“As long as you love me always.” Sarah says through tears. I kiss her cheeks and taste her salty tears.
“Always.” I start to get undressed but someone is knocking on the door.
“Dad, are you coming out? Ella’s out here with us.” Bennett yells through the door. We both laugh.
“We’ll be right out.” I respond to Bennett and I look at Sarah, “Seriously, we should sell the three kids so we can have sex.” Sarah laughs as I help her up off the bed.
“I love you, but we are not selling our kids. We better get out there.” We search for something comfortable to wear.
“Should we talk to them about the house?” I ask with a tone of uncertainty.
“I think we should. We need to figure things out. Are we going to marry and live separately?” Sarah laughs and kisses me. We throw on our pajamas and look bad at the messed up bed knowing that I was thisclose to being inside Sarah again. “Damn cockblockers” Sarah and I say together before opening the door.
“Hey guys.” Sarah says as she puts her hair up into a bun. “Where is my little princess?” Ella is laying there asleep all covered up. “Man, I wanted to give her kisses but I’m not going to wake her but I want my cell phone back.”
“Here. I’m glad that I stole it from you.” My mother winks at me.
“Thank you for taking it. I like the no cell phones on date nights but I hated not being able to call to check up on the kids. Where is Max, Reagan, and Jonathan?” I look around and I don’t see them. I didn’t notice any car missing.
“They went to the movies. We had so much fun. These kids and their questions.” My mother laughs as Jana blushes.
“Your mom is pretty funny but I don’t think your dad likes us.” Jana leans forward to whisper the comment about my dad.
“He doesn’t like kids.” I say as I sit down at the table.
“We need to talk to you kids.” Jensen says as he sits down in the empty chair next to my mom. My mom starts to stand up and Jensen told her to sit down. “You can stay, we have nothing to hide. Your opinion might be valuable.” I look to Sarah and she smiles at me. “Okay as you know Sarah and I are getting engaged and had a baby.” Sarah laughs. I’m a nervous wreck trying to explain this. Elizabeth grabs my hand to steady my nerves.
“Breathe then relax.” I nod. I take a deep breath.
“There is a family decision that needs to be made. Sarah would like to move to a new house and start fresh. I want her to move in with us because it’s the house where you had a lot of your firsts. What do you think? You will not hurt anyone’s feelings with your answer. We are at a crossroads but we didn’t want to make the final choice until we talked to you.” I look between my two kids who put their heads together. One of the things I love about my kids is they talk to each other and make decisions together. They have a bond that I wish I had growing up; being an only child has its downfalls.
“Okay we have reached the decision.” Bennett says, “We agree with Sarah.” Sarah smiles big but I let out a frustrated sigh.
“Why?” I ask and my tone is an angry one and I try to apologize but the kids stop me.
“Daddy, we love the house we live in now but we want a change. Mom left us there in that house. You were depressed most of our lives. We heard the crying. So, we start fresh in a new house because we are a new family.” Jana cries. I get up and get on my knees.
“I never meant for you to see or hear that. Okay so we will start looking for houses. Sarah, can we schedule them for the afternoon so the kids can go with us?”
“I would like that and we need to talk about finishing your house to get ready to sell.”
“Slow down okay.” I say to Sarah and she nods.
I breathe. “I’m going to take a quick jog around the block. I’ll be back in a few minutes.” I stand up kiss my three kids. I squeeze Elizabeth’s shoulder and walk out the door. I hear a sniffle come from Sarah.
“Sar,” I stop myself to see my kids comforting Sarah while I’m being an ass. I walk back in and bend down to be eye level. “Come with me.” I move all three to the living room but Ella starts to fuss.
“I’ll take her to the room. You fix this situation.” Elizabeth motions to Sarah and the two kids.
“I need to explain something to all of you.” I take in a deep breath and let it out slowly. “I went from living with my parents, to living with Michelle, her leaving me and doing everything in my power to keep us going when I wanted to sink. I poured a lot of love into that house and to see your excitement about designing it to sell was like a knife to my heart.”
“But Jensen,” Sarah starts to speak but I hold my hand up and she leans back into the recliner she is sharing with Bennett and Jana is on the arm rest.
