by Jude Ouvrard
''I know. I tried to help her, but it was too late. Kelly was going downhill each and every day. I don't even recognize her anymore. Drugs, alcohol, her bad behaviour. She’s facing jail time.''
I nodded. ''So we heard.'' I didn’t add my other thought–that Kelly would only be getting exactly what she deserved, after what she did to Abbie.
''Look, I only wish you well and I’m truly sorry for everything Kelly has done.'' With one last tiny smile, Ann pats my shoulder and heads back to the sales counter.
Joshua is already looking at engagement rings and he’s discussing the merits of one diamond studded ring compared to another. I don't think he needs my help, after all.
I search through my phone for the design of the ring I want to give to Abbie. I had saved the picture of it somewhere in my emails. When I eventually find it, I ask one of the sales staff if it could be made.
''We currently have a ring in stock that’s pretty similar to your design. Let me show you.''
If the ring is here and I like it, I know I’ll save time and money if I buy it now. This could work out well. Custom made is great when you have plenty of time. Given that we want to get married before Christmas, we’re a little short on time.
''Here, it is–a princess cut diamond on a platinum band. The main diamond is one carat and there are one-point-one carats worth of diamonds decorating either side. It is a startling ring.''
I take the ring from the assistant and study it, watching the light twinkling against the facets of the diamonds. ''It’s exactly what I wanted, exclusive and simple too. Abbie will love it.”
I'm trying to control my excitement, but it is exactly what I had in mind. I love it and I’m certain Abbie will, too. My heart is pounding and my hands are shaking. This is definitely it. I’m so fucking happy. Joshua glances over in my direction, and he sees my expression.
I wave him over. ''Come here, I’ve found it. I don't even need to have it custom made, just get it resized.''
''Damn, Presley, that’s quite a big diamond!'' Joshua announces and I think his jaw is about to hit the floor.
I chuckle. ''A girl can never have enough diamonds, Joshua. You should learn that.''
''Yeah but...this is Abbie we’re talking about.'' He says doubtfully. Is he trying to say this ring isn’t her style? I’m certain, and won’t let him talk me out of it.
''Shut up Josh. This is the one, I’m telling you. I've been dreaming about it.''
''Okay, man, I’m sure you’re right. I’ve found Alicia’s too.'' He shows me the ring he’s chosen. A white gold band with a huge pink princess cut diamond. I have no doubt in my mind that Alicia will love it. ''Do you think she’ll like it?''
''Joshua, you’ve been with her for years, surely to God you should know what she likes or doesn’t like. But yeah, if you need me to say it–I think she will like it.'' I give my brother an impromptu hug. ''I'm happy for all of us. We both have some great years to look forward to.''
Joshua offers me a wicked grin. ''Who’s going to be the first one to become a dad?''
I knock his arm, nearly pushing him over. ''Definitely you.''
I don't think I’m ready for a baby. Maybe in a year or two, we'll start thinking about it, but not now. I want one or two, maybe three. I don't think Abbie is ready to discuss having kids yet either. I try hard to ignore it, but I get an image of her holding a baby, and I know she’ll look wonderful as a mother. I know she worries that she won’t be a good mother because of her own childhood, but I know she’ll be great. She’s the sweetest person I’ve ever known.
''Presley, planet Earth is calling you,'' Joshua teases. ''What were you thinking about?''
''Nothing.'' I walk back to the counter where the sales assistant is waiting patiently. ''I’ll take that one. Can I have it resized to a six, please.''
Joshua isn’t willing to let up. ''Admit it; you were having a full-on image of Abbie, carrying your baby. I saw it in your eyes.''
I roll my eyes. Shut up Joshua.
“C’mon, admit it. You, Abbie, a baby...that’s what you were thinking about, wasn’t it?” Josh persisted.
''Okay, fine, I was. Happy now?'' There is no point denying it. I know Joshua will never let up, once he’s got something on his mind.
''Don't stress over it, you’ll be a great dad when times come...''
He pats my shoulder and blows me a kiss, he can be such an arrogant jerk when he feels like it.
''You’re lucky we’re in a store, Josh. I want to kick your ass, right now,'' I announce dryly.
