Total pages in book: 89
Estimated words: 82955 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 415(@200wpm)___ 332(@250wpm)___ 277(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 82955 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 415(@200wpm)___ 332(@250wpm)___ 277(@300wpm)
“Hey, Fall?”
“Yeah?”
“You never answered the question. You can always ask him to marry you. It doesn’t have to be super traditional when I know you both want the same thing.”
I’m not opposed to the idea, but I still worry it’s too soon for him. How does one navigate winning Mr. Eligible Bachelor and then, less than a year later, getting married? “We know it will happen, but—”
“But you like a plan. I know. So does he.”
I check my watch. My heart skips a beat when I see the time. “I have to go. I won’t be gone long.”
“Go get your man.”
I am. It feels like the dawning of a new era, and it starts under the bleachers. I hop in the 4Runner, still not used to how high it is off the ground compared to the Corolla. But I’ve never had a brand-new car, so I’m spoiled by all the fancy features.
Stacy pulls onto the property and rolls down her window. “Are you coming back?”
“Yeah, make yourself at home, and I’ll be back a little later.” More cars are showing up for the party, so I get going.
Turning onto the high school grounds reminds me of our getaway the last time. A smile takes hold remembering how he kissed me. That tiny peck set things in motion, and there’s been no looking back since.
I park and look around, not spotting his truck, and jog toward the football field like a cat on the prowl. Literally. It’s Halloween. People will understand.
Slowing as I approach the spot where so much heartache was launched, I take a deep breath. Everything has changed. Me. Him. Our whole lives have been different since then. I stop on the spot where we first kissed, where he asked me to be his girlfriend, and I said yes. I stand where good memories were created and still exist when blocking out what happened later that night.
“Kitty, Kitty,” I hear, his voice balanced in velvet and sex appeal.
I should be surprised by the costume, but he seems to know everything else about me, so fantasies were probably hummed when I slept with him. “Straight out of Top Gun,” I say, swaying back and forth like a schoolgirl when he comes to me.
“A little birdie told me you had a thing for fighter pilots.” He swipes off his glasses in a smooth move, tucks them into his collar, and kisses me. As if this fantasy couldn’t get better. Cupping my face, he whispers, “Are you my pussycat?”
“I am,” I purr unabashedly for him.
“I know how to make you purr your cotton socks off.”
I slide my hands over his shoulders and hold him. Leaning back, I ask, “Does it involve that special trick you do with your tongue?”
“You like that?”
“I love it.” I kiss him once more, a proper welcome after not seeing him since early this morning because of our jobs. “I missed you.” Running my hand over the patches sewn onto the flight suit, I say, “Tell me you bought this, because I really like this on you.”
“It’s ours to keep and play with as needed.” He spins me out and says, “Let me get a good look at you. Damn, you’re sexy.”
“Compliments get you everywhere with me.”
“Good to know.” He walks around to peer through the bleachers at the field. “What brings us out here?”
“I have a favor to ask.”
“Anything, beautiful.” Returning to me, he takes my hand, holding it between us.
I look around once more and say, “I want a redo. This is where it began, so I thought we would start here.”
It’s been a long time since I’ve seen his boyish grin, but this calls for it. He closes the gap and cups my cheek. Without having to explain another thing, he says, “I’ve been in love with you my entire life, Autumn. I’ve asked you out a million times and dreamed you’d one day be my girlfriend.” I’m not sure how he recalls what he said, but the words are so familiar that they feel like close relatives. “I’m asking for a chance. Will you be my girlfriend, Nurse?”
I’m swooning as much, if not more, than I did back then. It’s easy to believe what he says when I know he speaks from the heart.
“Yes. I’ll be your girlfriend, Captain.” Our mouths fall together, and our tongues tango. In one scorching-hot kiss I could taste forever.
Wrapping his arm over my shoulders, he says, “So when are we meeting at the lake to redo that tragedy of an event?”
“I only want to redo the good stuff. The bad stuff can stay dead and buried.”
Kissing the side of my head again, he says, “I couldn’t agree more.”
One memory down. A thousand more to go. This is going to take some time. Good thing we’ll be together forever.
The backyard is full of kids laughing and parents socializing. The treats table was demolished pretty early on. Brandon was manning the burger station for a while, but I’ve lost sight of him. Not sure how since he’s hard to miss.