Chapter 12
Chapter Twelve
Jackson
“Thank you for dinner, Jackson,” Samantha spoke as she climbed out of the limo. “Jules is going to be so surprised. It’s going to be a great party.”
“You’re welcome and thank you for helping me plan it.”
“No problem. Talk to you soon.” She smiled as she shut the door.
Jules was certainly going to be surprised since our birthday had already come and gone.
On my way home, I couldn’t stop thinking about Emily and how beautiful she looked at dinner. My mind raced with thoughts of her. Maybe because we had just spent the night and part of that morning together. She was an un-complicated and very strong woman. Not only did I find that attractive about her, but it was also a major turn-on. Her views on relationships were like mine, and I had never known anyone like that before. That was probably why I found sex with her to be the best I ever had. Everything about her was incredible, and I knew there was no way she’d want anything more from me, just like I didn’t want anything more from her.
The next morning, the elevator came up, and Jules stepped out.
“Good morning.” She smiled as she walked over and kissed my cheek.
“Good morning. Coffee?” I asked.
“I’d love some. I just got off a twenty-four-hour shift.”
Taking a mug down from the cabinet, I poured some strong coffee into it and handed it to her as she took a seat at the island.
“Was the ER busy?”
She laughed. “When isn’t it busy? It was one accident after another, and I lost a patient.”
“Aw, Jules, I’m sorry.” I took a seat and hooked my arm around her.
“It’s part of the job.”
“So, what brings you by?” I asked.
“Nothing. I just felt like some sibling bonding time. I talked to Mom yesterday in between patients. Apparently, she and Stuart haven’t been getting along lately.”
“And you’re surprised?” I smirked. “I mean, come on, she’s not an easy woman to live with, and it has been five years since their marriage. It’s about that time.”
“I have something to tell you.” She laid her head on my shoulder.
“What’s wrong?”
“Carter asked me to marry him last night.”
“Wow. At the hospital? In between shifts?” I laughed.
A light giggle escaped her as she lifted her head and looked at me.
“Up on the rooftop while we were having dinner.”
“How romantic.” I smirked.
“It was, and he totally caught me off guard.”
“What did you tell him?”
“I said I had to think about it.”
“That must have been a blow to his ego.”
“He understood. He knows how we grew up and said he doesn’t need an answer now.”
“He’s a good man, Jules.”
“I know he is, but marriage changes people, and I don’t want him or us to change.”
“True. If you really don’t want to get married, then don’t. If he can’t understand that, then maybe he isn’t the guy for you.”
“I love him, Jackson, but marriage scares the hell out of me.”
“I know it does, and it should.” I kissed the side of her head. “Can’t the two of you just continue living together without the piece of paper? He knows everything about you and how you feel about marriage. Listen, do whatever your heart tells you. Don’t listen to what’s going on inside your head. If you love him that much, which I know you do, then marry the guy.”
“Coming from a man who refuses to get into a relationship.” She smirked.
“True.” I grinned. “Marriage and relationships aren’t for me, but it seems to work for you. So just follow your heart.”
“Thanks, Jackson.” She kissed my cheek. “I’m going to go home and get some sleep. Carter has another couple of hours until his shift ends.”
I wasn’t surprised that Carter asked Jules to marry him. He was so in love with her, and it was something you could see every time they were together. I decided to stay in and do some work from home. As I was sitting in my office, looking up some properties, I received a text message from Carter asking if I was home.
“Hey, man. Are you by any chance home?”
“Yeah. I’m just doing some work. What’s up?”
“I need to talk to you. Would you mind if I stopped by?”
“Not at all. Come on over. Just take the elevator up.”
About thirty minutes later, I heard the elevator ding, so I got up from my chair and headed to the kitchen.
“I brought us a pizza.” Carter smiled as he set it on the counter.
“Great. I’ll grab a couple of beers.”
After handing him a beer, I took down a couple of plates and brought the pizza to the table, where we both sat down and grabbed a slice.
“What did you want to talk about?” I asked, even though I was certain it was about his proposal to Jules.
“I asked Jules to marry me last night.”
“Oh?” I pretended that I didn’t know. “What did she say?”
“She said she’d have to get back to me.”
“Are you really surprised by that?”
“Not really. It just seemed like the perfect moment. Maybe I should have waited. I’m just so worried that she’s going to say no.” He took a sip of his beer.
“Don’t give up on her just yet. I know she loves you, and if she can push aside all the shit we grew up seeing, then I’m sure she’ll say yes.”
“I really do not like your parents at the moment.” He grinned.
I couldn’t help but chuckle. “I can understand that. They certainly have their issues, which were passed down to me and Jules.”
“You know, Jackson, not every relationship is like that. My parents have been happily married for thirty years. People can get married and stay together.”
“I’m sure some can.”
“You don’t believe that if Jules and I got married, we’d be together forever?”
“I don’t know, Carter. You and Jules have an amazing relationship. Do you really need a piece of paper to solidify that?”
“Yes. Actually, I do. I want to make her my wife. I don’t want to introduce her as my girlfriend for the rest of my life.”
“I really wish I could understand where you’re coming from, but I can’t. My parents didn’t paint this amazing picture of how wonderful and fulfilling marriage is. They only showed us that you get out if things get bad or tough.”
“I understand that, but see, my parents did paint the perfect picture of how it can be when two people are deeply in love, and that’s what I want with Jules.”
“And you think having a grand party with a ton of people and declaring your love in front of them will make any difference?”
“I do.” He finished off a second slice of pizza.
I felt bad for the guy because he wholeheartedly believed that he and Jules would be together forever. Who the hell knew? Maybe they would be. I just didn’t want him to pressure my sister into something she was unsure of.
“What do I do, Jackson?”
“Do you love my sister?” I asked with seriousness.
“More than anything in the whole world. I’d die for her.”
“Then you’ll wait for her answer. And if she tells you no, you won’t let it change anything about your relationship.”
“I couldn’t anyway. If she says no, then I’ll respect her decision.”
“You’re a good man, Carter, and just to let you know, I got your back.”
“Thanks, man. I appreciate it.”
After finishing off a large pizza and two beers later, he left to go home to his girlfriend, and I went back to doing some work in my office. Thoughts of Emily crept through my mind, and I wanted to take her out again. But I’d wait a few days until popping into her shop to ask her.