by Ryan Michele
“I know. It was fun, wasn’t it?”
“Maybe…” I scowled, pouting my lips. He leaned down and nipped at my mouth.
“I love you, Ev.”
“What?” I blinked, and my breath caught in my throat, heart pounding.
“You heard me, babe.” He gazed down at me with pure love and adoration.
“Mason … I.”
“You don’t need to say anything. I didn’t say it because I wanted to hear it back. I said it because I love you and want you to know that you’re everything to me. Be ready at six. I’m taking you out tonight to celebrate.”
“Hmm… I’ll think about it, but I don’t go out with jerks,” I teased to lighten the mood, but inside I was screaming. We had only been a real couple a few weeks, and he was throwing out the L word like it was nothing. It was huge. Crazy big. I loved him too and felt like an ass for not saying it back.
“You go out with this jerk, yeah?” He gripped my hip, holding me in place. His erection pressed into me.
“Stop it.” My cheeks had to be blood red.
He kissed my neck.
“We’re at work,” I reminded him.
“Then I guess you’d better say yes to dinner, so I’ll stop us both from getting fired.” He chuckled, raking his teeth along the shell of my ear. I shivered. My insides warmed, and my panties were freaking soaked. The things he did to me.
“What time did you say?” I breathed in his intoxicating and tempting scent.
“Six.”
“I’ll be ready.”
“Good.” Mason kissed me again, then went back to work.
The moment he was gone Samantha came running. “So I take it things are official?”
“Yeah.” I couldn’t wipe the smile off my face. Mason worked, and the fact that he put his job on the line for me had me swooning. I knew he was a keeper, but this solidified it even more. Things between us were fast and hot; though, I didn’t worry about our flame fizzling out. We worked. We fit seamlessly into each other’s life. During the week he slept over most nights. On the weekends Mooch and I crashed at his apartment, and on Sundays we had dinner with my family. Mason’s parents had moved to Denver a few years prior, but he wanted us to visit during the summer.
“He um…” I licked my lips, reaching for the water bottle on my desk.
“He what?”
“Hold on.” I held up a finger and twisted the cap off. I sucked down a large gulp, my pulse still zooming a million miles a minute. “Okay. Whew.” I smiled. “He said and I quote, I love you.”
“Holy shit.”
“I know, right? I mean, it’s fast. Is it too soon?”
“You’ve known the guy most of your life. Is there ever a right time or rules? When you know, you know; right? What did you say?”
“I kind of froze and called him a jerk.”
Samantha laughed with a shake of her head. “Guess I should go ahead and order those monogrammed towels for you.”
“What? Towels? He didn’t ask me to marry him. We don’t even live together.”
My bestie folded her arms over her bosom. “Sure. Okay. And how many nights a week are the two of you apart? Hmm…”
She had me there. I had no argument. “Still. Nothing is official. He still has his apartment.”
“How much of his clothes are at your house right now?”
I rolled my eyes at her, but she wasn’t wrong; in fact, she had a point. I had given Mason his own rack in my closet for his work clothes. “Shit,” I muttered.
“Mhmm. You, my friend, have a live-in boyfriend.”
I guessed I kind of did.
“This doesn’t look like a restaurant, honey.” I shook my head as Mason pulled in at his building.
“Yeah. Yeah. Smart ass. I had a change of plans. Don’t freak out, but my parents are in town, and my mother insisted on cooking us dinner. Your folks are already here too.”
“Say what now?” Shock stole my breaths.
“When I told Mom about you, she booked a flight. And you know our mothers were friends. Apparently, they’ve been talking.”
“Oh god,” I mumbled, pressing a palm to my forehead.
“Don’t stress. I’m sure Jane Lynn is being nice.”
I gave him a skeptical look. “You do realize they’ve probably already planned our wedding and named our children.”
Mason held my gaze, wearing this goofy grin on his face.
“Why are you looking at me like that?”