“I am sorry for walking out again and not talking. I hope to not keep doing it.” Sarah smiles at me. “Now as far as selling the house, let’s do it. My mom is going to let us stay there until we find a new place to live. We can start packing up the house on my days off and weekends plus you can do your design thing you do to make it sell.” I see my kids smile big and knock me off the ottoman that I’ve been sitting on since I started talking with them. “Sarah, there is a place in the office, that I want you to save and we paste it on your grandmother’s pantry door. So, our kids will all have the measurements in the same place. I can bring that with me and I’ll be happy. Now, am I forgiven?”
“Yes!” Sarah piles on top of us and we all laugh. I hear the door close and look up to see Max, Reagan, and Jonathan looking at me funny. “Oh, I’m moving and getting married!” Reagan squeals and Sarah struggles to get up while stepping on my cock. I groan out in pain but it seems to be less important. Sarah and Reagan are jumping up and down looking at the ring.
“Let’s go.” Reagan pulls Sarah out of the house.
“Where are they going?” Max tosses me a bag of frozen corn.
“Probably to go tell Abby and then go tell Nicarra.” Max sighs as he flips on a hockey game. I crash onto the couch as the three kids took off to the game room.
I open my mouth to speak but close it quickly. “Word of advice with those four women, don’t ask. It’s better to hand over the credit card and let them do their girl things. When Sarah and Abby use to get high pitched squealing, I would call my friends, my straight friends because Rob and Aaron always came to visit the girls, and go to the sports bar until closing then go home to bed with my earbuds in so the laughing and squealing would go away.”
“Sarah, you’ve known her forever, is there anything I need to know?” Max lets out a loud laugh that gets Elizabeth out of the room with Ella. “Mrs. Edwards, Jensen is now asking me for advice on Sarah.” They both laugh so hard that Elizabeth hands me Ella.
“Woo boy, I haven’t laughed that hard in a long time. Here are two things you need to know about Sarah. She will love you hard but you do anything to hurt that beautiful heart of hers, she’s gone. No questions ask. I’m living proof of that. Second if you want to be with her, then be all in don’t half ass it. Love her with everything you have.” I look down to Ella who is staring up at me. “Well now that you are home, I’m heading home too. I sent Mr. Edwards home earlier. Max, will you be a dear and drive me home?” Max nods and gets up from the recliner.
“You’re leaving?”
“I’ll come by tomorrow to help Sarah pack so she can move in with your family. I’ve talked to your mom and we are going to coordinate our schedules so we can rotate being with Ella especially when Sarah goes back to work.”
“I’ll see you tomorrow. Kids, Mrs. Edwards is leaving!” I yell to the kids in the game room. They all coming running out and hugging her. She is all smiles with the kids.
“Good night everyone. Let’s go Max.”
I fix Ella a bottle and head into the bedroom. I sit down in the rocking chair and feed Ella. I burp her, change her, and rock her while she gets fussy trying to fight sleep.
“Oh, my god. I want to know every detail. I can’t believe he d
idn’t tell me.” Reagan is jumping in her seat. We sent Abby a text to meet us at Nic’s Bar that we have major gossip that needs to be told right away. Abby was on her way and Nicarra was already there.
“Oh shit! I’m in my pajamas.” I laugh. We left in such a hurry that I didn’t even realize. I’m wearing a black tank top, my Pittsburgh Penguins boxers, flip flops, and my hair in a messy bun. “Hey no shirt, no shoes, no service. You are kinda covered. Damn I never realized how big your boobs were.” Reagan starts to look over at me as I drive so I swat her away.
I pull my car into the back-parking lot so we can go through the back. The kitchen staff starts to pop their heads up and smirk at me.
“Get those eyes back in your heads or my boot is going up your asshole.” Reagan shows them that she is wearing her hooker heels that are up to her knee, with a five or six-inch heel. I chuckle when I see all of them lean their heads to the side to see what’s she’s wearing and they quickly turn their backs to us.
