by Tessa Teevan
The back door opened and Nick walked out with a tray full of brats and burgers. He handed them to Ty and then grabbed a beer, tossing me one as he walked over.
That was one awesome thing about Cincinnati. They had great fucking beer.
"Congratulations, Jeremy," he told me, slapping me on the shoulder. "Vicky and I are so proud of you. I know your parents are, too. I know a lot of parents—my mom included—thought I was crazy for allowing Sierra’s boyfriend to move into our home, but I want you to know I consider you a son. I always have. I wouldn’t have let just any man stay under my roof," he joked, giving me another slap on the back.
My nose burned, but it wasn’t from the tears that weren’t currently welling in my eyes. Nope. No way. I cleared my throat. I was Jeremy Banks. Ultimate male and all of that macho crap. I didn’t cry. I wouldn’t cry.
"Thanks, Nick," I choked out, coughing to mask it but failing.
He wrinkled his eyebrows.
"Hey, listen. Speaking of that—can we talk?"
He stopped mid-swig and set his beer down. Folding his arms across his chest, he studied me but didn't say a word. I glanced over at Ty, who was watching us intently. I had half a mind to flip him off, because I was making this easier on him. I’d go through the hard part, and then he’d swoop in and beg for Lexi’s hand. So, yeah, my middle finger was primed and ready, but somehow, I resisted.
Just as I was about to open up my mouth, the back door opened yet again, my dad coming through this time.
“Hey, Jay, you’re just in time. Jeremy has something he wants to talk to me about,” Nick said to my dad. It was apparent he knew what I was going to do. Not that it made it any easier.
Dad’s eyes widened as he looked from Nick to me and then back to Nick. He held his beer out as a gesture for me to continue. “Well, by all means, don’t let me interrupt.”
Suddenly, I was the center of everyone’s attention. Instead of just Nick, I had three pairs of eyes about to witness one of the most important moments of my life.
Freaking awesome.
“Well, you see… There isn’t a thing I wouldn’t do for Sierra. I love her. I’d go to the ends of the Earth for that girl. Hell, Ohio’s just about as close.” I chuckled nervously, but not a peep was heard from those three. Some peanut gallery they were. I cleared my throat. “You see…now that I’m done with school and getting my own place and all… I just… I think… I mean…”
God, I was stammering like an idiot. Sierra and I’d been inseparable for thirteen years. This shouldn’t have been that hard.
"Spit it out, Jeremy. I’ve got burgers to flip," Nick finally said, his voice cool.
I couldn’t read him. Oh fuck. We might have been outside, but it was like all the air had been sucked out of the vicinity. What if he said no?
Oh fuck. He wouldn’t, would he?
I inhaled a deep breath then released it more slowly. It was now or never. And never was unacceptable.
"Sir…with your blessing, I'd like to marry your daughter. No—scratch that. I'd love to marry her. I want to marry her. I have to marry her.” I took a deep breath before pulling out the dramatics. “If I don't marry that girl within the next year, my life would be over. So…what do you say?" I asked, breathless and hopeful. “Ready for me to be your son? Like you’ve always seen me?” I wasn’t sure if throwing his own words back in his face was a good idea, but I figured it was worth a try.
The back deck was silent for a moment, and as the seconds ticked away, they felt like the longest of my life. Ty and my dad both watched Nick carefully, as did I. I couldn’t tear my eyes away from him.
Finally, he slapped me on the shoulder and gave me a wide smile. "Seriously? Do you even have to ask? As if I could even stop you if I tried."
Waves of relief surged and crashed down on me. I could finally release the breath I’d been holding. As much as I wanted to break out into the Carlton in celebration, I maintained my composure. Barely.
"Still. I’d like your blessing. You and your wife have done so much for me, and it would mean a lot to me."
"I appreciate that, Jeremy. Of course you have your blessing. We couldn't ask for a better man to marry our daughter."
