by Nicole Hart
"Sam needs my help cooking desserts for tomorrow. I'm gonna run home ok."
Jase opened one eye and looked at me a little confused. He was so cute when he first woke up. The messy hair and half asleep look worked for him. Who am I kidding, everything worked on Jase. But sleepy Jase was especially sexy.
"Ok" He said.
"I'll come back over this afternoon" I told him.
"Actually I'm picking you up" He said, suddenly very alert.
"You are?" I asked.
"Yep. Make sure to bring a jacket and wear your boots."
"okaayyy" I said. "Where are we going?"
"I'll pick you up around 5" He said as he closed his eyes again and smiled.
"You're not telling me where we're going?"
"Love you" And that was my answer.
"I love you too, brat" I said and squeezed his jaw while I gave him a kiss.
5:15
We were driving down an unfamiliar dirt road. I was sitting in the middle with my head resting on his shoulder. He had been very quiet about where we were going.
"Where are we?" I asked as I took in my surroundings. Jase pulled into a private road. The driveway was long and winding. It was surrounded by trees. The sun was beginning to set and the shadows were dancing. It was breathtaking.
"Almost there" Jase responded.
We pulled into a large open field that extended at least 5 acres. It was surrounded by overgrown trees in a huge square. But that was it. No buildings, no lights, nothing. Where were we? I thought to myself once again. Jase put the truck in park but left it running with the lights on. He opened the door, hopped out and held his hand out for me to take. The grass was overgrown, I was glad he told me to wear my boots, although I was still didn't know what we were doing. We walked out about 10 feet from the truck and Jase stopped.
"Stay right here" He said as he jogged back to the truck. I looked around once again. This place was gorgeous, there was something about it that just took my breath away. It was so peaceful.
I heard the music start. I recognized the song immediately. "I don't dance" by Lee Brice. Jase walked up to me and put his hand out once again. I put my hand in his and he pulled me close. My stomach immediately filled with butterflies. Was he really doing this? We started to sway to the music. He was dancing with me. This song was Jase all the way, because he told me more than once, he didn't dance. This was heaven, wrapped in his arms, I loved this man so much. Then my heart absolutely melted when I heard him singing in a quiet whisper close to my ear,
"I don't dance, but here I am, spinning you round and round in circles. It ain't my style but I don't care. I'd do anything with you anywhere. Yes you've got me in the palm of your hand. Cause I don't dance."
My entire body relaxed into him. I was a pool of liquid. Melted. Unable to stand on my own two feet. We continued to sway through the end of the song. I was convinced that was the most romantic moment of my life. I loved this man more than I could even put into words.
"I love you" I said when the music stopped. I couldn't help but bite my lip.
"I love you Lainey" He said and he grabbed my bottom lip, pulled it into his mouth and ran his tongue across it. Oh yeah, he was good. Then he pulled his mouth away from mine and spun me around so my back was resting up against his chest.
"So what do you think of this place?" He asked me.
"I think it's beautiful" I said.
"I've had my eye on it for a few months now."
"You have?" I asked as I looked at the sky. It was beautiful blend of blue and orange. The whole scene was amazing.
"I put the down payment on it a couple of days ago." Jase said.
"You're buying this place babe?" I said, unable to hide the excitement in my voice. I was so happy for him.
"I'm buying it...for us. If you will." Jase said as he pulled a small black box out of his front pocked and got down on his knee. Oh my God, was this really happening? My eyes welled up with tears, there was no holding them back. Jase grabbed my hand and held it.
"I know this is soon but I've never been able to move slow with you Baby. I think I loved you the first time I saw you, I just didn't understand it. I didn't think it was possible. Hell Lainey, I didn't think it was possible to love at all. But one look at you and I was done. You were the missing part of my life all these years, I just didn't know it. And I know a life with me won't be easy, but I'll spend every second of it trying my best to make you happy. Lainey, will you marry me?"
The tears were falling, I couldn't speak. So I just shook my head.
