Betting Against the Odds

by Morgan, Sabrina

  The doctor walked out towards us, “She is awake she doesn’t want to see anyone. She told me her decision but I am letting her cool down before I put in medication that will help her pain ease.”

  I shook my head no, “I need to see her I don’t care what she says what room is she in Doctor,” he gave me a look smiling, “Aww you the man who stole my girl’s heart and then broke it. She was going to tell you tonight so she could make a decision. I don’t know what happened but I do know she loves you and you son love her, Right?” I gave him a shake of my head agreeing with him, “Good she is in room 304, go but hurry.”

  I ran to her room pushing the door open her eyes sprung open tears falling down her face as she met my eyes, “You know?” she said.

  “Yea I know. You should have told me,” I went to her grabbing her face as she tried to pull away, “I know what you saw and what it looked like but I swear on everything I love that she gave me a drug and I will prove it I will fight for you all I ask is to fight for yourself. Fight because I can’t picture a world without you in it.”

  She continued to cry, “I will leave you alone for now but I will get you back. I love you. I have the first time I saw you and I will love you until the end of our days,” I gave her a kiss which she allowed.

  I left the hospital a plan forming in my head but first I needed to talk to my mama I needed help.

  I went inside my house turning on the lights calling out for my mama, “Mama! Mama?” she came running out of her room my dad racing behind her.

  She reached me touching my tear stained face, “Baby boy what is wrong? Why are you crying,” I held her crying more as my hands shook I was going to have a panic attack. I felt a cold glass being pushed in my hand I looked up meeting my dad’s eyes, “Drink” he spoke to me it was one word but it was enough for me to grab the drink and his hand as he lent me his strength.

  “Mama it is Penelope she is dying and I messed up I love her,” I told them the whole story as my mama held my hand and my dad rubbed his eyes, “Son I have a solution for you but first you have to tell me honestly do you lover her because of her or because of her illness?”

  “No I love her because from the moment I saw her I knew she was meant for me she makes me better and no matter what happens I will fight for her until the end but I need help,” my dad got up pulling something out of his safe holding it out to me, “This was my great great grandmothers wedding ring I want you to have it for her for your light.”

  I grasped it holding it to my heart as I cried thanking them as I passed out cold.

  A whole week and a half passed without hearing from her. I couldn’t sleep. I didn’t eat. I hardly spoke to anyone at all except for my friends who were helping me finish Penelope’s bucket list well Elaina and Jake kept me posted on how she was doing. Jake says that she is losing weight and she doesn’t sleep he thinks she is afraid that if she shuts her eyes she won’t open them again. Elaina tells me that she misses me even though she tries not to mention me I tell her that I miss her too so much. It was time. Tonight I will win her back and spend the rest of our lives together as long as we have.

  I grabbed my keys and my phone walking towards the front door when a voice called my name from behind me, “Matt?” I gave pause as my body stiffened automatically, “Brother please look at me,” I did just that meeting his eyes that didn’t hold the contempt I was use to but sympathy.

  I took a deep breath, “What is it Seamus? I don’t have time to be criticized today,” I watched as my brother’s face fell in guilt and sadness, “I heard about Penelope. I didn’t know she was sick but that shouldn’t matter I treated you like shit long before she became a part of it.”

  “Yea you did big brother,” I angrily spat at him as he flinched, “I was jealous. I am jealous everything came easy to you and me being older I had the responsibility dropped on me well you got to fuck around and do what you wanted so I made you feel like shit; like a loser because it made me feel better. It’s sick and dumb but jealousy doesn’t look good on anyone. I know you have to go and get your girl back I just wanted to tell you sorry. I am so damn sorry,” he stood there his hand raised for me to grab but I didn’t take it slapping it out of my way so I could hug him. He stiffened at first soon relaxing as I held my brother close. My family was healing because of Penelope but it wasn’t complete yet not until I had my heart back.

  I left my house meeting with the group at Luke and Nate’s shop. They all gave me sad looks which I waved away, “No time for pity let’s do this shit. I am tired of waiting to hold my girl.”

