Chapter 23
FORD
Connor leans over the side of the ice rink to reach into his bag. He keeps his feet covered in skates crossed at the ankles to avoid hitting anyone as he grabs an envelope from his sports bag before plopping back onto the ice.
It’s Friday, which means we’re spending the weekend in Lake Spark after Brielle or I pick Connor up from school. Brielle did it this week, as I had meetings today with sponsors.
He offers me the letter. “I did what you asked.”
Glimpsing down at the envelope, I can see that he did. I gently hit his head with the thin envelope before holding it up. “Thanks. It might be a rough night for your mom. These are her results.”
“Why didn’t you want her to open them?”
“Because according to everyone, I’m selfish, and I don’t want her to open it alone. I want to be there for her,” I explain.
Connor wipes his face with his shirt. “I think that will make her happy. That you’re there.”
“Hope so.” I scoff out a breath. “Thanks for keeping our secret.” I indicate with the envelope, and he offers me a soft smile. “Go. You can have ten more minutes on the ice, then we’ll grab a pizza and head home.” I stuff the envelope in the back of my jeans.
He tips his head up. “Okay, Mom’s back.”
Connor skates off, and I turn to see Brielle walking down the steps with a filled water bottle.
“There you are,” she says softly. “I was looking for you when we arrived, but the front desk said that you were stuck in a meeting.”
I walk a few steps to meet her and quickly kiss her before following her to sit down in the stands. Immediately, her eyes search for Connor who is circling the ice. It’s easy to notice that there is something on Brielle’s mind.
“You okay?”
She glances to me then back to the ice. “The drive here was peaceful. Only had to slow down once because of a family of ducks crossing.”
I look at her peculiarly, as I feel like this is the start of a bigger conversation. “What is it, Elle? You seem different.”
She swallows and places her hand on my thigh. “So many times, I’ve sat in a similar spot as now. Either to watch you or watch our son. I can’t stop thinking about what it would be like if things were different, our timeline, goals.”
I gently tuck a strand of her hair behind her ear. “And?”
She turns her head, with her eyes set on me, and the corner of her mouth twitches. “I would miss it. I’ve been doing a lot of reflection—and wine drinking, but mostly reflection. During all these years, I’ve been wishing for a few things, but there was one thing I wanted the most.”
“Which is?” I feel like my heart just sank to my belly.
Have I gotten it all wrong? The last month or so, have I been losing her? Is it possible that someone can slip through your fingers twice?
But then a reassuring smirk appears on her lips. “It’s you. You, me, and Connor.”
Relief hits me, and I take her hand between my palms because I feel she has more to say.
“I get to have that now, and it’s enough.”
I tip my head to the side. “I love that you say that, but I won’t ever let you settle for less. I don’t want you to feel like you’re settling.”
Her hand comes to my jawline, and she plays with the stubble on my chin with her thumb.
“You don’t seem to get it. I’ll try again with the Bar and see what I do career-wise.
It’s just that you and Connor are by far more important, and I want to grab everything that I’ve been waiting for.
I want to get married, I don’t want to wait.
We’ll have an odd living situation for a bit, but at the end of the school year, Connor and I will move here. ”
I would protest if I thought she wasn’t thinking from a clear place, but her voice and look say it all. She has thought it over, and she’s serious.
Letting go of her hand, my fingers move to the back of her neck to pull her into a kiss. Our foreheads touch, and I make a point to keep us close. “If it’s what you want then I’ll make it happen.”
“It is what I want, and I don’t care what our parents think. We’re putting ourselves first,” she tells me softly before kissing my lips.
“Promise me that you don’t resent me, promise me that this is truly what you want. Because I promise that I’m never letting you go.”
She smirks. “You never did let me go, you were waiting, remember?”
I laugh because she remembers what I said once. “I’d wait longer if you needed me to.”
Brielle shakes her head. “I’ve wanted this all along, it’s just lately, I’ve been a bit down and lost sight of everything that is possible right now. It turns out, despite a minor blip in the summer, I’m one hell of a lucky girl.”
“I think so too,” I tease as I wrap an arm around her waist and slide her closer to me.
“Things out of our control made me question a few things lately, but I think we passed the challenge, because I’m still certain that you and I are meant to be.”
Kissing her forehead, I smile because her words feel warm and right. “You sound very confident with your newfound happiness.”
