by Becca Taylor
Bentley places his hands on my shoulders, squeezing them. I work the numbers in my head, thankful for my financial background. "You're telling me the value of the property doubled? It sold for a hundred and twenty-five thousand dollars?"
"You're good. And, yes, it did. There was a second bid for a slightly higher amount, but this buyer offered cash and wanted a quick sale. Ms. Becket agreed with my decision on your behalf."
My lawyer has handled everything. I never saw this coming. Not in a million years. I can now pay off the laywer’s fees, my car, and Bentley and I will be able to pay for the completion of the house. My hands shake as I sign away my last ties to Mike.
Ms. Becket and I thank Elizabeth for her time. She packs up the signed papers, placing them in her briefcase. They both congratulate me and walk out the door.
I look up towards Bentley, who seems to be in the same state of shock as me. With a quiet and low voice, I ask, “Is it really over? We can finally move forward without him lingering in the background?”
Bentley pulls me into his arms. "Yes, Aly. It’s all over."
Kat chirps in. "Holy shit, Aly. Did you hear how much money you are getting? We are so going shopping! And a celebration is definitely in order! How about next weekend?" I think Kat is more excited about the money than I am!
"Baby?" Caleb's voice booms from behind the counter.
"Huh?" Kat says as she texts away on her phone, starting to make plans with no doubt Lexi and Jade.
"You want to give Aly a minute to let things settle before alerting the troops?"
She looks up at me and I smile.
"It's fine, Caleb. I think a celebration is just what we need. Plus, you guys are going to need a night to relax when I show you the new plans I have for the house.”
Bentley, Caleb and Hunter groan in unison. "Alright, boys. Let's get these ladies some lunch, and get back to work." Bentley orders, just before giving me a huge kiss. Suddenly, I am starving.
Alyssa
I GET READY TO meet Kat, Lexi and Jade for a girls’ day out. Tomorrow night, Bentley and I are having a party at the house. The girls said we need to look extra hot for my ‘Totally Free from Mike Celebration’. At least that’s the wordy title Kat chose to give it.
Before I head out, I check the mail. Inside is a letter addressed to me with the return address of Mike’s lawyer. I open it while sitting in the car, the handwriting instantly recognizable.
Mike.
For a moment, I am afraid to read it; I don’t want him back in my life. I inhale deeply.
Alyssa,
I probably shouldn’t be sending this, but my counselor suggested that it might help. Help you or me, I still haven’t figured that out. I cleared it with both your lawyers before actually having mine send it to you. After that day in court, I joined a program for anger management. It was part of the court order as you probably know, and it was the best decision made for me. That day at the restaurant, everything was a blur. In fact, my whole life was one big blackout. I was afraid to admit there was something wrong with me.
I don’t know when it happened, but somewhere we stopped saying I love you. After eleven years, we both stopped trying. My walls came up, and I treated you like you didn’t matter. When, in fact, you mattered more than I let on.
I regret everything: every time I raised my voice, every derogatory word I said. Now, I have to live with my actions. I know you moved on, and I want you to keep moving on. I want you to be happy with Bentley. You two are meant for each other. I saw it every time I was at your place. The way you two just clicked. You deserve every bit of happiness life brings to you.
I promise you won’t hear from me again. I’ve decided to head home to Michigan and figure out what will make me happy again too. Tell Bentley I’m sorry too. I know my word means shit to him and you have no reason to believe a word of it, but I just need it to be said.
Mike
Not wanting to hide anything from Bentley, I head back upstairs and show him the letter. He takes it like I expect him to.
“I’ll never forgive him for what he did to you, Aly. Don’t ask me to. It’s impossible. I know this letter means something to you, but I saw him say sorry to you dozens of times, only to do the same thing over and over.”
“I know, Bentley. I’m not asking you to forgive him. But I do, it’s who I am. I will forgive him, but I will never forget.”
As I drive to meet with my girls, I feel the last chain that had a hold on me break. A sense of calm washes over me, and I know what I want to do tomorrow at the party. I just need Kat and Lexi’s help.