When we’re ready to leave, I check my phone to see if I missed any calls. There’s a text waiting from Abbie.
Abbie: In case you’re missing me. There’s a photo attached of Abbie wearing a sexy lace black bra.
Perfect. I am one lucky guy.
Presley: I’ve been missing you since the second you left the apartment. You are incredibly sexy.
Abbie: Love you, Mr. Williams. When I get back, you need to get your gear prepared. I’ve decided I want a tattoo.
Presley: I want you, right now, Mrs. Williams.
Tattooing Abbie. I can’t wait for that day to happen.
Chapter TWENTY-TWO
Abbie
I’M ABSOLUTELY exhausted. Three days in New York, with three crazy, shopping-addicted women. I’m surprised that I am still alive.
Wedding dress. Check.
Maid of honor dresses. Check.
Lucia’s dress. Check.
Cheesecake Factory. Check.
Spent I don't know how much money. Check.
I’ve had a really great time. We visited some wonderful restaurants and beautiful boutiques. It was different when I visited New York with Presley. I enjoyed both visits, but for very different reasons.
We’re almost ready for the wedding. Presley needs to get a tuxedo, but that should be easy and simple to organize.
As soon as we get back to Seattle, I can’t help but feel anxious to see Presley again. Butterflies are dancing in my stomach and I keep trying to wipe my clammy hands off on my pants. I see Joshua, Bentley and Derek waiting on the other side of the barrier for their ladies, but I don't see Presley anywhere near them. My heart sinks. How can he not be here, waiting for me to arrive? Alicia and Joy-Anna start running and jump into their respective partner’s arms. Walking slowly towards them, I can't help but feel extremely sad that Presley isn’t here.
''Miss Rylee, may I offer you this rose?'' ask a very sexy voice.
I see a tattooed arm extend in front of me, and look up to discover a beautiful smile with perfect kissable lips, and his hair hidden under his usual black beanie. So hot, and he is mine.
''Baby, I thought you hadn't come to pick me up. I was so disappointed.'' I put my arms around his neck and we start kissing passionately, despite the fact we’re standing in the busy airport terminal. I missed him so much. He puts his hands on my behind, and I pull my legs up around his waist.
''You have no idea how much I missed you, baby Bee.'' He smiles adorably and I can't help but laugh.
''Baby Bee?'' I make a face and he nods. He is so damned cute. ''I love you too, with your beanie.''
We both laugh and kiss again, before he releases me and sets me on my feet. ''Come on, let’s go home. I have a tattoo to do.''
''Oh, yes, you definitely do.'' Suddenly, I’m nervous. He has no idea what I’m planning on having done, but I do.
The ride home seems endless. Alicia insisted on driving and she’s taking her time, or maybe it’s just in my mind. By the time we arrive home, I’m fast asleep on Presley’s arm. He wakes me up softly, kissing my forehead, temple and cheek every time he says, “Wake up, Baby Bee.” I think I’m falling even deeper in love with him, if that’s even possible.
''Are you going to tell me what I’m supposed to tattoo on your skin, now?'' Presley asks when we’re settled in his apartment and I’ve unpacked.
''I Will Be Yours, and You Will Be Mine on my left wrist, and Together, We Will Be One
on my right wrist, outlined with a heart. Pretty simple, I guess.''
Presley looks doubtful. ''Really? That will represent us? Are you sure?'' he asks quietly. ''It’s a big step, don’t you think?”
''I’m about to marry you and spend the rest of my life with you, so why would I have any doubts?''
''It’s a perfect idea, Abbie. I'll make sure you love it. I'm thinking about a handwriting style with swirls'' He thinks for a few seconds. ''Yeah, let me draw up something. Give me ten minutes, love, okay?'' By the expression on his face, I can tell he’s already in tattoo artist mode, serious and conscientious.
''Take all the time you need. I'll start on my laundry.''
I walk out of the studio, pleased by how thrilled he is. I’m excited, too. I take my dirty clothes into the laundry and throw everything in the washing machine. I spend a minute staring at my unmarked wrist and I know this is definitely what I want. There is no place for doubts in my mind. One thought comes to my mind and I chuckle – if my mom was still alive, she would probably strangle me. She was never a fan of tattoos and Dad, well, he probably wouldn’t have minded. He never said anything against people having tattoos.
