Chapter One
Six Years Later
It’s finally Friday. This week has been more difficult than others.
I’m mentally drained, but I don’t want to go home and be alone right now…
and my best friend Peyton is working at one of the local hole-in-the-wall bars called Last Resort.
I think I might surprise her with a visit.
It’s a typical busy Friday night, and she is slammed.
So I decided to walk up to the bar, and to my luck, there was one spot open.
I sit down and start doom scrolling on my phone until the other bartender notices that I’m sitting there, not helped yet.
“Hey, ma’am, what can I get you?” He asks.
“Can I have a Blackberry Whiskey Sour, please?” I give him a closed-lipped smile. ”Coming right up, darlin’,” he says as he walks away to start pouring fresh Blackberries into the glass.
“A pretty little thing like you here… all by yourself, or are you waiting on someone?” Says a voice next to me.
“Uh. I’m sorry, what?” I asked and realized someone was talking to me.
I turn my head, and I’m met with a pair of green eyes.
“Uh, I'm sorry. I just had a hell of a week, and I’m just trying to take the edge off with a drink. I didn’t mean to come off rude.
I didn’t know you were talking to me.” I smile.
“Oh, Pretty Girl, no worries. But do tell me, are you here alone? Would you mind some company?” He asks, a boyish grin on his face.
“Actually, I don’t mind at all. I’m Juniper. Juni for short. By the way, it’s nice to meet you!”
“My name's Reece. It’s nice to meet you, too,” He says with a wink. “Would you like another drink? This one will be on me,” he says, not taking his eyes off me.
“Sure, but I can get it myself. I don’t know you,” I say nervously.
“Well, I guess we should fix that, huh? Look, there is a booth over there so we can get to know each other a little bit if you don’t mind and have the time.” He winks at me again.
“Sure, why not? It’s not like anything is waiting for me at home.”
“Perfect, lead the way, Pretty Girl,” he says as he places his hand on the small of my back. “So you said you had a long, hard week. Is that right? What do you do for a job anyway?” He asks, initiating the conversation.
“I’m actually a 911 dispatcher. I originally went to trade school to become a police officer, but I wasn’t able to get into the academy due to some health issues.”
His face falls slightly. “Oh no, I’m so sorry to hear that! Are you okay now? You know, health-wise?”
“I just have asthma, and it gets awful with exercise and such. I didn’t develop it until my late teens.”
“I’m so sorry, Pretty Girl. I can imagine that was really hard, not being able to follow your dreams and all.”
“So far, all we have talked about is me. I want to know more about you. What do you do for a living?”
“I work in the demolition industry with my cousin Ricky; we have been in business together for the last five years.”
“Wow! Demolition sounds fun.”
“It is fun if I'm being honest. It’s such a rush. I feel like you are kinda the same way as me, seeing you were trying to get into the police academy, still can’t get over the fact you couldn’t chase your dream.”
“It was pretty hard in the beginning for sure. But then I found something I can still be involved in to help the community. And all I have to do is answer phone calls and type on a computer,” I pause.
“I’m so sorry. Sometimes it’s nice to have someone to talk to who isn’t my best friend, Peyton.
It’s been a long time since I actually dared to even talk to a guy. ” I say sheepishly.
“Oh, really? How long has it been since your last relationship, if you don’t mind me asking?” He says without any judgment on his face.
“Um. Well, it’s been six years. It was my only serious relationship. When it ended, it was really hard for me.” I take a deep breath and calmly look up at him.
“Wow, six years? And you chose me to talk to?” He asks with shock on his face. “I don’t know if it’s to do with your vibe or demeanor… but you just feel… safe. And that's crazy because we just met.”
Three Months Later
It’s the night of Halloween. Reece and I started officially seeing each other a few days after we met three months ago at Last Resort.
Reece treats me like no other guy has before.
Even when I ask him not to spoil me, he buys me expensive gifts like shoes, purses, and clothes.
I tell him I don’t need these things for him to show his love for me, but he does it anyway.
We have gone to restaurants with month-long wait lists.
I don’t understand how he pulls these dates off.
He always justifies it. “Anything for my Pretty Girl,” he says.
Since he works at a small demolition company, I’m not sure how he can afford these things.
He tells me not to worry, so I don’t. I trust him.
Tonight we're going to Reece’s friend Jake's house for a Halloween party.
Halloween is my favorite holiday. I was unexpectedly evicted from my apartment a month and a half into my relationship with Reece.
Being the amazing guy that he is, he offered to let me move in with him, saying he’s already used to paying the bills.
He told me I could leave my job as a dispatcher if I wanted to.
He would take care of anything I needed, and I could decorate our little run-down double-wide as I pleased.
He praised me, saying I’ll make it feel like home in no time.
I’m standing in our dining room, looking into the mirror, and admiring my sexy nurse costume.