We spend the earlier part of the day shopping for the perfect outfit with new shoes to match. At lunch, I tell the girls about the letter. I don’t give them every detail, just the important ones: he apologized, he’s moving and he’s sorry. When they keep prying for information, I don’t offer anything else. I just tell them it’s over and done, and tell them I wish not to talk about it anymore.
Lexi raises a glass to break the tension that has built from my admission. “Ladies, here’s to all of us finally getting our shit together. And here’s to the ‘Thank Fuck Mike is Moving and Out of Our Lives and We Are Totally Free of the Tool Celebration’ tomorrow! I, for one, am planning on getting my drink on!”
We clink glasses in agreement, laughing at Lexi’s newest title for tonight’s party.
Alyssa
AFTER A PRE-PARTY GLASS of wine and gossip filled hour, the girls and I are ready for the real fun to begin. My hair has been moussed, sprayed, and curled to perfection. My makeup looks like I stepped off the beach, thanks to tan in a bottle. It is my dress that I am beginning to doubt. I loved it as soon as I saw it on the rack. A strapless, peach dress with a draped front. The way it hugs my hips and butt make me feel sexy. I’m only doubting the length of it. It is already high up my thigh, but the slit makes it even more dangerous. This dress is cutting it seriously close to my lady parts.
“I don’t know if I should have picked something so short, ladies. If I drop something, it will have to stay on the floor. I am not going to pull a paparazzi-crotch-shot.”
Lexi laughs. “You won’t. Besides, if you drop something, just ask Bentley to pick it up. Then we all get to enjoy the magnificence that is his ass.”
“Get your own ass. Hunter’s is equally as nice.”
She instantly quiets to my good-humored reply. I pull her aside a short moment later. “Is something going on you want to talk about?”
“No, not now. Tonight is your night and we are going to celebrate. I’m fine. More than fine.”
The actual party is upstairs, but we get ready in my old apartment. Bentley and I chose not to rent it out until we have decided on what to keep or sell furniture-wise. Kat gets a text from Caleb wondering what’s taking us so long, and to say that Bentley is getting impatient.
We take the short walk up the steps and hear that the party has already started. The sliding glass door is open all the way and the music can be heard immediately. The boys are gathered around the counter, drinking and eating. Kat and Caleb took care of the food for us. There is a variety of finger food and snacks on the breakfast bar.
Bentley makes a beeline straight for me. He gives me a ‘hello’ kiss that makes me weak in the knees. Like he always does. “You look gorgeous.”
“Come on, girls. It’s shot time.” Lexi pulls a sheet of paper from her bra, recipes for three shots. She’s made it her job to contribute the alcohol for the evening, and does she ever. Everything is lined up on the island. The first round is Cupcake Shots: Frangelico and Absolut Citron. The second is Cinnamon Toast Crunches: Fireball Whisky and Rumchata. And the final round, in honor of the night, is the Fuck You Shot: Tequila, Jack, Wild Turkey, Goldschlager, rum and blueberry schnapps.
The girls have one of each shot, while the men stick to a shot of jack or tequila. As a follow up to the shots, Lexi makes a pitcher of what she named a Screw-You-Driver: orange juice with pineapple vodka. It’s dangerousl
y delicious.
The boys set up an acoustic show for the night, and it’s a perfect way to kick things off. The girls and I dance and sing along. During the little intermission, Bentley mixes himself a Jack and Coke. He hardly ever drinks anything more than a beer. I ask him if he’s okay.
He pulls me close between his legs. "I'm fine, Angel. It's just been a heck of a day."
I don’t question it further. My mind is probably thinking too much into things. Besides, my nerves are starting to get the best of me. All the alcohol I have consumed has done nothing to calm them. I decide to switch to water for the rest of the night so as not to risk making a complete fool of myself.
