The Commitment Test (The Marin Test Series Book 2)

by Aksel, Amanda

  “I’m good.” I tapped my hand on my knee, looking out the window, then tried to get a peek of the speedometer. Why wasn’t the driver going faster?

  “I’m on my way to the house,” he said.

  “Me too.”

  “You are?” He sounded surprised.

  “Yeah, I have something to tell you,” I said, and swallowed a lump in my throat.

  “I have something to tell you too.” His words set off an alarm in my brain. It sounded like he’d made his own decision during our time away. I felt faint. What was he going to tell me?

  By the time we’d turned the corner on to Fell Street, my palms were soggy. I just wanted to see James and tell him everything.

  He was waiting for me outside on the sidewalk. He looked as afraid and as nervous as I felt. The cab hadn’t even stopped before I pushed open the door and threw money at the driver.

  “Hey.” James smiled, the same way he always smiled when he hadn’t seen me in a while.

  “Hey.” I did the same.

  “It’s good to see you.”

  “You too. Where’s Cindy?” I asked. My hands were so shaky that I clutched the strap of my oversized purse, but the sweat from my palms loosened my grip.

  “She’ll be here soon. You said you wanted to talk about something.” His face turned serious and so did mine.

  “Yeah. About us. About our future.” I had planned an eloquent speech, practicing it before I went to bed last night and again in the shower. In that moment, I forgot everything. My brain was mush, but my heart was bursting, so I let it talk. “I love you, James. I can’t imagine loving anyone more. I do want to marry you, make a vow in front of everyone we know, and shout from the rooftops that you’re mine. Forever. . . but I know you don’t want that.”

  “Marin,” he interrupted, but I held my hand up to stop him from saying any more.

  I took his hands in mine and felt his strong hold. “No, listen. It doesn’t matter. When I was away from you, I realized that I would rather be unmarried with you than married without you. I don’t need a wedding or certificate to be happy. I just want you.” I couldn’t stop the tears from rolling down my cheeks. I felt I was putting my heart on the line. After he said he had something to tell me, I was nervous about what he would say next.

  “You mean that?” he asked, searching my eyes.

  “Yes, love means taking a chance even if you’re afraid. I will always be afraid to lose you, but I won’t push you away anymore. I promise.”

  He sighed and beamed. “I’m so glad to hear you say that. I have something to show you.”

  He led me up the many stairs to the front door. I gave him a curious look as he pushed it open. Was there some special surprise on the other side? No, it was just the entryway. He took my hand and escorted me in.

  “This is the door I’m going to walk through everyday when I come home to you.” James laughed. “And Marvin will rush over like he does, barking, excited to see me, and eventually our kids will do the same, but no matter who’s looking for me, I’ll be looking to see you.”

  I took in a deep breath and held it. Then, he led me into the living room near the fireplace. “This is where we’ll sit and drink wine on cold nights, and over there.” He pointed toward the wall. “That’s where we’ll curl up on the couch and watch movies together.”

  James walked into the dining room, pulling me along with him. “And over here, this is where we’ll eat every night. You’ll share your day, and I’ll tell you about mine.

  “Over here,” James said as he walked into the kitchen and placed his hand on an empty countertop in the corner. “This is where I’ll make you coffee every morning and french toast on the weekend.”

  I smiled and rushed over to him. “James—”

  “Wait.” He held me at bay. “There’s more.”

  James and I crept up the steps and he led me into one of the smaller bedrooms. “This will be the baby’s room. The crib can go there and we can put a chair near the window so you can look out while you’re nursing.” He let me linger there for another moment, then I turned to him to say something.

  “C’mon,” he said. “I’ve got one more room to show you.” He took my hand and we arrived in the bedroom. It was empty, except for the marks of dust that outlined the furniture that was once there. James led me to the middle.

  “This is where our bed will be. The one we bought at Pottery Barn. Do you remember that night?” he asked.

  I nodded, trying not to break down and cry all over him.

