A Life More Complete(53)

“I think I just want to be well acquainted with you. Please,” I beg. “Sleep in my bed. Stay forever.” I can hear myself but for some reason this tequila-induced stupor has made me far bolder than I would have ever been sober. He grabs me from the car by my wrist and drags me up the stairs. I fumble for my keys as he grabs my purse and locates what I can’t find. Everything is a little blurry. He picks me up and carries me to my bedroom. He delicately puts me down on the bed and looms over me with those eyes, that smile, that beautiful face and messy hair. I look up at him with my drunken smile and half closed eyes.

“Please,” I request one last time.

“I’ll do anything for you,” he whispers as he kisses me. “But I need you to do one thing for me.” His voice has turned even quieter now.

“Anything,” I mumble.

“Marry me,” he says and my heart stops.





---Chapter 15---





When I roll over the next morning with a killer headache and gritty eyes, my answer is still the same. Yes. I’ve wanted nothing more than to marry Tyler since I was fifteen. I decide to finally give into years of want. Some may say I settled, chose the option that was the easiest, the safest and maybe I did. Or they may say I rushed it, that I gave absolutely no time to get over my breakup with Ben. But for once in my life I’m not going dwell on it and obsess over it. All I know is that I’ve wanted Tyler for so many years and this is the answer. None of it matters now, not the cheating, his first marriage, our arguments or even the fact we are adults now and I know so little about his life. I love our past, it’s what binds us, but I also love our present and eventually I will grow to love our future.

Tyler arrives home a few minutes after I wake with the hangover from hell. I should have seen it coming, but whatever. Dear Tequila, I hate you. He kneels next to the bed and pulls the most beautiful ring I have ever seen from his pocket. It’s a stunning emerald cut halo ring set in platinum and the diamond itself is so large it looks like a Jolly Rancher. It’s almost obscene. He slips the ring on my finger and smiles at me.

“Is your answer still the same?” he asks.

“Yes. How about you? Any second thoughts with the rising sun?”

“Nope, but just to clarify, I wasn’t the one who was drunk and giddy last night. I knew my answer wouldn’t change.” I giggle at him and he kisses my nose. “Let’s have some breakfast. I got muffins and coffee.”

“Okay, but I don’t drink coffee,” I say slightly annoyed that he doesn’t recall my severe dislike of coffee.

“Really? What do you drink then?”

“Usually just water, sometimes chocolate milkshakes.”

“You still drink chocolate milkshakes in the morning? I always found that habit disgusting,” he says grabbing his coffee from the counter. He hands me a muffin as he walks out on to the balcony. I roll my eyes and take the muffin. I fill a glass with water and join him.

Just as I’m taking my last bite of muffin Tyler pulls a joint out of the pocket on the front of his shirt. He asks if I want to celebrate and I tell him I don’t smoke weed anymore.

“Seriously?”

“Yep, seriously. I’m twenty-eight years old. I gave it up after college. I now find the habit disgusting,” I say quoting his words back to him. He glares at me slightly.

“I’m going to let you be crabby, because I know you’re hungover. I’m sorry I said your chocolate milkshake habit was disgusting.” He tucks the joint back in his pocket. He grabs my wrist and pulls me onto his lap. “I know this is still new, but we’ll get there. I love you and I want to make you happy. Whatever it is you want from me, I’ll do it.”

I push his hair out of his eyes and lean down to kiss him. “I love you, too. Sorry I’m crabby. Judging by the way I feel right now I might consider smoking with you. Maybe it’ll take away this nausea wave that won’t stop. I feel like I might chuck.” He laughs at me. “What time does your flight leave?”

“I think seven, but I’ll have to check. Do you want me to come here when I get back on Monday?”

“I thought I made that clear last night. My speech might have been slurred but I think you heard me.” I mock myself asking him to move in with me, slurring my words intentionally.

“Just checking.”

I grab him a key to the house and my extra garage door opener. I can’t help but think about where he will stay while he’s in Chicago. Will he stay with her? It is still his home. Will he sleep in the same bed as her? Will he stay in a guest room or at his parents’ house? A hotel?