Kat nods in my direction, beginning her speech. "Tonight is a celebration. Aly has been through so much this past year. I’m so proud of my best friend and all she’s overcome. But, there was also something beautiful that came from all this. You see, while I was on a date with the love of my life…" she pauses, blowing a kiss to Caleb, "she didn't know it, but the man who would rock her world was there too. My boys here are going to back me up. Aly and Bentley, this one’s for you.”
Jeremy starts strumming The Story by Brandi Carlile.
I pull Bentley from the chair he is sitting on. “Dance with me, Bents.”
He closes the distance between our bodies. We sway to the music as Kat’s voice fills the room.
At the end of the song, I begin the words I’ve recited to myself a million times. "Bentley, the day you asked me if I wanted to rent your downstairs apartment was the day my life began. First, we became friends, but it’s developed into so much more than that. You are my protector, my lover…” Whistles and stomping surround us. "…and most of all my heart. You bring a peace to my life that I never had. And I want that every day with you. I know I'm breaking tradition, but Bentley will..."
Just as I am about to ask him a very important question, he drops down on one knee.
Through the silence, Kat’s voice rings loud and clear. "Oh my fucking God." With an exaggerated look of horror and a laugh, she says, "Carry on." She pretends to zip her lips as Caleb drags her into his arms.
My eyes return to Bentley. I already feel them clouding with happy tears.
"I guess it's my turn. I'm not letting you steal my thunder, Angel. I had a whole romantic moment set up at the new house, but I guess here will have to do. Take what you just said, multiply it by a million, and it's still not enough to explain how I feel about you. Aly, you are my sunrise, sunset, moon, sky and stars, my everything.” With his one hand on mine, he rubs the other over his heart. "Du bist mein, ich bin dein. You are mine, I am yours. Marry me Alyssa. Let's make this forever."
He pulls a ring from his pocket, and I immediately respond. "Yes, Bentley."
Standing, he places the ring on my finger before dipping me in a hot kiss. Everyone in the room cheers. Lexi approaches giving us a huge hug. With a grin, she lovingly smirks, “First Kat and Caleb, then Dani and Logan, now you two?”
I get a hug from each of the girls and Bentley gets a round of fist bumps. Caleb comes up to Bentley, "Congratulations, you two. Get out of here. We got the clean-up covered."
"You sure, man?"
"Go enjoy your fiancée." Caleb kisses my cheek.
I like the sound of that. Fiancée. “Where are we going?
Bentley leads me down the stairs to the jeep. He opens the door. “To the house.”
A short time later, we pull into the driveway of our home. Bentley has kept me away for a week, and I can't believe how much the boys have accomplished. The outside is painted in the light yellow that we picked out. The white trim work makes the color pop. But my favorite part is the terra cotta Spanish tile roof. I can't wait to see it in the daylight.
"Bents, this looks so good."
"Wait until you see what we got done inside."
Picking me up in his arms, he opens the front door, carrying me over the threshold. "Welcome home, future Mrs. Jacobs. Well, almost home." Bentley places me back on my feet, and I notice the tile floor is finished. The walls are all painted and the kitchen cabinets are installed.
"The appliances are getting delivered next week."
It looks just like I imagined. Sticking with the sand color walls, light kitchen cabinets and tan granite counters, we took the style of our two apartments and combined them. What we added was a custom driftwood island made by Jeremy. His wood skills are a work of art. On the counter is a replica of the bouquet of flowers Bentley placed in my apartment the night I moved in.
"Oh my gosh, Bentley. How did you remember those?"
"Easy, it was the first time I earned a kiss from you."
"On the cheek. I love it. All of it. Everything came out better than I could have imagined."
"There's more to see. Come on."
Leading me upstairs, he heads to the bedrooms. He opens the door and the first thing I notice is the new bed. It is large and fills the room perfectly. He shows me the bathroom. The his and her double sinks sit on the driftwood cabinet I found at a local store. Between the free standing glass shower with multiple shower sprays or the oversized Jacuzzi tub, I don’t know which one I want to use first.
