Chapter 28 #3
“For you,” he said simply, moving to touch her hand. “Make no mistake, this – right now – is how I always want you to feel when you are with me. No regrets, no worries, no fear that I will hurt your feelings…”
“Tate…”
“I would rather give up hockey, give up everything, than to have you avoiding me again, Sticks,” he said emotionally, not bothering to hide his feelings from her. It wasn’t an ‘I love you’ – but it was almost along the same lines.
Tate was never one for mushy stuff, for the foolish romantic gestures, but for her, it was different, and he showed how much he cared all the time. In moments, the way he was protective of her, the way he cared, how he treated her.
He treated her like she was everything – and she knew it.
“Never,” she replied tearfully, rubbing her thumb against his where they held hands in the middle of the table. “I would never ask that of you – because I’m always going to be here, right beside you, cheering you on.”
He closed his eyes, swallowed, and nodded before opening them again.
“God, I sure hope so…” his voice was low, raw, and thick – and full of so much love that her own eyes burned. “I really, really hope so because I’d be lost without you, Sticks.”
“I’d be lost without you, Cujo.”
They both let out a nervous, tearful chuckle – smiling tenderly and knowing that today was a moment they would never forget.
Nettie had never felt so special, laughed so hard, or enjoyed being around Tate so much in her entire life. It was like they had both settled into their places with each other, finding their ‘home’ with the other person, and that gave them both a new freedom in their relationship.
Things were different.
Things were weird.
Things were beyond wonderful.
He scooted closer to her on the ‘U’ shaped banquette table that they were snuggly and romantically enclosed within behind the dark curtains. They shared smiles, cuddled, and fed each other bites like a couple of romantic fools who were enthralled with the other person.
The food was delicious.
The atmosphere perfect.
The company— everything.
Tate was everything she could have ever wanted in a man, in a relationship, no matter how rocky things started long ago – and he seemed to sense that too. He moved to kiss her temple, brushed his cheek against her hair, and sighed before speaking.
“I hope you can forgive me…”
“For what?” she asked softly, knowing she could forgive anything in this moment and with the way he looked at her tonight.
“When I told you to get out all those years ago,” he drew in a deep breath and paused. “I never wanted to hurt you, but I wasn’t ready to be the man you needed and…”
“Tate,” she interrupted softly, touching his hand where it rested on her leg just beneath the table. “Stop beating yourself up for things in the past, because we have our entire future to look forward to, if and when we are both ready.”
“About that…”
Cue the record-scratch in her head as she jerked back slightly to look at Tate’s expression, trying to read him, at the same time that the curtains were pulled open by Vinny himself, not the waitress.
“Your ride just pulled up, Tate.”
“Ah,” Tate nodded, reaching into his coat pocket. “As promised – four front row tickets for you and your family.”
“Thanks, man. I appreciate it and I’ll tell yous like I tell ma’boy Gerry – anytime you wanna come back, just text me and I’ll have your table waiting.”
“Will do.”
Nettie couldn’t believe their evening was over – just like that. No more sweet stolen moments, no more bonding, and what exactly was Tate about to say before they were interrupted?
Tate was already out of his seat, extending his hand to her, and his expression was telling because she knew him. He was calm, cool, and his eyes – obviously frustrated. Why? Was it something she said?
This was awkward.
More than awkward.
Weirdly so, again with the theme of her life, she thought and glanced at the clock – doing a double-take.
They had been there for three hours already, and time had flown by.
It was nearly eleven o’clock at night, and she knew he had practice tomorrow, and she had work.
Their magical moment was over, almost like Cinderella at the ball, except nobody was losing a shoe, and her ‘pumpkin’ turned out to be the same black, sleek limo that had dropped them off.
Edwin was holding the door like this was an everyday occurrence, like this was normal, and to Nettie, this was anything but normal.
As she slid into her seat, Tate entered a moment later, and both were strangely silent. The only inclination that she had that he wasn’t upset with her was that he still had his fingers laced with hers, resting on her thigh like it had always meant to be there, like they were always a couple.
Everything seemed so abrupt, so off-kilter, that she was trying to cling to the memory of only moments ago to keep from freaking out at this abrupt change that seemed stifling. Within the blink of an eye, the limo pulled up to her house – and Nettie was almost beside herself with worry.
Edwin opened the heavy limousine door and smiled at her. “It’s been a pleasure to meet you, Miss Yarborough.”
