Authors: Ashley Johnson
“She was beautiful Luke.” I felt tears well up in my eyes but I held them back. I probably shouldn’t have said anything but the picture was right there. He saw it and I saw it.
“Yeah, she was.” He got quiet for a minute as he stared at the photo. “Not a day goes by that I don’t miss her or our child. I hated my life so much after I lost them. I didn’t think I could go on but I stuck with it and I met you. That’s the best thing that’s happened to me. Meeting you. You saved me Macy.”
I
halfheartedly smiled at him feeling his pain. I didn’t mean to dig up anything with my comment and I hoped he wouldn’t be upset with me later. We walked past the photo continuing to take in everything in the house. A microfiber sofa and love seat were arranged with a recliner in the middle. Their sofa sure looked a lot more comfortable than the couch Halley and I had at our apartment.
Speaking of Halley, I realized I still hadn’t talked to her. I haven’t touched my phone since we got here and I had no intentions of touching it anytime soon.
Luke laced our fingers together and led me down the hall to a room on the right side. He turned the knob and led us inside. There were rock band posters everywhere and a few swimsuit model ones. I rolled my eyes and laughed. Of course he was the typical guy with swimsuit models on his wall. I really expected nothing less. On his nightstand was a picture of him as a young kid. He was even handsome back then. I let out a small laugh wondering if he got the most valentines in his class back in elementary school. I bet the little girls in California were absolutely googly-eyed over Luke. I set my bag down and started glancing around some more. My eyes found another picture of young Luke and I began smiling. His parents seemed absolutely perfect and it seems he’s had a very fortunate life so far. I was so glad I met him and suddenly I wondered what it would be like to marry him and actually get to have all this happiness. Whoa. Slow down Mace. We’re not talking marriage yet, no way. I tossed the thought away as I felt his arms wrap around my waist and his lips moving gently up my neck.
I turned and met his lips wrapping my arms around his neck. He slowly moved me towards his bed, lowering me until I was lying down and he was hovering over me.
“I love you Macy. I mean that with every fiber in my being. I mean what I said a minute ago too.”
“I love you too
Luke. Always.”
He
crushed his lips against mine and the world froze for those few seconds. This was a rush. We were in his parents’ home about to possibly have sex and I was nervous as hell. What if they came home and saw us? I felt like a teenager for a brief moment and I felt ridiculous.
I pushed that thought away and kept kissing him. My back was arching to meet him. He raised my shirt
and removed it, then unclasped my bikini top with a flick of the wrist. Within seconds he was teasing my breasts and driving me absolutely wild.
I fumbled with his shor
ts until I was able to move them some, then he finished taking them off. I tried to touch him but before I could he had already removed my bikini bottom and slipped inside and I lost any nerves that lingered before.
Chapter 5
After our quickie in his room, he showed me where the bathroom was and I showered. It felt nice to wash the salty water and sticky sand off my body. Luke went in after me just to be safe in case his parents came home. We’d already had sex and thank God they hadn’t come home to that. The last thing I wanted was for them to find their son in the shower with his girlfriend. I do have respect. I had changed into my new outfit and my hair was dry and fixed when Randy and Sherry came home.
We all sat and talked for a while in the living room.
Luke kept his arm around me and I snuggled against his chest. I looked up to where the picture of Luke and Juliann had hung, but it was gone now. I wanted to tell Sherry or Luke that they could leave it up. I wasn’t sure who had taken it down or when they had but it didn’t bother me at all. That was his past and he loved her. There were no feelings of jealousy or anything. How childish would that be? I’m a little more mature than that. I said nothing though for fear of dredging up anything unwanted. While we were sitting, Sherry broke out the baby pictures of Luke. He was the most adorable baby with his rosy red cheeks. I couldn’t stop smiling the more I looked at them. The more I looked at them, the more I thought about Luke and I having kids. Ugh, here I go again jumping the gun and getting overly excited. Sherry found a picture of her just a few weeks away from giving birth to Luke and showed it to me bragging that she barely looked pregnant. She looked amazing in the photo for being almost due. Most pictures of women that far along that I’ve seen look like whales but she was so elegant looking.