Reece didn’t seem very happy with my choice since we are going to his friend's party, but with the promise to put it to use when we got back home, he dropped it. He never seemed jealous before; That was something new from him. I shrugged it off; he’s so silly.
I only have eyes for him. As we are getting ready to leave our trailer, and I am going over last-minute checks on my costume, he comes out of the bedroom dressed like a surgeon.
“Ohhh, well, hello, Dr. Monroe. Are you ready to go check on our patients?” I ask flirtatiously.
“Oh, absolutely, Nurse Davis!” He says as he smacks my ass and tells me, "Let’s get moving.’
We finally arrive at Jake's party, and we are having so much fun. Reece is being a little sweeter than usual, but I think it’s cute.
Halfway through the party, Jake yells and gets everyone’s attention.
“Everyone! Thank you so much for coming and making this one of the best parties I’ve had yet!
We are going to slow things down a bit, if you don’t mind!
“ he says with a wink as he lowers the lights and turns on the smoke machines.
“Knew I loved you before I met you” by Savage Garden starts playing over the speakers.
Reece takes my hand and leads me to the makeshift dance floor.
He sneaks his arms around my waist, tugging me until there is nothing between our chests.
The whole song, he’s whispering into my ear how thankful he is for me.
How much he loves and adores me. As the song ends, Reece absolutely shocks me by slowly getting down on one knee and opening a little black box that was in the breast pocket of his doctor costume.
In it lies a simple, thin gold wedding ring.
“Juniper Lilith Davis, will you marry me?” Reece asks, emotion altering his voice.
“Yes, absolutely, yes, Reece! I’ll marry you,” I say as tears begin to form in my eyes.
“Let's not wait! Let’s get married tomorrow! Baby, a small courthouse wedding! Just you and me. We don’t need a big, expensive day and people we don’t care about. I don’t want to wait; I just want you to be my wife officially!” Reece says with excitement.
“Okay, Reece.. whatever you want, as long as I end up being yours forever.” Not long after, we decided to go home and properly celebrate. I can’t wait, tomorrow, we will be husband and wife.
The next morning, I woke with the sun's rays coming through my window, noticing that our queen-sized bed was empty beside me. Cold sheets surround me. A torn white letter is lying on Reece’s pillow.
Feeling overwhelmed with so much gratitude and love, he has done everything he could think of to ensure our wedding starts on time.
As I get up and go to sit down at my vanity to start getting ready, the doorbell rings.
I check the doorbell camera and see a delivery driver dropping off something I didn’t order.
I wrapped myself in my robe and continued to open the front door.
Lying on the welcome mat is my favorite iced coffee from Dunkin, and a sourdough ham and egg sandwich waiting for me.
A printed note on the bag indicates it is from Reece.
‘Happy wedding day, Pretty Girl! Here are your favorites. See you in two hours! I love you.’ After eating my breakfast and finishing the last sip of my iced coffee, I paint my lips his favorite color, red.
My hair and makeup are done, and I slip on the sundress that he asked me to wear.
I take one last calming breath, looking into the mirror. I grab my keys and head out the door.
I pull slowly into the parking lot of the courthouse.
I get out of the car, smooth down my dress, and start walking to meet Peyton in front of the building.
“There you are, Juni! Are you sure about this?
I trust your judgment and will always support you, but I want to make sure you are okay,“ Peyton asked with concern.
“Of course, Peyton, this is going to be the best day of my life!” I say with a full smile upon my face.
“Then let’s go get you married!” She says with fake enthusiasm. Walking hand in hand, we walk into the courthouse looking for Reece.
My breath gets caught in my lungs when I see my soon-to-be husband.
He’s dressed in a dark blue button-up and medium-washed jeans.
He meets me halfway, wrapping his arms around me.
“My god, Pretty Girl. You look so beautiful, “ he softly kisses my lips. “I have already checked us in. Let’s sit down and wait.”
The door opens a few minutes later, “Reece Monroe and Juniper Davis, we are ready for you.” We stand in front of the Justice of the Peace, “We have gathered here today to celebrate these two making a lifelong commitment of love, trust, and respect. I would like to offer you a few words of wisdom. When love gets tough, don’t just give up.
Marriage is something you have to work at every day.
Now, does anyone have any objections?” Everybody looks towards Peyton, staying quiet, and she shakes her head no.
“Okay then, Reece Monroe, do you take Juniper Lilith Davis to be your lawfully wedded wife?”
Reece nods his head so eagerly, “I sure the fuck do take this Pretty Girl to be my wife.”
The justice of the peace turns to me, “Do you, Juniper Davis, take Reece Declan Monroe to be your lawfully wedded husband?”
I turn to Reece with so much emotion in my eyes, “I do.”
“Now by the power vested in me by the state of Oklahoma, I now pronounce you husband and wife.”