  “This is where we’ll read together before bed. Where we’ll make love. Where we’ll wake up to one another every day for the rest of our lives. Or until we retire and move south.”

  I laughed and cried. He’d painted a beautiful picture of our life together. There was no ring, but in its place was love. And we were going to fill that entire space with it. In fact, I didn’t know if that house could hold all the love we had to give.

  “Thank you, for letting me take some time and for showing me this,” I said.

  “You know, I also realized something when you were away,” he said.

  “What’s that?” I gazed up at him and I could feel my eyes twinkle.

  “I never want to give you a reason to doubt how much I love you. And you’re right. Love means taking a chance even if you’re afraid you’ll lose. I don’t want to lose you again.”

  Then, James got down on one knee and pulled a ring-sized box from his pocket. I blinked once, then twice. Could it really be happening? He flipped open the box and a shiny diamond glistened inside. I felt a leap in my chest and my eyes filled with new tears, tears of happiness for a new life.

  “I hope this will also be the place where we begin our new life together,” he said, holding the ring box as steady as he could.

  I covered my mouth and nose in my hands. This felt like a dream.

  “Marin Li Johns, will you marry me?”

  “Yes!” I cried.

  He stood and took my face in his hands.

  “Yes.”

  I couldn’t decide whether I wanted to cry more or smile more. So I did both.

  “You sure this is what you want?” I asked after a moment, hopeful that he wouldn’t change his mind.

  “Without a doubt.” He pushed my hair back and pulled me in for a kiss. I was reminded of the half marathon almost two years back when he had rescued me again after I fell and agreed to give me another chance. I was so grateful for that second chance, and even more grateful for this one.

  He peeled my hand off his shoulder and slipped the glistening ring on my left ring finger. It was perfect. Somehow, after everything, we were engaged, really engaged with a round, cushion–cut, champagne diamond ring to prove it. I decided then and there that I’d never let anything come between us, and I’d never doubt his commitment to me.

  The next day, we closed on Fell Street and the house was ours. When I returned to work as a homeowner and fiancée, there was one person I couldn’t wait to share the news with.

  “Hey,” I said and danced into Andy’s office. He looked up from his computer screen.

  “What are you so happy about?” he asked.

  “James and I closed on the house,” I said.

  “Really? Congratulations. You two patched things up?”

  “We sure did. Look!” I flashed my left hand in front of his face, showing off the ring, like a proud fiancée.

  “He proposed?” Andy couldn’t have sounded more surprised.

  My grin spread from ear to ear. I nodded like crazy.

  “Oh, my God, that’s amazing. Congratulations!” Andy gave me a big hug and took my hand to get a closer look at the ring. “That’s beautiful.”

  “Thank you.” I blushed.

  “So I guess you got everything you wanted,” he said.

  “Yep, can you believe it?”

  “Yeah, I can. I’m glad you finally can too.”

  I gave him a funny look, then remembered the other news I ha
dn’t shared with him. “Oh, my gosh, I forgot to tell you about Telly.”

  “What about her?” he looked confused, but intrigued.

  “She’s going to have a baby,” I said.

  “Are you serious?” Okay, now he couldn’t have sounded more surprised.

  “Oh, don’t worry. It’s not yours.”

  He chuckled. “I know, Marin. You have to have sex to have a baby,”

  “Ah-ha! You never slept with Telly on your date. So what did happen?” I asked, looking at him suspiciously.

  “I’m not telling you. It was over a year ago.”

  I pursed my lips. “Are you ever going to tell me what happened between you two? Is there some waiting period that has to expire? Did she make you sign a contract or something?”

  “I’ll never tell, so let it go.”

  “Fine.” I said. “I’ll ask her when she’s all drugged up during labor.”

  “I doubt that’ll work, but good luck,” he said.

  I left him with a smile, but before I could get too far, he called me back in.

  “I’m really happy for you, Marin. You’re a good girl. You deserve everything you want.”

  “Thanks, Andy. So do you.”

  CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR

  Moving On

  The sun warmed the streets that Saturday morning in May. I met Holly, Telly, and Rachel at one of our favorite spots for brunch.