  Cole gave me a wide smile, “Everything is ready and in place all we need is for the girls and Jake to get her there at 9 p.m.” the girls smiled as Elaina held my hand squeezing it in comfort, “Oh she will be there I promise,” for the first time in almost 2 weeks I smiled.

  It was almost 9 o’clock and she still wasn’t here. What if she doesn’t come? What if it doesn’t work? Luke gave my back a slap pulling me out of my head smiling, “Dude look she came,” I followed his finger as my gaze landed on her she was wearing jeans and a basic black shirt. I took in her appearance it looks like she lost about a whole jean size, the bags under her eyes glowed, and yet she looked like the most beautiful girl I have ever laid eyes on. I heard her voice waver as she stared at the stage a look of confusion as she spoke, “What is this?”

  That was my cue I walked out onto the stage her eyes landing on me her eyes glowing as she hungrily took me in but then her brain clicked on making her eagerness to see me pull back into her cage. But that was fine because I saw her eyes before she veiled them she still loves me I have a chance. I cleared my throat looking straight at her, “Hello love I know you may still be mad at me but I wanted you to know that I still love you even if you don’t love me. We booked this place for you to give you your very own concert. Enjoy love.”

  I took my seat with the boys across for the girl’s aisle as the first performer came out. I heard the girls clap as Ed Sheeran took the stage singing “The A team” as the girl’s song along Penelope smiling her face brightening up and I knew I did the right thing. The music changed as “Everything has changed” started playing Taylor swift joining the stage waving at the girls. The concert continued as the girl’s jumped on the stage singing and dancing to the song, “Shake it off” as we boys sat there laughing. Jake stood up doing the running man as Penelope grabbed him holding him as he twirled her around. Everyone was winding down when I took the stage again, “We have one last group here today I know they are your favorite love please welcome Paramore,” Penelope got up clapping wildly as Haley William’s lead singer of Paramore took the microphone singing her song, “Decode”.

  I looked towards Penelope her eyes meeting mine waiting for her to give me a sign when she smiled for me a genuine happy smile so I smiled back as we watched the rest of the show. The last song was starting when I walked up to Penelope, “May I have this dance love?” she gave me a shy look taking my hand as Paramore sung, ‘The only exception” our friends smiling as we spun around holding each other until the last chord was played. I let her go reluctantly as I went up the stage, “I want to thank ya’ll for coming and making this night perfect for my girl but now I want to call my love up to the stage so we can cross one more thing off your list,” I held my hand to her as she took it pulling her up to the stage where Haley Williams handed her a guitar. Penelope held it looking around at everyone, “I don’t understand what you want me to do with the guitar, “I smiled,“ Smash it love, smash it.”

  She gave me a wide smile as she lifted the guitar over her head slamming it on the stadium over and over again until there was nothing she left. She took in the broken guitar as we all watched her and then she started crying as she fell to her knees. No one moved as we watched her heart breaking tears falling on the floor next to the broken guitar. I moved towards her slowly making sure she was okay with me being near her a put my arms around her gently pulling her towards my chest. She came willing
ly relaxing into my arms as she cried I kissed her forehead crying with her our tears mixing together as we fought for comfort. By the time we were done the stage was clear of performers and our friends giving us the privacy we needed.

  I pulled her head back looking into her eyes, “I am sorry love. I didn’t cheat on you I have the test results to prove that she drugged me I just don’t know how,” I gave a sigh as she swept her hand through my hair, “You should have told me love. Why didn’t you tell me?”

  “I couldn’t,” her voice so quiet I had to strain to hear it, “I didn’t want you to treat me different and I was afraid that if you knew I was broken you wouldn’t want me. I was going to tell you that night but then all of that happened. I was so mad at you Matt but Elaina and Jake told me what happened I didn’t forgive you right away but I knew that I would I gave my body to you, my heart, you are in my soul. I love you Matt.”