“Would you stop fuckin around with my staff?” Nicarra pulls us out of the kitchen. “Get back to work or I will send her back in here.” Reagan stands there with her hands on her hips. “Hey, if it, works, keep using it. I might need you to go back there a few times here and there when you come in. What was the major gossip that snorey over there had to be here for?” Nicarra is pointing to Abby who is leaning on Shawn, drooling on him. I laugh and go to wake her up.
“Abby, oh my god is that Donnie Wahlberg?” I say in her ear excited. She pops up wiping the drool off and fixing her hair looking around saying where. “I lied. I needed you awake. Nicarra can the four of us use your office?” Nicarra shakes her head and points to the table that we first sat at when we met Reagan. Nicarra gives Shawn a smile as she walks past him.
“Okay on the one night that I can sleep that my husband is home to take care of a teething child.” Abby whines on the way to the table.
“I promise this is worth getting dragged here. I mean look at me, no make-up and in my pajamas. Does that tell you how serious this is?” Abby nods. We all sit there and Reagan tries to act like she doesn’t know a thing, I need to remind myself not to play poker with her.
I take a deep breath in and with my left hand I bring it up to pinch the bridge of my nose like I’m going to cry. I hear one gasp from my left which is Nicarra; I wink at her waiting for Abby to catch on.
“Am I missing something here?” Abby asks as I try to think of another way to show my ring to her. “Shut up! No way!” Abby yells with excitement. “Are you?” “Is she?” Abby looks to Reagan and me for an answer and I laugh while I nod.
“Jensen asked me tonight after we danced in the rain.” I have this big smile on my face. “It was like the perfect night.”
“Hang on.” Nicarra turns in her to yell at Shawn, “Four champagnes with a strawberry in them.”
“I shouldn’t drink.” I say but Reagan asks me for my keys so if I feel weird then it’s covered. I slide them over to her.
“Thanks, Shawnikins.” Reagan winks at him and Nicarra kicks her under the table. Shawn leans down to whisper something into her ear which makes her blush. We all know they are together. I don’t know why they don’t tell everyone. “Back to the story.” Reagan pounds the table.
“You don’t know?” Abby asks with a smile on her face.
“I didn’t tell anyone the story. I saw Max walk into the apartment and blurted it. Reagan called this meeting so I can tell my girls together. Anyway, Jensen takes me to this amazing restaurant and we end up having an enjoyable time until he pulls out this list of questions that his grandmother and Jana worked up. The one fight we’ve been having is where we were going to live. I want to buy a new place, and he wants me to move into his house.” The girls know all of this because I’ve been very vocal about it. “Well one of the questions was where are we going to live. So, it started a slight argument then it went silent. I asked for another question which was about marriage. I made the smartass comment of him pulling his head out of his ass so that started a fight. I went outside for some air and it was raining. I love the rain so I let the sound of the rain bouncing calm me. He comes out, we argue and I start walking across the parking lot.” I see that I am boring my girls because Nicarra gives me the finger swirl of hurry up. “Any way we danced, kissed, and he got down on one knee. The kids are excited and we asked for a vote on the house thing and the kids want to move. Jensen finally agreed to it so we start house hunting next week.” I hold out my left hand to everyone so they can admire this beauty. We all start talking about wedding plans, bachelorette plans, and bridal shower.
“Last Call!” Shawn yells as he rings the bell.
“We’ve been here for three hours?” Abby says with laugh.
“That’s what happens when the four of us get together.” Nicarra says as she grabs the champagne glasses.
“Okay tomorrow Jensen will be with the kids meeting up with Michelle for lunch, why don’t we go to the hotel and meet with Sally?” I mention. “I can get some ideas and I can let my mom, Jensen’s mom and grandmother to join us too.”
“Is that wise?” Abby asks and I nod.
“Mom was really good with the kids tonight. She even allows them to call her granny. You know me, despite everything with my parents; I want her involved in this since I can’t have my gram here.” I wipe a tear. “Text me when you get home. Okay, love you bye.” “I’m so happy and I better be matron of honor.”
“Wouldn’t have it any other way.” I kiss Abby on the cheek as she walks out the front door.
“She does know to park out back?” I ask Reagan and she shrugs.