She pinches me in the side. “It’s not new. I’ve been pretty damn happy since you tricked me into the middle of the lake. Only the universe wasn’t letting me celebrate it, instead distracting me. I’ve lost a useless organ, among other not-so-stellar things.”
“But you’re at peace with everything? I mean, you’ve accepted that some things can’t be changed?” This is me testing the waters.
“Yeah,” she sighs.
Slowly, and reluctantly, I pull out the envelope from my back pocket. I look at it for a second. “Your results came in.”
Disappointment floods her face. “It is what it is, I knew it would be any day now.”
“Want me to open it for you?”
She holds my arms tighter as she leans her head against my shoulder. “Might as well get the confirmation.” She sighs and looks out onto the ice.
I rip the seal and pull out the official letter and skim the lines. “It was a 266 that you needed to pass, right?”
“Yeah. I was aiming for 310, though.”
“You know, I love the number 69 for many reasons,” I comment.
“God, I did that badly?” She seems to accept her remark.
A giant grin spreads on my face. “I would say you have officially gotten everything you’ve been waiting for.” Her eyes snap in my direction, and she studies my face. I hold the letter up. “You got 269, baby.”
Her mouth opens, and I can see the utter shock spread through her body. It takes a few beats before happiness hits her cheeks. “What?” She grabs the letter in disbelief.
“You’re pretty badass. I mean, you literally passed the Bar while your appendix was about to burst.”
“Barely passed.” She reads the paper in a hurry.
I scoff. “Babe, you passed, and I’m sure any future employer will accept your battle wounds for the explanation for your score.”
It finally seems to hit her when happy tears begin to fall down her cheeks. She throws her arms around my neck, and I hug her until I think I might be crushing her. Rubbing her back, I soak in her embrace because this is the fucking cherry on top.
We both get everything we wanted. No concessions or almosts.
I swipe her hair and place kisses around her face, with her arms clinging to me.
“Oh my God, I was not expecting this. I guess I got lucky since it was the multiple-choice section where I went haywire.”
“Or you are just amazing.”
She creates some space between us and wipes away a tear. “This is…” No words come to her. “How did you have this, anyway?”
“Don’t hate me, but I made Connor check the mail every day and hide it. It arrived yesterday. Not a fucking chance was I going to let you open it alone.”
It earns me a quick kiss. “We have so much to celebrate now.”
“You’re telling me. In case you forgot, you said we’re getting married soon.”
“Oh, I didn’t forget. I also didn’t forget what I already had planned for tonight.”
“Tonight? What do you mean?”
Brielle flashes me the sexiest look. “I believe my idea was after you put that ring on my finger that…” She toys with me by playing with my t-shirt, gripping the fabric at my chest. “Finally, I open the bag from a special boutique here in Lake Spark.”
I growl at the image in my head.
I stand outside my bedroom door for one final check, examining the engagement ring that I plan on putting around Brielle’s finger for the last time. This poor object probably needs clarification, since Brielle and I have been skirting around the lines of officially and unofficially being engaged.
Smiling to myself, I open the door, and my eyes roam from the floor up to my bed where the only woman I need is splayed out in a way I’ve never seen her before. My dick instantly twitches from the sight.
Her brown locks splayed out on the pillow, a bra with lace and pink edging that only highlights the curves of her breasts.
The panties match, but I have no plan on keeping those on.
It’s the suspenders with stockings that have me torn.
The heels are just plain common sense to keep, as I have every intention to fuck her and make love to her tonight.
But hot damn, those suspenders. I love Brielle naked, but I think I want to keep those on.
She beckons me over with her finger. “Care to join me?”
A whistle escapes me. “You’re… wow.”
“It’s different.”
Very.
Brielle has always been confident on the intimacy front. Yet, this set-up demonstrates a different era. We’re experienced, explorative, and exceptional with each other. If this is any indication of married life, then we better speed up that marriage license.
I crawl on the bed, coming to lie on my side next to her, and my eyes dip down to really study her body.
“Can’t believe you kept this from me.”
“I wanted a special occasion,” she whispers the reminder.
That’s my clue.
“Finger,” I order.
She holds up her left hand, and I slide the ring down her finger. “Promise me two things.”
“Anything,” she rasps.
“One, you never take this off.” I touch the new accessory on her hand.
“I promise.”