''Bee, I'm ready,'' Presley sings out from the studio. He sounds as if he’s in a very good mood. I walk back into the studio and Presley lifts me into his arms. He’s taken off his shirt. ''I hope you’ll like the design. I got inspired by one of my own tattoos.'' He shows me one on his ribs. He’s managed to draw my tattoo with a similar style to his. ''It will kind of match,'' he says with a smile. ''I got this one a week before I met you.”
I study the writing across his ribs. It says Love that is true lasts forever. He kisses my lips before he speaks again. ''I was desperate to find you, and I did. Now come here and sit down. It's time to ink you.''
I sit down nervously and place my wrists on the desk. Presley cleans the area with antiseptic and gets the stencils ready. He positions them on my wrists and removes them, leaving the outline on my skin. It's perfect. I can’t stop smiling, I’m so excited to finally be taking this step.
''Ready?'' he asks seriously, one last time before he starts marking me.
''As ready as I’ll ever be,'' I agree.
He starts the first outline. ''See, it's not that bad. Your skin will begin to get numb after a little while, too.''
It does hurt a little, when the needles run across a vein or a bone, it gets quite sensitive. I try not to wince, but I can't help myself. After a couple of minutes, the skin starts to feel numb, proving Presley right. Of course he was right, he’s done this before, once or twice. With the number of tattoos he has, I’m certain I can trust his judgement. When he’s done with the first wrist, my eyes are glued to the design. It’s a bit red and swollen, but the font and design are amazing, even better than I had envisaged. My man is one talented artist.
Forty-five minutes later, Presley is done and I’m so happy. I can’t hold back the joy I feel.
''I love them. They’re perfect. Thank you so much, baby.'' I admire my wrists, thrilled with the tattoos.
''So, when are you going to have your next one?'' He laughs. ''Tattoos are addictive; you can’t just have one.''
''I just got two,'' I protest with a pout.
He leans toward me and we kiss. The love I feel for him only seems to grow deeper. ''I really do love your bee tattoo. I don't think I ever told you, but it's really sweet.''
''I love you, Abbie – this is one of the things I do to demonstrate my love.''
I wonder what the other things are, but I’m pretty sure I know already. Just the thought of it makes me blush. ''I love you, too.''
As he kisses my forehead, I remember that I have something important to ask him. I’m not sure if now is a good time, but I don't think there will ever be a good time for this question.
''Presley, I have a question to ask you.'' I clasp my fingers together. I’m definitely nervous about this.
Presley glances up from cleaning up his work desk. ''Oh, geez, Abbie, I don't like that tone of voice, how bad is it?''
''It’s regarding the wedding. First, I wanted to know if it would be okay with you if Cameron is invited.''
Presley throws some paper towels into the bin, but I thought he was doing it to buy himself some time to think. ''Hmm, well...” He shrugs and glances up at me. “Didn't the guy propose to you and you said no? Wouldn’t it be a little weird to have him at our wedding?''
I feel like an idiot. ''That’s exactly what happened. He asked me to marry him, and I said no. We were young; it’s a long time ago. We’re friends now and I’d like him to come to the wedding.''
Presley stares at me as if I’ve lost my mind. To be honest, maybe I have.
After another minute of silence, Presley responds. ''If you’re comfortable with that, I mean, I guess he can be there... if that’s what you want.''
''He’s the only person I’ve got left, Presley. The only person from my life before you came into it. I know it’s a little awkward and complicated, but I would like him to be there.” I take a deep breath, before I blurt out the rest of my plan. “I would like it if Cameron would walk me down the aisle.''
Presley places his hands on his hips, and he seems frustrated with me. ''Shit, Bee... The guy is going to fucking cry his heart out for you. Is it fair to ask him to do this?'' I don’t think he’s mad, but I think he’s concerned about Cam and how my request will affect him.
''I know, but my dad died, my mom too. I don't see any of my uncles or cousins. I don't want to walk up the aisle alone and he’s like a brother to me, I've known him all my life.''
''I know what he is to you, Abbie.'' Presley takes off his beanie and runs his fingers through his hair. ''What I’m worried about is what you are to him. He clearly still loves you. He might not be ready for this and I’m not sure it’s fair to ask him.''
