supposed to be.
"Are you talking to yourself again?" Emily snagged the keys from me. "I want to drive the Beamer. My parents aren't rich, and I'm almost out of time to live vicariously through you and yours."
"Don't say that." I picked up the bag of snacks and walked into the living room. "You and I are going to be in each other’s lives forever."
"You really think so?" She glanced over her shoulder as she popped the handle to her suitcase.
"I know so. We've been friends since grade school. Why would that change now? We're finally free." I grabbed my bag and walked to the door. "You sure your brother is going to take good care of this place?"
"Yes, for the millionth time. He's just like me: conservative, timid, and a clean freak." She shrugged and opened the door, moving out into the hall. "Besides, he needs to check out the campus, and this is a great way to do it. We're stuck in this damn lease until September, thanks to you."
"Always my fault." I paused to lock the door as a warm breeze blew through the open-air hallway.
"It usually is and you know it," she chuckled.
"If it makes you feel better to blame me, then fine. I'll take it." I tugged at the shoulder of her shirt and shook my head. "I'm getting you in a bikini this summer."
"I'll wear one with you guys, but it's not happening in public. My boobs are too big, and they don't talk back," she smirked.
"They don't talk back? What the hell does that mean?" I paused by the only elevator in our apartment complex, preparing for a long wait as per usual.
"Guys talk to my chest when I wear normal clothes. My
boobs don't talk back. I need to get a shirt made that says that."
"I almost feel giddy for the man that actually catches your eye and means enough to pull your clothes off for. He's going to feel like he just uncovered buried treasure," I laughed as she pushed at me.
"You're jealous."
"Of course, I am. You're insanely hot and yet you hide yourself behind all those clothes. It makes no sense to me, but I support whatever makes you comfortable." I got into the elevator to find it empty. The apocalypse must have been coming; it was usually packed with people, most of whom were frat boys who didn't seem to think personal space existed.
"No, you don't, but whatever. Your peer pressure might work on Cindy and Dedra, but I'm immune to it. I've been fighting it my whole life."
I let out a soft gasp. "Me? Peer pressuring someone? Next, you'll be calling me bossy."
"You? Never," She rolled her eyes and held the door for me.
"I can't help it, and you know it. You've met my father, right? If he wants his way, all else be damned." I tugged my suitcase out into the hallway and nodded at a hot guy walking toward us. I turned my head to check him out as he passed, only to find him doing the same.
"I thought you swore off men." Emily bumped her suitcase against mine.
"Just blonds. He had brown hair." I winked and moved down the sidewalk, letting out a groan. "Why is Arizona so hot during the summer?"
"At least it's dry heat." Her tone was pinched.
"Alright, what's up?" I popped the trunk and lugged my bag into the back of the car. My parents had outdone themselves with my new BMW for graduation, and where I wanted to think it was for doing a great job, I knew better. Nothing came from my father without strings attached. It was an incentive to keep going. My business degree was great and a good start, but pre-law was next. No matter how much I abhorred the idea of it.
"Nothing. I'm just worried about you." She lugged her bag into the back. Her shirt pulled tight, and I could make out her curves. She was perfect, and yet her jacked up sense of self-preservation left her hiding all the time.