Bentley tells me there is one more thing I need to see. He has me wait while he opens the curtains out to the deck outside our bedroom. He comes back for me, leading me outside. He’s sprinkled the deck with purple rose petals. The railings are dressed in white lights. In the corner sits a cooler. Bentley sits me in the swing we brought from the other house. From inside the cooler, he produces a bottle of champagne, strawberries and a set of crystal flutes.
"This is where I was planning on asking you to be my wife.” He hands me the glasses with the strawberries and champagne inside. Once he sits, he pulls me sideways, and under his arm. "I want to finish the rest of the house within the next two months. This is where our future is, and I want to start making memories here. Jeremy said he has some free time coming after this week and his crew can come and help."
"I like the sound of that." I say as Bentley refreshes my glass.
"I won't be home much between here and work."
I figure that much, knowing how he likes to be involved with our house renovation.
“Will you be okay without me?”
"I get it. I can handle it. I'll be preoccupied planning a wedding anyways.”
We sit in silence, just taking in the view of the Gulf. Myself, I am reliving every moment of this day. Every perfect, beautiful moment.
Bentley takes the glass from my hand, placing both inside the cooler. Positioning himself on top of me, he alternates kissing around my neck with his words.
"I." Kiss.
"Love." Kiss, suck. Mmmm!
"You." Kiss, suck, lick. Oh God!
"My soon to be wife." Kiss, suck, lick, nip.
I can’t take it anymore. I pull his lip to mine, wanting to taste him. My legs wrap around his trim waist. His body presses against mine. Reaching under my dress, he lifts my ass from the swing, grinding his erection against my now drenched panties.
"Fuck, Aly. When I saw you in this dress tonight, it took all my willpower not to take you to the bedroom and fuck you with all our friends in the next room. What are you wearing under this? If you’d bent over, anyone could have seen your ass tonight. And this ass is only for my eyes.” He pushes my dress up higher, looking at the decorated lace panties I chose especially for tonight. On the front are two words, delicately stitched on each side: marry me.
"I figured if you said no when I planned on asking you, maybe you'd change your mind after seeing these."
Bentley grins as he runs his fingers over the words, driving me crazy with his touch. Looking up at me, he answers my question. "I'll marry you on one condition."
"I thought we’d already agreed we are getting married."
His fingers brush under the lace, bringing me to a stop. He starts to move them between my slick lips, making my breath hitch.
"We definitely are getting married, Alyss
a. There’s something I want though." When he commands my attention, all I can do is nod as I bite my lip.
"Short engagement. In less than a year..." One finger enters me. "I want you as my wife." A second finger joins the first. My head falls back as a cry of pleasure escapes me. When his thumb starts slowing circling my clit, I almost lose it.
"I want an answer, Angel. Do you agree to my terms?" How does he expect me to answer when he's touching me like this? I can barely think, let alone talk.
"Answer, Angel.” His fingers work together faster, bringing me closer to the edge. He whispers, "Aly?"
Oh, God, I'm almost there.
Louder, he says, "Now, Aly.”
I scream both my answer and release at the same time. "Yes, Bentley!"
He slows his movements, bringing me back to reality. "Was that an answer?"
My breathing is still rapid as I answer. "Yes, I agree. Less than a year."
He lifts me to my feet, bringing me inside, convincing me once more to commit to a short engagement.
Bentley
"WHERE DO YOU WANT this? It's fucking heavy." Hunter bellows out as he enters the house.
"Put it in guest bedroom one." I tell Hunter. In an attempt to make furniture placement easier, Aly has labeled the bedroom doors as guest one, guest two and the third as the workout room. I wouldn't let her come. I told Aly I didn’t need her to do any of the heavy lifting. But, really it’s just so much easier for us to do this without the women here. They’re nothing but a distraction.
"Fuck, man. Why did I agree to this shit?" Josh grips as he carries one fucking table lamp.
"Really? That's all you brought up?" Caleb says while carrying a heavy oak end table.