''I’ll deal with that. My question is, would you mind if I asked him?'' I keep my gaze on Mom’s ring on my finger. She loved Cameron, and I know she’d understand why I want this.
''Look at me, Abbie. Please.'' I lift my eyes until they meet his beautiful emerald green ones. ''I don't mind, if that’s what you want. I want what you want, okay?'' I nod. ''Now, we have to put bandages on your wrists.''
''Sure,'' I smile. ''Thank you for everything.''
He puts a gauze on each wrist. The tattoos are a little bit more painful, not out of control but the discomfort is definitely present. ''Are you happy?'' he asks, kissing my bandages.
''Yes, I am very happy. I love the tattoos.'' I cup his face with my hands. ''You did a wonderful job, it’s even better than what I expected. You really are gifted.''
''But you are generally happy, right? No second thoughts?'' he questions quietly.
''What? Presley. No... Of course not.'' Where is this coming from? Is it because I asked about inviting Cameron? Surely Presley is more secure in our relationship than that.
Presley smiles down at me. ''Just making sure.'' He puts his beanie back on. ''I love your tattoos, Ms. Rylee.''
''My fiancé is a tattoo artist. I’m a lucky girl.'' I grin. I relax a little, feeling as though the tension between us has faded away.
After watching a bit of television, I decide to call Cameron to see if he has time to meet up with me. He tells me to meet him at 6pm. He’ll cook dinner for us both. He’s a great cook and I’m looking forward to it. Cameron has always been the type of cook who doesn’t follow a recipe. He improvises and it's always delicious. When we lived together, there were days where I wanted the type of mac and cheese you bought in a box. Nothing natural about it: the cheese is orange and chemical. Cameron always refused to let me eat that. He would take the time to cook me homemade mac and cheese. He’s always eaten healthier than I do, which probably helps him keep his fit physique.
Cameron
Abbie is arriving in less than two hours, so I’ve got just enough time to grab some food and start dinner. I haven't seen her a lot lately. I miss her. She said she wants to talk
to me about something. My first thought was that she wanted me to move out of her apartment, but she said not to worry, it wasn’t a big deal. I really have no clue what she’s up to.
I decide I’m not going to overthink it. It’s best if I wait for her to tell me what’s going on, and it’s as simple as that. I write down a list of what I need. I want to spoil Abbie, so I decide I’ll cook her favorite meal.
After the wedding, I don’t know how often I’ll get to see her. I'm not sure what will. I hope things won’t change between us, but maybe they will. Presley seems to be a nice guy, but I don’t know how much time he’ll want his new wife to spend with her old boyfriend. Shaking off any doubts, I figure I’ll probably get to see her again. I grab the bike keys and head to the store. First stop, the organic grocery and then I’ll grab a little strawberry cheesecake for dessert. Grocery shopping with a motorbike is a pain in the ass. Fortunately, I get everything I need into my backpack.
As soon as I set foot in the apartment, I turn on some music. It's Abbie’s. Muse, of course. Some things never change. I get the groceries out of my backpack and prepare the veggies for the steamer, before I season the meat to ensure it has a good flavor. I’m almost done preparing the meal when the door of the apartment crashes opens. Who the hell is that?
''Abbie? Is it you?'' I call out. It’s not like her to be so rough and I hear the door crash into the wall.
''Cameron Scotts. What are you doing here, asshole?”
What? Who the fuck is this? It doesn’t sound like Presley’s voice. I walk down the hallway to the door. Fuck, it's Dean Hurley. What the hell is he doing here? He looks fucking crazy.
''What did you do to my Abbie, asshole? Where is she? I’ve been looking for her every fucking where only to find out that you’re living here,'' he shouts.
She’s not here, Dean. You should leave now.'' I order him, but I know at this point, he’s unlikely to listen. He appears to be drunk
''Fuck you, Scotts, I can’t believe that she’s back with you. First she screws around on me with the tattooed guy and now she goes back to you. I bet you begged her, right? You just couldn't live in a world where she didn't belong to you, huh?'' His eyes reflect nothing but hatred and vengeance. He’s standing a few feet away from me and I can smell the alcohol on him.