  I didn’t let her finish as my mouth descended on to hers branding her mine as I devoured her she went willingly making me crave her more, “I love you baby and I want you to know that no matter what you choose I am here with you whether you want the surgery or not,” I stood her up as I stayed on my knees looking into her beautiful eyes, “I want you to know that I am not asking you this because you are sick I am doing this because from the moment I met you I couldn’t stop thinking about you. It’s like you gutted me. I have never felt this way with anybody before and I never will again. You are it for me no matter what you are the one that I will always be in love with. I talked to my parents and my dad gave me this,” I opened the ring as she touched it gently.

  “It’s beautiful,” she whispered tears in her eyes, “You talked to your dad?”

  I gave her a laugh pulling her hand to gain her attention, “Yes we did we made up all of us even Seamus. I need to thank you for that to love. My dad gave me this ring that has been passed down from generation to generation he told me to give it to the girl I will spend the rest of eternity with and that is you. So please Penelope do me the honor of being my wife?”

  She started crying silently as she held my hand tightly, “Are you sure Matt? I mean I am dying I don’t even know if the surgery will work or what I will be like if it does. I can’t guarantee anything to you.”

  I stood up holding her face in my hands as I gave her a kiss, “I don’t care because I can guarantee to you that I will love you no matter what that whatever happens will not change how I feel for you. I can guarantee that you will always have my heart, my soul. You are my light.”

  She laughed giving me a kiss, “Yes Matt I will marry you I will be your wife.”

  I kissed her demanding her to submit to my mouth as I tasted her I would have taken her right there if not for our audience who stood there clapping, cheering, and some crying. I let her mouth go lacing my fingers into hers as I pulled her to our friends who congratulated us. The boys clapping me on the back as Cole shouted, “So what next guys?” I gave him a smile, “Vegas we are having a Vegas wedding but no divorce,” I gave her a wink as she laughed brightly.

  Ch. 18: Go to Vegas get plastered, married, and then divorced (Matt’s and Penelope’s POV)

  I took my love back to my parent’s house with me as we laughed and smiled all the way there never taking our hands of each other. I opened the door shouting, “Mama! Dad! I am home.” My mom ran out of her room straight to us almost knocking us over as she held Penelope in her arms gushing and crying. My dad and to my surprise Seamus and Nicole came into the living room smiling at us. I cleared my throat pulling Penelope as close as I could with my mom still hanging on her, “We have some news,” I smiled down at her, “We are getting married in three days in Vegas.”

  My mom cried pulling us both in a hug, “I am so happy for you two so special. You were made for each other,” my mom wiped her tears, “Three days oh my we are going to have a lot to plan is your mom helping you dear?”

  Penelope’s smile faded as she spoke, “No. I told her she told me I was too young and she would not give me her blessing but Mrs. Rose wants to help and so does my doctor and his wife they are family to me,” she gave my hand a squeeze, “And our friends want to help as much as they can.”

  My mama got quiet I could tell she felt bad for Penelope but she didn’t say so instead she held her hand out to her, “Well come on dear I will help you out to we will get everything planned and everyone can pick what they want to help with. How does that sound?” Penelope gave a laugh, “That sounds awesome thank you so much. I wouldn’t even know where to begin,” she admitted shyly.

  My mama grinned, “No problem dear you are going to be my daughter that makes me your mama, too. So come on,” I let Penelope go as she left into the kitchen with my mama and Nicole.

  My dad gave me a manly hug as Seamus smacked my back affectionately, “She said yes brother. Damn I am happy for you too.”

  I smiled, ‘I am, too.”

  Penelope’s POV:

  I can’t believe I am getting married tomorrow. Today we are on the plane to go to Vegas. Cole’s dad provided us with a private jet so we could all go at once it was all of our friends including the twins, Matt’s family, Mrs. Rose, Doc, and his wife. Everyone chatting happily as we made plans for our wedding party; Matt decided that we will not have separate parties declaring we spent too much time apart planning the wedding. I agreed. But what we didn’t get away with was spending the night together before the wedding according to his mama and the rest of the girls it was bad luck.