Taking my hand in his, he brought my knuckles to his lips. “Babe, you just said our future children and wedding. This told me two things. One—you see us married one day, and two—you’d have my babies.”
My teeth sank into my bottom lip. Shit. “Um … you’re right. I do see those things when I look to the future. I want that. Do you?” My stomach flipped upside down. I couldn’t believe I confessed that and asked him straight out if he wanted to marry me and have kids one day.
“Everly, nothing would make me happier.” His lips met mine, soft and full of love. Mason made love to my mouth, his tongue sweeping between my lips. God, he was so damn sweet sometimes; I was afraid he’d somehow disappear.
“We should go inside before your mom or mine comes looking for us and tries to give us baby making pointers or something.” I chuckled.
“I think we have that part covered. We get in a lot of practice. Is that something you’d want soon?”
“Kids?” I choked the word out.
“Yeah. I mean, won’t we need to plan for it with your birth control and whatever.”
“Yeah. I guess I’d need to discuss the possibility with my doctor since I have the implant.”
“Make an appointment.”
“We’re not even living together. I mean, we’ve been together like two weeks.”
“I’m in your bed every night, and most of my clothes are in your closet.”
“True… Are you saying you want to move in with me?”
“That depends on if you’re asking.”
“I think I am. Mason Jones, will you move in with me?”
“Babe?” He kissed me again.
“Hmm?” I rolled my lips inward, fighting my smile.
“I already have.”
We both laughed.
“Asshole.”
“I’m your asshole, though. C’mon. Let’s get up there.” He exited and came around to open my door. I absolutely loved how chivalrous he was.
Upstairs in his apartment both our families were waiting for us, ready with champagne. I was beginning to feel a bit set up, but I didn’t mind. I knew Mason had my back if my mom were to start her crazy again.
Even Jess, Casey, Drake and Kelsey were present. It was sweet, but I didn’t get why they’d care so much about Mason’s promotion. I didn’t even pick up on the weird smiles everyone seemed to be giving me.
Well wishes and congrats rang out as we moved further into the apartment.
“Way to go, big guy.” Drake slapped his shoulder, bringing him in for a bro hug.
“There she is, and much more beautiful than I remember,” Karen, Mason’s mother said, walking toward me and then pulling me in for a hug. Squeezing me a tad too tight but sweet, nonetheless. “Get her some champagne, Marty.” She nudged Mason’s father.
Mason got his height and build from his father, but he shared his mother’s eyes. “I’m so thrilled the two of you got together. Your mom and I go way back. I remember when you were just a tiny thing. When Mason told me that you two were an item, I just had to call Jane Lynn and get down here to see you both. This is all just wonderful.”
I accepted a glass of champagne, and we all toasted to my wonderful boyfriend. “To Mason,” Herbert cheered, raising his flute.
“To Mason,” I repeated, taking a healthy swig. My stomach fluttered with a million different sensations, but mostly I loved that his mother seemed to be happy we were a couple. Things had been rocky at best with my mom.
Kelsey gave me a cheeky g
rin and raised her apple cider. She glowed from head to toe, radiating with mother-to-be happiness.
Mason sat his glass on the counter and took my hands in his. “I want to take a moment to thank you all for being here. Mom and Dad, you got on a plane the moment I asked.” I blinked at his words because he told me his mom insisted. “I wanted you to be here for this.” Dropping to one knee, he kept hold of my hands, and his gaze pierced straight through me.
Was he really doing this?
“Everly, I’ve always known you were someone special. The kind of girl you don’t go after unless you’re ready to give her the world. Back in high school, I wasn’t ready for a girl like you, but today I kneel before you, ready to worship the woman you’ve become. I love you. I’ve always loved you. Will you make my dream come true and be my wife?”
I heard my mother choke back a gasp and let out a small cry.
I stared at Mason who now held a ring in one hand.
“Well, answer the guy,” Jess grumbled.
