Total pages in book: 39
Estimated words: 37793 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 189(@200wpm)___ 151(@250wpm)___ 126(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 37793 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 189(@200wpm)___ 151(@250wpm)___ 126(@300wpm)
“Why did you change?” I said instead of how beautiful she looked.
“Excuse me?”
“You changed your dress.”
“Well, yes,” she said hesitantly, scowling.
“Why did you do that?”
“I’m standing up with you. I’m not gonna wear what everyone saw me in earlier.” After a moment she added, “Seriously, are you good?”
“Jing was excited you were wearing the same designer.” I sounded lame.
She squinted, looking concerned. “I’m sure me changing will make sense to her, but more importantly, I’m compelled to ask again, are you all right?”
“Yeah, I—I’m fine.”
“I mean, I love Jing, she’s fabulous, but why do you care what either of us is wearing?”
“I don’t. You just changed is all, and that threw me.”
“Threw you?” Her eyes widened and she appeared concerned.
“I just thought it was odd.”
“Okay.” She placated me.
“Stop looking at me like I’m nuts. And who said you could throw flower petals around?”
“Kurt.”
“He’s a sap.”
“He is,” she agreed. “Now come over here and hug me.”
“No.”
“Do it now so I know you love me even when you don’t say it and won’t confess it even under torture.”
“You shouldn’t joke about torture with black ops guys.”
She crossed her arms.
“What? You shouldn’t.”
“Listen, you have to come see me next weekend on my birthday.”
“Is it your birthday?” I baited her. “How old will you be?”
Heavy, exasperated huff of air from her because we both knew I knew the date and that she was turning twenty-one. “Stop it right now before you make me cry.”
My groan was loud, but I realized that important people in my life should know where they stood with me. Ian had made sure I knew he wanted us to be closer. I was taking Kurt with me to the next poker night, for heaven’s sake. “I’m not walking to you. You come here.”
It was very telling how quickly she rushed across the room to me. Grabbing her, I crushed her to my chest and held her tight. Her sigh was nearly a whimper.
“I’m gonna say this one time and never again,” I informed her.
“Okay. I’m ready. Go ahead.”
I wanted to tell her not to make such a big deal about words. What did words mean? My actions should have told her everything she needed to know about me and her and my heart. “You know I love you, don’t be an idiot.”
“No,” she murmured, hugging me back just as hard. “I won’t. I’ll know forever now.”
After a moment I said, “don’t make this weird.”
“Too late,” she teased me.
Kurt was in his sister’s room, and when I knocked, I was surprised he was the one who opened the door.
“Wow,” he said, looking me up and down. “You’re gorgeous.”
“You just saw me,” I said, chuckling. “And way more of me than this.”
“I did, yes,” he granted, and pulled my rolled-up tie from the pocket of his suit jacket.
“Oh, thank you,” I said with a relieved sigh.
“You’re very welcome,” he husked, and I noted that he was still wearing what would be my wedding ring.
“I didn’t tell you earlier, but you’re beautiful,” I told him from the heart.
His smile made his eyes gleam. “I need a promise.”
“Well, you’ll be getting a big one here in just a bit.”
“I need another.”
“Whatever you want.”
He cleared his throat. “You promise me now to always do everything in your power to come home to me, be it from work or when you’re deployed.”
“But I’ve already––”
“Yes,” he agreed. “But this is different. This is forever.”
Staring into his sweet eyes, I couldn’t immediately find the words to give him.
“I don’t know what I would do without you,” he confessed gruffly. “I need this.”
Knowing him as I did, I knew better than to ask him if he still wanted to marry me. He wasn’t going to change his mind. His love was far stronger than his fear.
I took a breath. “I promise to always do everything in my power to get home to you. It’s where I want to be more than anything.”
Long exhale from him and he quickly brushed away a couple of stray tears. “Good.”
We were quiet then, just standing together in the doorway.
“You know, I might have worked myself up to nearly puking, thinking about how much I want to marry you and how crazy it is at the same time.”
“Yeah. Because what the hell do you know about getting married?”
“That’s exactly right. Did you do that too?”