A throat cleared from across the back deck. "Umm…about that, sir…"
Ty had set the grilling spatula down and taken a step forward. With a ring box in his hand, he gave Nick a bashful grin.
"Seriously, man? This is my parade. Take your rain elsewhere," I told Ty, laughing so he'd know I was kidding.
Nick raked his hand through his hair and groaned. "You too? A double whammy? Did you two plan this ambush?"
I held my hands up. “No. No way. This was supposed to be my night, my time to shine. He’s just horning in on it now that I’ve softened you up.”
My dad let out a curse, which Nick echoed.
Ty nodded. "I know it seems fast and I'm edging into Jeremy's time, but I love Lexi with everything in me, and I want to spend the rest of my life with her."
Nick eyed him. "You love her?"
"With all of my heart."
"You'll be good to her?"
"For as long as I live."
“Yeah, or I’ll kick his ass,” I chimed in, causing Nick’s lips to twitch.
“And I’d let him,” Ty confirmed.
Nick eyed him warily then brought out the big guns. "Do you solemnly swear to never wear a Steelers jersey in my home or in my presence?"
Without hesitation, Ty raised a fist and hollered the Bengals war cry. "Who Dey!"
Damn, the guy must’ve been in love to go that far. He was a hard-core Steelers fan. Watching him and Lexi fight during games was one of the best parts of football season.
“I can’t believe I just did that.”
Nick laughed and shook his head. "Then you have my blessing as well. Now, someone get me a drink. My two little girls are getting married."
Ty and I high-fived, but then Nick brought the rain.
"Then again, they both still have to say yes."
With that last parting shot, he walked back inside. Dad grinned at me and gave me a thumbs-up.
I pointed my finger at Ty and warned him. "I get to propose first. Got it?"
Ty gave me a challenging grin.
Game on.
"I can't believe he's moving out." Mom was getting all weepy as she stirred the baked beans. Her other hand was dabbing a tissue at the corner of her eye.
Stifling my laughter, I patted her on the shoulder then gave her a quick squeeze. "Mom, he's only moving a few streets over. It's hardly the end of the world. You’ll still see him all the time. Probably more than you want to. Like he’ll be able to stay away from your home cooking."
Even though I was trying to be reassuring, part of me totally got what she was saying—not that I'd admit it out loud. Jeremy'd been living in my parents’ basement for the past three years, and now that he had a good job, he'd rented his own home. My parents had insisted he could stay until he’d built up his savings, but he’d declined, spouting off something about how he was a man and he needed to be independent.
Personally, I thought there was more to it, and I’d had to stop myself from checking his sock drawers for a ring box. Not that we’d talked about marriage or anything any time soon, but I was kind of hoping it was around the corner, sooner rather than later.
Before she could respond, however, the back door slid open and I looked up to see my dad stalking inside, an unreadable expression on his face. He went straight to the liquor cabinet and poured a healthy amount of scotch into a glass, tossing it back and quickly refilling it. I’d seen that happen before. It usually wasn’t good news.
“Nick, what’s gotten into you?” Mom asked, frowning at the glass in his hand.
"Somethin’ in the water," he said cryptically as he gave himself another couple of fingers. This time, however, he only sipped, so whatever it was couldn’t have been that bad.
We exchanged a confused look before he muttered somethin
g about not being ready for this and disappearing.
Weird.
It wasn’t much longer before I realized what Dad’s sudden drinking spree was all about. Halfway through dinner, Jeremy scooted his chair back and rose to his feet. Everyone stopped talking when he cleared his throat. Suddenly, my hands were clammy, and my heart’s tempo increased until it was practically racing.
"Umm," he started off, coughing then picking his wine glass up to take a sip.
I did the same as my mind ran a hundred miles a minute, wondering what was about to happen.
"I just wanted to say I appreciate you all being here for my graduation. Mom, Dad, Jenna, Chris for traveling to be with me to celebrate. Nick and Vicky for graciously opening your home to me. Lexi, for all of those nights you helped me study. I wouldn’t be standing here, a college graduate and the new agent at Keller-Williams Realty if it weren’t for all of you sitting here today."