“Want to have some fun?” Nicarra points to the kitchen. Reagan nods. “Heads up boys, Reagan coming in.” The staff all turn their backs to us again. Reagan walks over to them and puts her arms around their shoulders. “Have a good night boys. I’ll see soon.”
Nicarra laughs as they groan. “Go on get out of here. The kitchen looks good. I love messing with them. I’ll see you two tomorrow. Congrats Sarah. Don’t forget Sunday!” Nicarra points to Reagan.
“I won’t.” We walk out to the car and Reagan is driving because she won’t give me my keys back. “Nicarra and I are taking her kids and Jonathan to the movies. We’ve been working so much that they haven’t spent a lot of time together.”
“And with me having the baby, it makes it hard for them to come over.”
“No, Nicarra’s ex has been spotted around town and he is not a nice guy. The kids are with an old friend of Shawn’s from the military and stay at Joan’s house since its big enough.”
“I didn’t know about that.” Reagan and I talk about Nicarra’s ex a little bit as we head home. We walk into the apartment to see the three kids crashed out on the couches. Max comes out of the bedroom wearing just his boxers.
“Seriously? That is nasty.” I laugh.
“Go away, I want my fiancé.” Max and I mess with each other for a couple of minutes before hugging and going to bed. I walk into my bedroom to see Jensen laying on the bed fast asleep with my pillows where I lay and I see some eyes peaking up at me. I pick her up, “well hello sweet girl. Did you have a good night with daddy?” Ella stares at me. “Oh Ella, I can’t wait for you to meet your prince charming. I always dreamed of this but never thought I would have it. Your daddy came into my life and I never want him out of it.” I move the pillows so they are propped up and I sit down on the bed with my knees up and Ella laying on them. “I missed you my sweet girl.”
“Her daddy missed you.” Jensen mumbles are he lays his head close to my hip. “How did the girls take the news?”
“They are all excited and we are having lunch tomorrow so we can start planning the wedding.”
“We haven’t told my family yet.” Jensen sits up.
“Calm down. I sent your mom a text to meet me for breakfast at the hotel with Gram Gram, and your dad. We, meaning, the five of us are going to tell them together before your meeting with Michelle and t
he kids.” Jensen rolls his eyes.
“What if I want to help plan the wedding?”
“Oh, you will but I have all final say.” “Hell no.” Jensen laughs.
“But daddy, I thought happy wife, happy life.” I hold Ella up to talk behind her. Jensen laughs.
“I’m so fucked.”
“Language.” I scold him with a smile on my face.
“Her first word is going to be Fuck. We both say it too much.”
“Oh fuck.” I say and hurry to clamp my mouth shut. Jensen and I laugh but start shushing each other.
“What time are we meeting for breakfast?”
“I told them about nine so that gives us some sleep. I text my mom about meeting me for lunch at the hotel too.” “Oh, your mom and my mom talked tonight.”
“Say what?” Jensen retells me what my mom said about helping me move out now and into his parents’ house. I’m in shock by this. Ella is laying in my arms sound asleep so I get up to put her in the bassinet next to me.
“Do we put the baby stuff in storage?” I look at it and it makes my heart sad.
“We can take the bassinet that she’s been sleeping in with us since that is special to you. We can store them at my house or see if we can leave them here. Who knows how fast we will find a place?” I nod as I climb back into the arms of my future husband.
“When do you want to get married?”
“Tomorrow.”
“I wish it could be that easy. I would love to get married in the rain.”
“What is your obsession with the rain?” I laugh.
“You don’t watch a lot of chick flicks, do you?” Jensen shakes his head, “All of the best scenes of love are in the rain, like the Notebook, Sweet Home Alabama. I always wanted to dance in the rain, have a man profess his love to me, get engaged in the rain or even get married in the rain which I know is hard to do. It’s silly, never mind.”
“When you tell it like that, I love that idea but maybe Sally can rig something up.” Jensen shrugs and I kiss him. I didn’t even think of that. I make sure the bedroom door is closed and head back to bed to have a high school make out session with Jensen.
As Long As You Love Me (Love Me Series Book 4) Page 24