Suddenly
all the feelings of happily ever after faded and I felt like I was going to cry. Looking at that picture only reminded me that I should be getting ready to give birth soon to my baby girl, but I wasn’t going to be. I felt the hot tears spring up behind my eyes as I brought my hand to rest on my stomach that should be protruding with life. Determined not to break down in front of Luke or his parents, I excused myself to the bathroom. I could hear them laughing and talking carrying on their own little conversations. I even heard his mom say she really liked me. Besides my Uncle Gary and Halley, I don’t think I’ve ever felt welcomed. They knew nothing about me and yet they liked me. I can’t believe I almost broke down and let something so small affect me.
I stood looking at my reflection in the mirror and I splashed some cold water on my face.
I blotted it dry with a towel as I prepared to go back into the living room. There was a soft knock on the other side of the door and I heard Luke’s voice.
I put on a smile and opened the door.
He kissed my forehead. “Hey babe, you ok? Did something upset you?”
Smiling the best fake smile I could, I replied, “No baby I’m fine. I promise.”
“If the baby photos upset you, I will understand I promise. They are upsetting for me too. I know what you’re going through.”
This is why I loved this man so much. He understood
everything; we were alike in more than one way. I didn’t want to tell him it upset me though, I mean it’s not his parents fault. “I’m ok I promise. It started to bother me but I’m good.”
I grabbed his hand and we went back to join the conversation that had now switched to why they moved here, which he had told me earlier. Sherry asked me about my family and I explained to her that I live by my Uncle and help him run his bar. When she asked about my mother, I kept it short and sweet telling her that my mom lived a few minutes away from me but we weren’t that close. She didn’t pry or try to find out more than she needed to.
We talked for a while and when L
uke looked at the clock and saw it was almost six in the evening, I couldn’t believe it. I was upset that this day had gone so fast. It seemed like we just got here and soon our day would be over.
I’ve never met
anyone’s parents before. Trevor had been raised in foster homes so he had no one and I’d never dated before him. There was never a reason to let anyone in so my walls could be torn down. This was a first for me and it was one I didn’t mind at all. I’ve always heard how nerve wrecking it can be to meet the parents but well, when you have parents as wonderful as mine were, sometimes it’s pretty exciting to meet someone else’s.
Sherry and Randy asked if we had any plans tonight and Luke replied, “I was thinking I may take Macy up to Shells for a little.”
I wore a puzzled expression on my face before I realized he was talking about a bar. Sherry and Randy told us both to be careful and after another thirty minute conversation about whatever we could come up with, Luke and I retired to his room. I kept on the shorts and tank top we just bought but touched up my lip gloss and mascara. I loved little dive bars that didn’t require you to dress as if you were in Hollywood. Being comfortable was definitely on top of my list.
Everything was close proximity to his parent’s house,
so we walked to Shells. It had an outdoor patio where locals were outside drinking and there was music playing inside. This bar was even smaller than The Lounge but was cozy. We sat at the bar and ordered our drinks. I decided to change it up a little bit and drink something girlie and fruity. With an umbrella and everything. It was nice to switch it up and relax.
Four fruity drinks later I was feeling great and a decent beat came over the speakers. I slid off the bar stool gracefully and grabbed Luke’s hand pulling him to the small but packed dance floor.
He kissed my knuckles as he twirled me around like a princess. Once we settled in a spot, I began grinding my hips and he followed. Flashbacks of the first night we met crept into my head and I smiled letting myself get lost in the music.
Two songs later, I was very glad to be wearing shorts and a tank top because I was almost dripping with sweat. Gross. So much for trying to look decent. I made a fan motion with my hand to let Luke know I needed air. We walked by the bar where he ordered us each another drink and we made our way to the outside patio.