"Is that a yes?" Jase asked with a smile
"Yes, baby, yes" I said with a shaky voice. Jase slipped the ring on my finger.
"Oh thank God" Jase said as he stood and pulled me close to him. I jumped into his arms and wrapped my legs around his waist. I put my arms around his neck and then admired my ring. My engagement ring. It was white gold with a huge princess cut diamond and diamonds along both sides of it. It was perfect.
"I love you so much, Jase. I'm going to be your wife. You’re going to be my husband" I said and squeezed my arms around his neck.
"I love the sound of that." Jase said and spun me around in a circle.
"Me too" I said with a giggle.
"I just have one request" Jase said.
"What's that?" I asked.
"I can't handle the whole your place, my place thing much longer. The builders are ready to start now. Are you ready to marry me in the next three months? I want you to be my wife our first night here."
"Baby, I would marry you right now" I said with complete honesty.
"I want you to have a wedding. I don't want you to regret that. Because this is forever." He said and gave me a kiss.
"Forever." I repeated.
It was almost midnight. Almost Christmas Day. Jase and I were lying in bed, wrapped in each other’s arms.
"It's almost Christmas." I whispered.
"Merry Christmas baby" He said and then reached over to the nightstand. "I want to give you your present."
"Jase, you proposed and gave me this beautiful ring" I said as I held my hand out to admire my ring. "You didn't need to get me anything else."
"Hush" He said and kissed me as he put a small rectangular box in my hand. It was wrapped in silver paper with a white ribbon.
I opened the box and there was a silver charm bracelet. It had two charms attached to it. An oilrig and a heart.
"It's beautiful, I love it"
"Even when the rig has me, you have my heart. I want to add different ones when big stuff happens for us. Like when you marry me." He said and kissed my neck. "And when we have babies" He said and kissed me again.
"You are too perfect, you know that. I can't wait for all those things" I said and I wrapped my arms around him. "I have a gift for you too. But I'm nervous to give it to you." My gift seemed almost cheesy compared to this.
"Nervous? Why?" Jase laughed.
I scooted off the bed and walked over to my overnight bag in the corner. I grabbed the small gift bag and went back to the bed. My stomach was doing flip flops. Jase gave me that crooked smile that melted my heart.
He opened the bag and pulled out the small photo album.
"It's a boudoir album." I said with my face in my hands. "It's something to keep you company when I can't be there" I couldn't look up. I was embarrassed. I should have just stuck it in his bag before he left for work like I initially planned. The first picture in the album was me standing next to a sheer curtain. I was wearing a black lacy bra and matching panties with my black cowboy boots. The photography studio did a really good job with hair and makeup so I was happy with the pictures.
"Holy Shit" was the first thing Jase said when he opened the album. He didn't look up at me once. He just flipped through the pages slowly.
"You're so fucking beautiful." He said but didn't lift his eyes. "Damn" I got the feeling I did ok.
"So you like it?" I asked nervously. Jase put the book down and scooted closer to me.
/>
"I love it" He said "The only problem is that little book there is gonna give me a permanent hard on at work."
"Well if you have that problem now, I can take care of it for you." I whispered in his ear as I put my hand down the front of his boxer briefs.
"Baby, I have that problem every time I'm near you." Jase said as he kissed me.
I let him kiss me for a second before I broke away from him and started to nibble on his neck. I kissed my way down his chest and traced my tongue around that delicious tattoo on his side. I continued to kiss down the trail of hair from his belly button below the seam of his boxers. I grabbed his underwear and pulled them down as I looked up at him. The look on his face made me need to squeeze my legs together. He was staring at me with hooded eyes and this time he was biting his bottom lip. Holy Shit, that was sexy. I ran my tongue from the bottom of his cock to the tip as I stared into his eyes.
"Fuck baby, so sexy" He hissed through his teeth.
I wanted to please him. I wanted to do this for him. But the truth was it was turning me on just as much. I could do this all night. And that was my intention.