“You too,” she whispered emotionally, holding back tears as Tate gripped her hand.
“Ten minutes, Edwin,” Tate said gruffly.
“Certainly, sir.”
Suddenly, Tate’s hand was tugging her toward the front door. He took the keys from her trembling hand and unlocked it, urging her forward silently, and stepped inside behind her.
She couldn’t take this anymore.
“Is something…”
“Kiss me like you own me, own my soul,” he growled, pulling her to him within a second of comprehension.
His lips mashed against hers as he kissed her with everything in him.
Her fingers sank into his hair, needing this connection between them with everything in her as he broke the kiss, muttered a hushed curse word, and then kissed her again like this was the only thing that mattered.
He had one hand on her hip, lifting her leg and curling it around his, claiming her with his mouth as he smashed her against him with his other arm.
She was practically climbing him with an intensity that was staggering between them – but hadn’t it always been like this?
The anger explosive, the desire melting, the rush breathtaking…
“Sticks…” he growled against her lips as they parted, her head falling back at the passion rolling over her in waves. “You’re mine – and you will always be mine.”
“Yes…”
“There will never be anyone else for me – ever…”
“Oh my gosh, Tate,” she whimpered as he kissed her throat, cradling her body to his. “I need this, need to know you want me, that you love me…”
“Marry me,” he breathed against her skin, and she stiffened only a split second before he pulled back, looking at her. “I’m so angry that Vinny interrupted us, but I need you to know where I’m going with this, and I want more. I want it all for us - forever.”
“Oh my gosh,” she warbled tearfully, moving to cradle his face with her hand as she stared into his beloved dark eyes. “Are you serious?”
“I am,” he chuckled softly, kissing the tip of her nose delicately as he smiled at her. “I am – and I needed but two minutes more so I could propose. I want you by my side, at every game, sharing every moment as my wife.”
“Tate,” she managed to make out as she stared at him.
“I promise that’s a ring box in my pocket,” he laughed tenderly, brushing a soft kiss against her parted lips as he whispered to her. “Not a banana…”
Nettie burst out laughing tearfully, treasuring his weird innuendo and flirtations that were only for her.
Throwing her arms around his neck as she hugged him.
Her other leg hooked around his waist, like she couldn’t get enough of him and never wanted this moment to end.
He held her in the strangest, most awkward, bodily hug a person could share as they both laughed and smiled at each other, drinking in their shared joy.
“I hope this is a yes…” Tate grinned.
“Heck yes, it’s a yes,” she exclaimed, emotional beyond words as he slowly disentangled her from him with obvious regret.
“I hate doing that,” he beamed, his eyes glistening. “Someday, you can climb me like a tree and never let go, but for now?”
And then, to Nettie’s astonishment, Tate sank down onto one knee.
The world seemed to slow, her pulse thundering in her ears so loudly she could barely breathe. He reached into his pocket, his big hand trembling, and drew out a small black velvet box. Her stomach flipped violently, her whole body humming with the weight of what was happening.
He flicked the lid open, and Nettie’s breath caught.
Inside, nestled against the velvet, was a ring so exquisite her vision blurred instantly with tears.
The band itself gleamed, delicate and strong all at once, with diamonds set in the shape of Xs and Os—like tiny, whispered love notes carved into eternity.
It sparkled in the low light, catching and scattering it until the edges of her vision blurred further.
Tate’s fingers shook as he plucked the ring from its cradle. She’d never seen him look this way—nervous, vulnerable, and yet utterly certain all at once. His smile was soft but determined, his dark eyes glowing as he lifted his gaze to hers.
“Sticks, my heart, my soul, my everything…” His voice cracked ever so slightly, and she nearly broke with it. “Will you do me the honor of putting up with me for life?”
Nettie pressed a trembling hand to her mouth, her heart lurching in her chest. This man—this impossible, infuriating, beautiful man—was kneeling before her, asking her to share forever.
Her throat worked uselessly before words tumbled out on a laugh that was half-sob. “Longer than that, I hope.”
Her hand shook as he slid the ring onto her finger, the cool metal sliding into place like it had always belonged there. Nettie stared down at it through a blur of tears, then back at the man she had loved through heartbreak, anger, and longing.
“I love you, Cujo…” she whispered brokenly, overwhelmed, her voice thick with joy.
“I know,” he breathed, rising to his feet and pulling her into his arms. His lips found hers in a kiss that tasted of salt, of tears, and laughter and forever.