My heart warmed as he went around the room, thanking each and every one at the table, even Ty, my sister’s boyfriend, who had quickly ingrained himself with my family. But, when Jeremy turned to me and took my hand, pulling me up out of my chair, I forgot that anyone else was in the room. He leaned in and gave me a kiss on the cheek before dropping on the ground to one knee. Gasps echoed all around us, but suddenly, I had tunnel vision. All I could see was his face. All I could hear was his voice. At that moment in time, the only thing existing was us.
"Sierra, I love you. I’ve loved you since I was eight years old, and somehow, even way back then, I knew you were it for me. At eight years old, I knew you were going to be my wife and, one day, I'd be the luckiest man on the planet because I'd get to spend the rest of my life with you. And that's what I want. You, me, forever."
Heat rose on the back of my neck, and my eyes widened. My heart was beating faster than ever before. My lungs refused to take breath as Jeremy continued.
"We may be young, Sierra, but none of that matters. I want forever with you, and I always will. So, can't it start right now? Will you? Marry me."
The last part wasn't a question, yet it was still perfect. He knew my answer—and that he didn’t even have to ask. I could never say no to this man. I would never say no to this man. I looked up to see the faces of my most loved ones watching us, waiting for my response, even though they all knew what it would be. Mom and Lexi both had tears in their eyes while Dad appeared proud.
I smiled down at the face of the only man I'd ever loved. The only one I would ever love.
"Forever started a long time ago with us, Jeremy. Nineteen ninety-two to be exact. "
He nodded, unmoving from his kneeling position. "You've been with me every step of the way, and now, I'm headed out into the real world. None of it means anything if you're not by my side. I knew when I was eight years old that I was going to marry you. I still know that now. So, how about it Sierra? Will you make my lifelong dream come true? Will you be my Mrs. Michelangelo?"
He waited with bated breath as I gazed down at him. I knew exactly how to give him the perfect answer. My hand rose to my mouth and I spit directly into my palm. As realization gleamed in his eyes, the corners of his lips turned up in a slow grin, transforming his face from the cute boy-next-door to the gorgeous man I was ready to pledge my love to.
“The ultimate spit pact?” I asked, giving him a teasing smile. “What do you say, Banks?”
He grinned back at me, causing my heart to melt at the deep dimples in his cheeks. “Well, I thought a ring would seal the deal, but you’re right.” As he stood, he spit in his own hand and placed it in mine. It was wet, slimy, and oh so unbelievably perfect.
My heart flip-flopped as he repeated his question.
“Will you marry me, Sierra?”
“Yes!” I shouted.
He wrapped his arms around my waist and twirled me around. I cupped his cheeks, gazing down into the gorgeous eyes of my future husband.
“A better ending than Copper and Tod. Much, much better than Dawson and Joey.”
“That’s because a new it couple has taken over. From now on, it’s Jeremy and Sierra.”
“That’s the way it’s always been.”
“And always will be.”
“Always?”
“Forever.”
WHEN I WAS A teenager, I once told Jeremy I didn’t need fancy. I just needed him. Even though we were now in our twenties and could afford fancy, the thought still rang true. So that’s why, just four short weeks later, I was back to where it had all begun and more than ready to say, “I do.”
After Jeremy had proposed, we’d finished dinner, celebrated with our families, and then snuck away for a celebration of our own. We were lying in his bed, breathless and sated from commemorating our engagement in the most intimate way. I held my hand out, admiring the solitaire square-cut diamond he’d given me. Knowing it’d been his grandmother’s meant the world to me, and I’d wear it proudly for the rest of my life. His fingers came to mine and he kissed my hand. I rested my chin on his naked chest and grinned up at him.
“So, now that we’re engaged, you don’t mind having sex in my parents’ basement?” I teased.