  Matt kissed my neck whispering in my ear, “Hey love,” I smiled kissing him back , “Hey you,” he smiled whispering huskily into my ear, “I can’t wait for you to be my wife I hope you’re ready because I am going to fuck you in every place of that hotel room,” my breath turned ragged as I grew wet. He must have sensed it pulling back to go talk to Cole giving me a wink with a smug smile. That bastard. I checked my phone for the tenth time noting that my parents still have not called making me want to cry in anger the least they could do was come to their only daughter’s wedding. I felt someone sit next to me looking over meeting Cole’s eyes, “Hey Pen,” I smiled, “I wanted to see how you were doing I noticed your parent’s didn’t come,” I shook my head sadly as he gave my hand a pat, “I know how it feels to not live up to the fame your parent’s want for you but I am happy that you aren’t allowing them to control your happiness. I have known Matt for a while he helped me through some tough shit and well I never seen him so fucking happy he deserves that as much as you do.”

  I smiled at Cole taking in his good looks but for the first time I noticed that his eyes held pain and secrets I gave him a hug whispering to him, “You deserve it all, too. Elaina says you’re a great person and believe me she doesn’t trust people especially men so for her to say that means a lot in my book,” I saw him look towards Elaina smiling slightly as he left the seat next to me back to the boys.

  I have been feeling more tired lately especially because of all the running around. I didn’t know when I fell asleep but when I woke I was on a bed in a room I did not recognize. I gave a yawn as I looked around me taking in the beautiful room when the door opened, “Oh love you’re awake,” he bent down giving me a kiss, “How long was I asleep for?” he glanced at his watch, “Um about 4 hours I told everyone to let you rest before we went out to dinner and everything that are crazy ass friends planned for us.”

  I gave a laugh at his forlorn expression, “Oh baby don’t pout we are getting married tomorrow,” he chuckled pulling me on his so I could straddle him, “I know I am so fucking excited baby for you to be my wife I have never been more sure of anything.”

  We made love with our hands and mouth as we melted into one but we didn’t have sex waiting for our wedding night to do that. Matt was wearing slacks and a button down blue shirt making his eyes brighten more as I pulled on my silver dress that fell down on me caressing my curves. I lost weight, normally I would be happy about that but I knew it was because my body was getting weaker. Matt nev
er mentioned it always telling me I was beautiful no matter what. I knew he was being sincere as he said it. We held each other tightly as we made our way to the lobby meeting our friends who gave us excited looks.

  We didn’t want anything fancy deciding on a buffet so everyone could eat what they wanted to. The twins poked fun at Matt and Luke for being “old men” and having a “ball of chain” the two of them just smiled in content well Nate laughed, “It’s not that bad being married you get sex whenever you want well unless their mad about something then you don’t get sex at all,” we all grew quiet Nate noticing looking up to see his wife Janet glaring at him, “I mean marriage is awesome spending everyday with the woman you love.”

  Janet made a noncommittal noise as we all laughed at Nate’s face. My phone started ringing which was weird since everyone was around us that I knew. I took it out glancing at my dad’s number, “Hello dad,” I felt Matt stiffen next to me as our group grew quiet, “Penelope daughter what is this I hear about you marrying that boy,” I shook my head, “I love him daddy you told me you liked him,” he grew serious his voice hardening, “I do like him but not for you to marry why are you marrying anyways when you might not even be alive in a couple of months are you trying to ruin this family!”

  I felt the tears on my face as Matt made a fist, “Is that how you feel daddy? Well that’s fine I don’t need you or mom I have my own family now keep your house and all the money I still have my trust fund thanks to grandma and grandpa. I don’t want to talk to you ever again. And if I do die I want you both to know that you are horrible people and that I will never forgive you for treating me like I was nothing but shit,” I took a breath as Matt gave me an encouraging smile, “Now I have to go I am getting married tomorrow and for the rest of my life I will never be a Davis again. Goodbye.”

  The table was quiet until Elaina my loud mouth best friend jumped up pumping her fist, “Hell yes that was fucking hot man you should have done that a long time ago,” everyone laughed at her as she jumped in my lap kissing me on my lips, “Come on girl let’s go get fucked up before this fine piece of man candy takes you off the market for good.”