  “Congrats on the new house!” Holly said as I slid next to her in the leather booth. The other girls chimed in with more congratulatory wishes.

  “Thanks, guys, but I have more good news,” I said.

  “What’s that?” Telly asked, taking a sip of her coffee, decaf I hoped. With an enormous grin, I whipped my hand out like a magician revealing something magical, because it was. “I’m engaged!”

  The girls cheered and tugged my hand in every direction, each trying to get a better look than the last, fawning over the news like the best of girlfriends. They were my best girlfriends.

  “What changed? I thought he didn’t want to get married,” Telly said. The truth was I’d never really know if it was the result of the McQueen Method, fear of losing me, or simply a change of heart, but in all cases, I was sure the change was genuine.

  “I don’t know, because I went to tell him that I wanted to be with him even if it meant we’d never be married. He was off the hook completely. The next thing I knew he was showing me through the whole house and painting a picture of what our life would be like there. When we got to the bedroom he told me that love meant taking a chance, even if you were afraid. Then he got down on one knee,” I said. Holly and Rachel gazed at me all doe-eyed, even Telly looked a little awe struck. It was probably her hormones.

  “He said that? That’s so romantic!” Rachel squealed. Looking at all of them, I realized that all of us had taken a chance on love despite our fears. Rachel when she married David, knowing that what happened could, Holly for giving her heart to someone who lived half a world away, and Telly for taking a chance on motherhood, knowing very well that it could interfere with everything she’d worked so hard to accomplish.

  “It’s crazy how things change, huh?” Telly said and we all agreed. Our scrumptious breakfast platters arrived and the moment the server sat the plate in front of Telly she grimaced.

  “You okay?” I asked.

  She covered her mouth with the napkin. “I’ll be back. Fucking pregnancy.” Telly hurried to the bathroom, Holly following close behind for support. I was grateful. My breakfast did not need a side of barf.

  “How are you doing?” I asked Rachel.

  “I’m okay. I told David about everything.”

  “What did he say?”

  She sighed. “He wasn’t happy about it, obviously, but I think he was relieved in a way.”

  “Really? What now?”

  “Believe it or not we agreed to forgive each other and try to move on.”

  “Just like that?” If only it were that simple. Hmm, maybe it could be.

  She nodded and the girls were back.

  “You all right there, champ?” I asked Telly.

  She shot me a dirty look. “Never get pregnant.”

  I didn’t envy her morning sickness, but as soon as James and I became husband and wife, I wanted to start a family.

  “So when’s the wedding?” Holly asked.

  “When’s you’re wedding?” I smirked.

  “We’re thinking next spring, a wedding here, then a ceremony in Thailand.”

  I smiled and shot her a wink.

  Rachel’s fork dropped hard on her plate. “Oh, my God! Are you guys thinking what I’m thinking?” She seemed to shake with excitement while the rest of us looked confused. “Double wedding!”

  “That’s not a real thing.” Telly frowned. I was glad she said it. Holly and I shared so much, but I was not going to share my special day with her. She deserved one of her own too.

  “Well, I think it would be really cool,” Rachel said under her breath as she retreated to her omelet.

  “Depending on the venue, we’re looking at late November or early December. I don’t want to wait much longer,” I said.

  “What venue are you thinking?” Holly asked.

  I swallowed a bite of the most delicious pancakes. I’d probably have to cut back soon if I wanted to look perfect in my wedding dress. “I’m hoping to have it at the Conservatory of Flowers.”

  Rachel gasped and Holly nodded her approval. “That’s a great choice,” Holly said.

  “And all three of you are in the wedding party,” I commanded in case there was any confusion. Telly sneered, as I thought she would.

  “You know I’m due in mid-December, right? I’m literally gonna be all belly,” Telly said.

  I nodded as if I was oblivious to the point she was trying to make. She continued to glare at me. “So what, you want me to change my wedding date around your gestation period?” I smirked.