He growled at me, flipping me onto my back and sinking slowly back into me, filling me to the hilt. I nearly forgot what I’d said as he held himself inside me. His eyes were glazed with lust, and he held my hands just above my head.
“Marry me,” he whispered.
“I believe I already said yes,” I panted, breathless as he resumed making love to me.
His movements were slow, methodical, and with how close we were, he was creating a delicious friction on my clit that had me writhing beneath him, wanting…needing more.
He leaned down and peppered kisses along my jaw. “Marry me, baby,” he said, his lips finding my ear.
“Mmm,” was all he got in response.
And that’s when he stopped—and when I whimpered. I lifted my hips, rolling them, but he pushed down, holding me in place on the bed.
“Marry me.”
As my orgasm began to recede, I frowned. “Yes, Jeremy. I’ll always says yes,” I whispered.
He lifted up and gazed down into my eyes. “As soon as possible. I want that ring on your finger. My last name on your license. You livin’ in my house, where I can make you scream my name and you won’t have to hold it in so your parents won’t hear.”
I nodded, and he entered me with a driving thrust that stole my breath. I was nearing the precipice of my climax and he was fully aware. With three more deliberate thrusts, I was seized by a rush of sensation so intense I swore I saw stars.
“As soon as possible,” he said against my lips as he pulled out and spilled his release on my belly.
That’s when I realized I wanted soon, too.
Those four weeks dragged, and they also flew. They were frantic at times, but knowing I was going to marry the love of my life in less than a month made every ounce of the stress I experienced worth it.
It was simple. It was relatively easy. It was just like us, and it was beautiful.
We were getting married in the place where we’d met. The place where we’d first loved. The place where I’d set my hand in his and gave him my forever. The place where he had done the same.
Since we were back in Navarre, we could’ve invited all of our old friends. Had a huge party. Celebrated all night long. But, at the end of the day, we decided to keep it low-key. We just wanted each other and our families. That would be enough.
As I stood in front of the walkway, part of me wanted to run, sprint, even fly, because I knew what was awaiting me. Jeremy. Forever. My husband. The other part, however, wanted to glide slowly, soaking up every single detail along the way.
It couldn’t have been a more perfect day. Even though it was late June, the temperatures were unusually cool that evening. The sun was setting. The breeze was blowing. And the waves were chipping in, creating their own beautiful soundtrack to highlight this day and where we were.
The
beach.
Our beach.
This place had always been home for me, ever since I’d met my best friend, the love of my life. At least, it had been until we’d moved to Ohio and I’d realized Jeremy was my home. My head against his chest, our fingertips laced and held on his stomach as we stole moments of intimacy. The way he reverently paused for a split second every time he sank into my depths and whispered my name, a sound so perfect coming from his lips. As if he really did believe that it was his love sanctuary and he was offering his reverence. Jeremy’s arms, Jeremy’s embrace, Jeremy’s heart. That’s where I was home. That was my home. It always would be.
“It’s time.” Mom’s soft whisper interrupted my thoughts. “Are you ready, sweetheart?”
I smiled and answered straight from the heart. “I’ve been waiting for this moment for thirteen years. Yeah, I’m ready,” I said.
She smiled. “I love you, Sierra.”
“Love you, too, Mom,” I replied, keeping it simple, already overwhelmed with all the emotion bubbling up inside me.
Dad approached, and Mom gave my hand a squeeze then laughed when Dad kissed her cheek. She ventured down the walkway to the gazebo, where my groom was waiting. I wanted to follow quickly, but then Dad cleared his throat and I turned to look at him. The shimmering tears in his eyes startled me, causing my own to form.
“My baby girl,” he whispered, placing a thumb and forefinger underneath my chin. “This day came a hell of a lot sooner than I expected.” He chuckled. “This day came a hell of a lot later than I expected, knowing that boy. He would’ve proposed when he was twelve years old if he could have.”