I rolled my eyes at her. Always wanting to be the center of attention. Even as kids she wanted all eyes on her.
“Yes, Mason. I want to marry you.” I threw my arms around him, nearly tackling him to the floor as our families cheered. Our lips connected, and then Mason slid the princess cut diamond onto my finger. “Perfect fit.” I beamed, staring down at the rock.
“Just like you.” My fiancé kissed me once more as my mother watched, shedding a few tears.
After congratulations were shared, everyone moved to the living room, popping a squat where they could with their plates. It was a good thing he was moving in with me. The guy didn’t even own a table. Mason sat next to me, cross-legged on the rug in front of the fireplace. Everyone chatted, quietly eating their pasta. I looked around the room at all the smiling faces, finally feeling as though I belonged. I’d found my person.
“Hey, babe,” he whispered, crooking a finger under my chin.
“Yeah?”
“What do you say we kick everyone out and get a head start practicing on making them babies?”
“I like the way you think, honey.” He laughed, and then he kissed me.
Epilogue
Cruise Into The Future –
Everly
“You excited?” Jess ran her fingers through my long, wavy beach curls one last time.
“My stomach keeps turning somersaults.”
“Drink some water.” Kelsey handed me my drink.
What I wanted was liquor, but Mason had made good on all his baby-making talk, and we’d found out a few weeks before we were expecting. It may have appeared to some we were having a shotgun wedding, but this day had been over a year in the making. The family all loaded up for a second and what was looking to be our annual cruise. This time Mason brought his parents, and Samantha and Greg came with us. A friend from work was pet-sitting Mooch for us.
When Mason suggested we get married on the same beach as Kelsey and Drake, I thought he was completely crazy, but it made sense. Their wedding gave us the push we needed to get together and see what had been in front of us all along.
“You look like an absolute princess, sweetheart.” My mother doted over me, placing the tiara that went with my gown on my head. It was my one and only wedding. I intended to make it count. This time around we managed to score a cruise schedule that would allow us to be married at night. “Will you guys give us a moment?” Jess and Kelsey left us.
I looked at my mom and wondered what she was up to.
“Darling girl, I hope you know I’m proud of you, and I love you. There’s something I need to say. It isn’t easy for me to admit this, so I’m just going to say it. I’m sorry I gave you and Mason such a hard time about the validity of your relationship. I judged you both, and it wasn’t fair of me. He’s a wonderful man, and I know he’s going to be a great husband, son-in-law, and one day a father. I’m happy you have him in your life. I see the way he looks at you, and it reminds me of the way your father looked at me. He would be so happy for you if he were here. So very proud. You were always his favorite. Sometimes I almost felt jealous of the bond the two of you had. He loved you so much, and he always liked Mason. I love Herbert. He’s given me a new lease on life and love, but your father was my first love.”
I fanned my hands toward my face, mainly my eyes. “You’re going to make me cry.”
“Oh now, we don’t want you ruining your makeup. Give me a hug and tell me all is forgiven. I don’t want any bad energy between us on your big special night.”
“I love you, Mom.” I kissed her cheek and gave her a squeeze, wishing my father could be here to share in all the little things. I didn’t think I’d ever not miss him and ache for him. Nothing would ever fill that void, but it was a part of life that I had to accept. This was the happiest night of my life.
“I want you to have these.” She grasped my hand and tucked a pair of diamond earrings into my palm. “I wore these the day I married your father. Now I’m giving them to you, and one day when you have a daughter you can pass them on to her for her special day.”
“Whew.” I bit my lip. “I’m not gonna cry. I’m not gonna cry.”
“It’s time. You ready for this?”
“Absolutely.” I smiled, biting back my sadness.
“Now if we could just get your sister to start planning her wedding.”
“Don’t hold your breath.” I loved Jess, but she was going to have the longest engagement in history. Mom would be lucky to see it happen within the next five years.