  “Of course not, but do I have to be a bridesmaid?” Telly grimaced.

  I shot her a wide-eye look. “Yes! I need you up there, so don’t try to get out of it.”

  “Fine.” She rolled her eyes. “Who’s planning the bachelorette party?”

  “No, no, no. No bachelorette party,” I said.

  “C’mon, Marin. It’s bad enough I have to be a fat bridesmaid, at least let me do something fun.” She shimmied her shoulders.

  “Okay, but no strippers,” I said, and she agreed, easier than I anticipated.

  By midweek, all of the new furnishings had been moved into the new house and James had been working steadily to put the house together as best as he could. Meanwhile, I was packing up my apartment, sorting through items to take, leave, or giveaway. I was about to start on my bedroom when there was a knock at my door.

  Telly.

  “What are you doing here?” I asked.

  She pushed her way through, the sound of her stilettos echoed through my nearly empty apartment.

  “I came to help you pack. Remember?”

  “No, but thanks. Are you sure you’re up for it?”

  She rolled her eyes. “I’m pregnant, not disabled.”

  I shrugged. “Sorry.”

  “What’s left?” She peeked around the space.

  “Just the two bedrooms. Grab a box.”

  We sat the boxes down and I assigned her my closet. She pulled items off the shelves with ease and tucked them in boxes. Her method was very organized, unlike mine. Who knew if I’d ever be able to pack a box or load the dishwasher the right way.

  “How’d you get everything to fit so well?” I pointed to one of the boxes.

  “I did a lot of moving as a kid.” Telly didn’t talk much about her childhood. With what little information she gave, I got the impression that things were a little unstable at Casa de la Torres. Her mother had died when she was young. That couldn’t have been easy.

  “Hey, how would you feel if I brought Will with me to your wedding?” she asked.

/>   Seeing as Will was the father of my best friend’s baby, it would be best to make an effort for Telly.

  “If you want him there, then I want him there.”

  “Really?” She looked surprised.

  “Sure, why not. You’re stuck with him now.” I shot her a wink.

  Telly looked pleased and began texting on her phone.

  “Is that him?” I asked.

  “Mmhmm.” She stuck her phone in her pocket and resumed packing my things. A moment later, someone else knocked on the door.

  “Who’s that?” Telly asked.

  “I dunno. I wasn’t expecting anyone.” We walked to the door and on the other side was a man wearing a Moving Guys uniform polo shirt.

  “Are you Marin Johns?” he asked, pushing his way inside, frightening me a little.

  “Yes, who are you?”

  “I’m from the moving company. I understand you need some help unloading . . . your box.”

  Huh?

  Dance music blasted behind me. I turned and Telly was grinning and dancing like a go-go girl. When I looked back, the “mover” had removed his shirt and was thrusting his groin at me like take it baby, take it.

  “A stripper, Telly?” I raised my eyebrows.

  “Yeah, girl!” She handed me some loose cash and made me sit down so the stripper could thrust his thing in my face. “Make it rain on him, Marin!”

  Gross.

  “Come on in, girls!” Telly shouted. Holly, Rachel, and Ginger danced into my apartment, carrying champagne, a hot pink bachelorette sash, and other party favors.

  I blushed, wanting to cover my face. “What’s this?”

  “It’s your bachelorette party!” Rachel shouted over the music.

  “Wait, my wedding’s not for six months,” I said.

  “Sorry, Marin,” Telly said. “I had to throw it now, while I’m still sexy.”

  I pulled Telly in and kissed her cheek. “You’ll always be sexy, girl!” I turned to Holly. “How could you let this happen?” I asked, laughing and pointing to the half naked man dancing in my living room.

  Holly shrugged with an innocent face.

  Ginger slipped the sash over me. “Congratulations, girl! I told you.” She smirked and pinched my cheek.

  After the stripper left, the girls and I spent the remainder of the night drinking and packing the rest of my things for the move. Between the five of us, our lives had all recently changed in some significant ways. I was relieved to be moving forward in life alongside my best friends.