Chapter 13
The next day we pulled up to my house for Christmas Dinner. I had been staring at my ring the whole ride over.
"I'm glad you like it" Jase said and kissed me on the head.
"I love it"
"Good, because that's some scary shit trying to pick out the perfect ring"
"Well you did good baby" I said as we sat in the driveway. I saw both Joe and Moon's trucks in driveway.
We walked to the door and both stopped to listen. There was laughing inside. That was a good sign. When I opened the front door Sam looked my way and jumped off the couch.
"Let me see! Let me see!" She squealed and grabbed my hand.
"You knew?" I asked. Sneaky little witch!
"Of course I knew!" She exclaimed as she held my hand up "How do you think it fit so perfect? It's beautiful! You did good buddy" She said and gave Jase a nod.
The room was filled with Congratulations and introductions.
"So this is the one huh Lainey?" Joe asked.
"It is." I beamed. "Joe, this is Jase"
"You take care of that girl" Joe told Jase as he shook his hand.
"Yes sir" Jase said with a little nod and then squeezed my waist.
Joe introduced us to Vickie. She was petite with long brown hair. And she kept staring at Joe with total admiration.
"She's cute" I whispered to Joe.
"I think I'll keep her" Joe whispered back with a wink. I was happy for him. He deserved someone who would be good to him. Sam was friendly to her, which was a little surprising. Until Sam looked at me and told me she approved. She didn't speak, it was a conversation we had with our eyes. Silent conversations come with the territory when you've been best friends for 15 years. Moon and Joe seemed to be getting along too. Moon was on his best behavior, I didn't hear the F bomb out of his mouth one time. That was a first. Sam, on the other hand, had no filter. But I think it might have worried Joe if she did.
January
Another hitch came and went, Jase was back in my arms where he belonged. The wedding plans were coming along and so was the house. We had so much fun picking color schemes and a floor plan. Well, I had fun anyway, Jase mainly agreed. The wedding date was set for the end of March. It was going to be an intimate outdoor ceremony. I didn't want anything extravagant. That just wasn't us. We wanted simple. It was about us starting our lives together, not putting on a show.
It was Saturday afternoon and we had just finished lunch. I loved Saturdays when Jase was home. No schedule to keep, just spending time together. It was the best. I was picking up the kitchen and Jase ran out to grab his muddy boots from his truck bed before the rain started. As soon as the front door shut I heard his phone ring. It was sitting on the bar. I walked over to it.
"Jay" scrolled across the screen. Without thinking, I picked it up. That's not entirely true actually. I had been thinking about it for weeks. I wanted to fix this. I wanted Jase to have his dad back. I would never have mine, but knowing Jase could was the next best thing. So I answered.
"Hello" I said quietly.
"Uhhh..." There was a pause. "Um… I'm looking for Jason. Is this the right number?" Jason. That's why he never went by his full name.
The man sounded surprised and worried at the same time.
"Um, yeah, this is Jase' number." I said
Jase walked back into the house and looked at me.
"Who is that?" He mouthed.
"It's Jay" I whispered. "Hold on one second" I said into the phone.
Jase took the phone out of my hand, ended the call and threw the phone on the couch. He stared at me for a second, his jaw was flinching. He was pissed. Then he walked out the front door and slammed it. I followed right after him.
"Jase wait" I said as I walked behind him.
He didn't stop walking until he got to his truck. But he didn't turn around, he kept his back to me.
"You need to talk to him Jase, at least once." Jase spun around and met my eyes.
"No Lainey, I don't" He said in a stern voice.
"Maybe he's different" I said.
"Damn it Lainey!" He screamed. "I don't care! I've told you over and over again that I don't want a fucking thing to do with him. Why would you answer the phone?"
"I was just trying to help" I said trying to keep my voice even.
"I don't want your help!" He yelled. He had never been this angry with me before. It worried me, but I wasn't giving up.
"Jase, at least he's still here!" My voice was getting louder. My emotions were getting the best of me. "You still have a chance to maybe have a relationship with him, that's more than I'll ever get. You should at least try!"