The moon shone over the powdery white sand. The waves crashed restlessly against the shore. Tiki torches lit the aisle that was adorned with garland, coconuts, and seashells. Our wedding, a tropical paradise. Everything was perfect, including my groom dressed in black pants rolled up his calves and a white button-down with the sleeves pushed up and a few buttons undone. His dark hair tousled as though I’d just run my fingers through it. As I stood with Herbert watching my bridesmaid march toward the Justice of the Peace, I wanted to bypass it all and run to my man. I’d been waiting all my life for this day. I’d waited all my life for Mason Jones, and I finally had him. I had my man.
“You look beautiful,” Herbert told me. “You probably don’t hear it enough, but I’m proud of you, Ev. I know I’m not your dad, and I’d never try to replace him, but I’m honored to fill his shoes tonight.”
My bottom lip trembled as tears burned in the back of my throat. The two of us had always gotten along, but neither of us had ever been overly sentimental with one another. “Thank you. I’m not sure if I’ve ever told you, but while you can’t replace my dad, you do a pretty damn good job taking care of us and treating us like your own. I’m proud to have you walk me down the aisle and give me away.”
He grabbed his handkerchief from his pocket, wiping at his eyes. I took a deep breath, sucking in the ocean air. This was it. My wedding day … well, night.
Arm looped through my stepfather’s, I stepped forward, one foot in front of the other, sand gritting between my bare toes. My dress, simple yet elegant, stopped at my knees and had an empire waist for my growing belly. I was almost into my second trimester, and a small bump had began to protrude.
Karen and Marty, Mason’s parents, smiled at me with tears streaming down their faces. My mother was a blubbering mess. Her emotions weren’t so erratic when Drake married Kelsey, but when their little boy was born, she was over the moon and downright scary. I thought she’d pass out, and she appeared on the verge of it now. I stared ahead, having only eyes for Mason. The moonlight illuminated him by the white archway. A warm breeze fluttered by, caressing my skin with the spray of the ocean.
“Who gives this woman in marriage?”
“Her mother and I do,” Herbert announced, passing me off to my husband-to-be. He stepped back, and I joined hands with Mason after passing my gorgeous lilies over to Jess.
“God, babe, I love you,” Mason whispered, and I wanted nothing more than to kiss him already. I
couldn’t stop grinning.
“Friends, you’ve been brought here on this beautiful night to witness the union of Mason Jones and Everly Woolsworth. Mason, if you’re ready, repeat after me. I thee Mason, do take thee Everly to be my wife and partner through life, starting on this night. For better or worse, in sickness and health, as long as the two of you inhabit this earth.”
“I, Mason, promise to take Everly to be my wife and partner through life, starting on this night. For better or worse, in sickness and health, as long as I live.”
“Everly, I’ll ask you to do the same and repeat after me. I thee Everly, do take thee Mason to be my husband and partner through life, starting on this night. For better or worse, in sickness and health, as long as the two of you inhabit this earth.”
Tingles spread all through my body. My pulse raced, and my heart fluttered in my chest. “I, Everly, take Mason to be my husband. For better or worse, in sickness and health, as long as I’m of this earth.”
“Rings please.”
Drake stepped forward, handing our rings to Mason.
“These rings represent your union. An unbroken circle with no beginning and no end. Everly and Mason are exchanging these rings as a symbol of their commitment to one another.”
Mason slipped the silver band on my finger. “I, Mason, promise to love and cherish you above all others. With this ring I give you my heart and all of me.”
I took Mason’s hand in mine, slipping his matching band over his knuckle. “I, Everly, promise to love and cherish you above all others. With this ring I give you my heart and all of me.”
“I present to you Mr. and Mrs. Jones. You may now kiss the bride.”
Mason’s arm coiled around my waist as he dipped me back, planting a big wet kiss full of tongue on me. When I’d come up for a breath, I looked at Jess. “You keep the flowers; you’re next.” I winked, and she shook her head. She’d agreed to marry Casey, but their engagement would be a long one.