All Men Fall
Page 15
She saved me. Jenna is…the best thing to ever happen to my life. She and my sister have been on a campaign to make me whole again, mentally and physically. I’ve been busy working on making that happen for us. Feeling like she wouldn’t be mine until that happens, I finally secured it today.
The job is mine. I’m close to home with minimal travel, the pay and schedule are great, the potential for greater responsibility is there if I want it. This is what I was meant to do: be in the sporting world, and love her forever.
Jenna’s love and support brought the old Nick back into existence. Pre-injury Nick, when I had it all—or thought I did. I shed that hated skin. She picks me up and pushes me forward with purpose. She reminds me of my philosophy that I lost track of: “It’s not how you fall or even that you fell, it’s that you get back up that shows the character of a man.”
All men fall eventually, and I’m no exception. I fell from grace, and then I fell in love. With her, I’m alive again.
I still can’t believe she came back to me from Los Angeles, even when I was an ass to her. Without saying a word, she made me battle for her forgiveness like I’ve never fought before. I’m the strong man she desires, because I want that more than anything. I want to kiss her sassy lips every moment of every day, and just be with her.
I’m getting closer. Forty miles and she’s mine. I’m tempted to speed, but I won’t. I need to get there in one piece. I set the box down on my thigh to keep it close, and re-grip the steering wheel as I exit the bridge and leave the city behind. At the next rest area, I pull over and send her a quick text.
N: Just left the city. Be home soon!
J: Hurry. I can’t wait to kiss you.
N: I promise - I am driving as fast and as safe as I can. I need you.
J: I need you too. ;)
The weight of that tiny little velvet box is working its magic on my psyche. I feel good. Today feels great. I’m going to get there, and she’s going to say yes. Then I’m going to fuck her like my life depends on it.
I’ve been three whole days without her, sleeping in that massive king-sized bed alone. We’ve barely spoken on the phone either. The ESPN executives were keeping me busy with contract meetings, creating a brand, wining and dining me, and showing off at exclusive parties.
The parties. I must have been approached by every wife there looking to meet Jenna. It seems there’s a club for her to be initiated into. I’m an idiot for not inviting her along. I didn’t think contract meetings involved parties, but apparently they do. Promising them she would be there next time, I flashed them all a knowing smile and left the party early to go buy her ring.
The ring. It’s a princess-cut diamond seated on a double platinum band. I love the two bands side-by-side. It represents us, together forever. It’s simple. It’s beautiful. It’s Jenna.
I pick up the box again and tuck it into my blazer pocket. I’m almost home. I have my declaration memorized. Other minor details are tucked away in my brain, ready to be brought forth to make this night special.
I pull into the driveway and take the box out of my pocket. Flipping open the hinged lid, I smile again as it shines brilliantly, sitting there in its peaceful, secured location. Showtime.
When I come through the front door, the entire house is bathed in candlelight. Looks like Jenna has plans of her own tonight. I laugh out loud. Of course, she has her own plans. She needs me just as much as I need her.
I look over to the dining room and see a single blue note hanging on the mirror where the others used to be. We removed them months ago and crafted them into a book that sits on the coffee table. I walk over to the note and gently pull on the tape holding it there. The side facing me is blank. “Huh?” I curiously flip it over and read “Will you?” Hmm.
I look around, but the rooms are empty and the house sits in silence. Where’s Jenna? Where’s Zeus?
Following the trail of candles back to our bedroom, I find the door slightly ajar. I can hear low jazz music playing. I push the door open further and stop in my tracks.
She’s a vision to behold. She sits in the middle of our bed, dressed only in what God gave her. Her face lights up as I enter the room.
She has the word “marry” written in chocolate across her breasts and the word “me” written further down on her belly. Each luscious thigh has a question mark smeared across it.
Laughing and shaking my head, I cross the floor to her. “You’re a naughty girl, my love,” I say as I bend down to kiss her lips.
She throws me a knowing smile and pouts her lips. “Well, will you?”
“I have my own question before I answer yours,” I tease her.
I decide to remove my clothes, since I guess we are doing this naked tonight. I step back and start a strip tease that she’ll never forget. Her eyes brighten and bulge as she sees what I’m doing. Each dropped piece of clothing causes her breathing to intensify, and her tongue darts out several times, licking those desirable lips.
I throw my blazer down on the floor at the edge of the bed and dig out the ring box as I kneel down in front of her. She gasps as I reach for her hands.
“Jenna, sometimes the bad things that happen in our lives lead us to the best things that happen in our lives. I was a lonely, broken man until you lit up my life with your vivid smile, wild stage antics, and your simple, loving soul. I want to love you through the next 100,000 days together. And I want you to be my wife in every single one of them. Will you marry me?”
I slide the ring out of the box and stand up to meet her face-to-face.
Looking each other in the eyes, we both say “yes.”
About the Author
C.M. Lally grew up in a small village in southern Ohio near the West Virginia border. Her dreams were too big for that small town, so she set her sights on big city life in Cincinnati, Ohio. She currently lives there with her Prince Charming, two teenage children, and cry-baby cat named Buddy.
Find C.M. Lally at:
AuthorCMLally
cmlallybooks.com
Cyndy@cmlallybooks.com
Also by C.M. Lally
Coming March 2017: Falling Hard
(Aran’s story)
Coming Summer 2017
The Murphy Boys Trilogy
(Ethan, Cole, and Nate)