There were colorful lights strung from one post to another and at least six tables. All the tables were full but I didn’t care to sit. I just needed fresh air and space from all the sweaty bodies inside. I leaned against the railing around the patio breathing in the gulf air. You could practically taste the salt in it. Something about it was quite refreshing.
Luke pulled me closer to him and I rested my head on his arm as I sipped my drink. He waved to a few people that recognized him as they passed by. Once
our drinks were done Luke smiled at me pulling me just a little bit closer to him, “I love you more than anything in this world Macy.”
“I love you too Luke.”
There was that oh so adorable look in his eyes and I knew instantly he was up to something but I’m never good at figuring any of that out.
He leaned into my ear and whispered, “Marry me.”
My eyes jumped up to meet his while my heart tried to keep from pounding out my chest. Did I just hear him right? Oh holy mother of all that is good, please let me have heard him right!
“Wh-what?” I stammered.
“Marry me Macy. I don’t have a ring for you right now, I’m sorry. But I can’t see spending my life with anyone else and I don’t want to. You’re everything I want and everything I need. I don’t want to spend a single second without you in my life. There’s not a single minute I’m not thinking of you and shit, I’m rambling but I know what I want and I want you to make me the happiest man alive. Be my wife Mace.”
Boy oh boy, did that sound amazing.
I stared into his green eyes trying to find the words to say. Of course I couldn’t wait to say yes to him, but he couldn’t hear my thoughts. As a tear slid down my cheek I cupped his cheeks with my hands and crushed our mouths together. When we finally pulled apart, I couldn’t help but grin as I replied, “Ohmigod yes. Yes I’ll marry you.”
“Let’s get out of here and go home my future Mrs. Nolan.”
“That sounds amazing Mr. Nolan.”
Even though we were having fun inside, I just would rather be alone with him. That’s all I ever really wanted was time with him, especially after he just asked me to marry him. Gah, pinch me if I’m dreaming! No one pinched me so I know this is real. I love him so much and I’m floating up on cloud nine.
We made our way through the crowd that seemed to have multiplied in the very few minutes we’d been outside. Once our feet hit the sidewalk I groaned.
Luke paused and looked at me to see exactly why I was groaning. I didn’t want him to think I wanted to stay because I was ready to not be full of sweat. I was ready to cuddle up next to my future husband in bed and drift off to sleep. “What’s wrong babe, you ok?”
My lip pouted out and I began wh
ining. Like full on kid whining when you don’t get your way. “My feet hurt.”
I looked up at him with big puppy dog eyes and he began laughing. “Do you want me to carry you?”
Suddenly it was like déjà vu hit me. Memories from the zoo came flooding back where Trevor carried me. Why do these memories come up at the oddest times? I’ve been drinking, I know this, but that doesn’t mean I want Trevor to pop up. He’s nothing to me but an old memory. I shoved that memory far back as I could and smiled at the man who truly held my heart, the man I was now going to marry.
“Can you give me a piggy back ride?”
I asked as serious as I possibly could. The walk wasn’t far but I don’t think my feet could handle the walk. They felt mushy and I was exhausted.
He began laughing until he realized I was serious about the piggy back ride. His laugh faded to an incredibly sexy smile as he replied, “If that’s what my
fiancée wants, that’s what she will get.”
He knelt down enough for me to jump on his back and as I wrapped my arms around his neck, I kissed his head. He began the walk back home which didn’t take as long as it seemed for us to get to Shells.
When he called me his fiancée, I swear my heart melted a little more. This was seeming to be the most perfect best night of my life.
Randy and Sherry were sleeping so we tried our best to quietly sneak in. I was still on Luke’s back and I kept trying not to laugh every time we walked by something for fear he may knock me into something on accident. He walked me to the bathroom then gently set me down
on the seat of the toilet. Talk about romantic.