"It's not the same! You don't understand!" He said as he ran his hands through his hair. They were shaking. I didn't want this conversation to go this way.
"Jase please" I said and walked over to him and started to put my arms around him.
"Go home Lainey" Jase said as he backed up.
"What?" I whispered, my voice shaking.
"I said go home" He said calmly and walked back to the house.
I stood there, in shock and watched him walked through the front door without even looking back. I walked over to my car and got in. My entire body was shaking. I grabbed the keys out of my floor board and started my car. I tried to keep my tears at bay until I pulled out of the driveway but it didn't work. Out of the corner of my eye, I thought I saw Moon standing on his front porch. But I didn't look back. I couldn't. As I drove down that dirt road, my mind was racing out of control. I had never seen Jase look at me that way. He had never turned his back on me. I stared at my ring as I gripped the steering wheel. Were we over? Did I go too far? I only wanted to help. All of my questions were spinning in my mind. I felt the nausea hit me and I pulled the car over before it was too late. I emptied the contents in my stomach and fell to my knees. I cried uncontrollably. I couldn't get up. I couldn't move at all. The rain started to fall but I just stayed there. Broken. I don't know how long I sat there, crouched down, in the freezing rain. But my body was numb. The only thing I could feel was my heart breaking. Shattering. Please God don't let it be over.
I heard a car coming closer through the sound of the rain. But I didn't look up.
"Lainey!" I heard in the distance. I didn't respond.
"Lainey." It was Sam coming towards me. "Lainey? Are you ok?" She asked and stooped down beside me. I couldn't speak. I just looked over at her. I couldn't see clearly, my eyes were stinging from my tears.
"Come on" She said as she put her arm around my waist and lifted me to my feet. "Let's get you to the car" My feet were moving. I don't know how, but they were. She opened the passenger side door of her car and guided me inside. She closed the door and ran over to the driver’s side. She closed the door behind her.
"Son of a bitch! It's freezing" She said through her chattering tee
th.
"Lainey? Are you hurt?" She asked. I just shook my head. I was shaking.
"What happened?" She asked.
"I think it's over" It was the only thing I was thinking, it was the only thing I could say.
"You have to tell me what's going on. What happened?" Sam asked again.
I couldn't explain it yet. I didn't have the strength. It was too hard to put into words.
"How did you find me?" I asked.
"Moon called me. He heard y'all arguing and saw you leave. He told me to watch for you because you seemed pretty upset. I timed the drive, you didn't show, so I came to find you." Sam would always be there for me. Even if she was the only one. I broke down again and sobbed the whole way home.
Once I got home, I changed into dry clothes and climbed into bed. I wanted to call Jase. But I couldn't. He sent me away. He didn't even look back. I felt like throwing up again.
"You ok?" Sam asked as she peeked her head in the door.
"Yeah" I whispered.
"Do you want to talk about it?"
"Later ok." I pleaded.
"Ok" She said and shut the door. I didn't want to shut her out but I couldn't talk about it. Not yet. I didn't want to start crying again. I fucking hated to cry. And I knew I would. I grabbed my phone out of my other pants and stared at his picture. I stared until my eyes became heavy and I drifted off to sleep.
"Momma!" I screamed. "Momma!"
I was running through a field. My legs were so tired. They were so heavy. But I tried to keep running. I needed to find her.
"Lainey" I heard a whisper in the distance.
"Mom!!" I kept screaming for her. I scanned my eyes in all different directions trying to find where her voice was coming from. I couldn't find her. My heart was pounding. I couldn't catch my breath. My legs were getting heavier with every step. And then I fell to my knees.
"Where are you?" I cried as I stared down at the ground.
"Lainey" I heard her quiet voice again. I looked up. A headstone was sitting directly in front of me. I couldn't look at it, so I squeezed my eyes shut.
"No momma" I cried. "Please, no. I need you mom. I need you here."
