From Now Until Infinity (2) (30 page)

Then, I see campus security officers creating a perimeter around a grassy area. There’s a distinguished man in his late fifties or maybe early sixties waiting for us. We’re greeted by the president of the university.
Did I wake up, or am I still dreaming?

He shakes Colin hand and says just to him, “It’s all yours. Good luck, son.”

Colin shakes his hand back and thanks him. Colin grabs my hand and leads me through the perimeter of campus security. As soon as we pass them, I see the Century Tree and I know what he’s doing. The old oak tree is around 150-years-old. Its wonderful branches rest on the ground creating a cover for students to walk under. It’s always reminded me of my favorite tree that grows in my therapist’s front yard. A simple cement bench sits under the branches and next to the trunk. The legend is if you walk under the branches with the person that you’re dating, you’ll eventually marry them. It’s a tradition of sorts that if one Aggie is going to propose to another Aggie that it happens under the old tree’s branches.

As we walk towards the tree, I squeeze Colin’s hand. His palm is sweaty.
My Colin is nervous.
I find it so endearing.

The cement bench is covered with a maroon blanket. Next to it is a dozen maroon roses and a chilling bottle of champagne with two glasses.

In a shaky voice, Colin instructs, “Charlie, please take a seat.”

I do as I’m told and sit on the blanket covered bench. The night air is cool and a breeze begins to blow. I inadvertently shiver.

Colin picks up both of my hands and holds them in his as he sits down next to me. Waves of anxiety are rolling off of him. I’m not sure why he’s so anxious. I already asked him to marry me this morning. He knows what my answer is going to be. I initiated this. However, I don’t say anything and let my man have his moment.

He squeezes my hands and then begins. “Ten-years-ago, I thought that I fell in love with you. I’d like to say that it was love at first sight, but it wasn’t. It was more lust,” he says with a laugh. The sparkle in his green eyes is back, and I love it. “Then, I got to know you, or I thought that I did, on our drives to and from Houston. I liked the person that I met. You were smart, athletic, and driven. It just took me getting shown up on the dance floor and running the streets of College Station to find out just how driven you really are.”

Colin pauses for a moment as if to collect his thoughts. “Every day that I spent with you, I realized just how much we were perfectly matched for each other. You challenged me. You supported me. You had my back when I needed you. Then, I lost you. I suffered eight years without your beautiful lavender eyes that see into my soul. And your mouth that seems to know just what to say when I need to hear it the most. And your heart that loves me enough to give us another chance. Most of all, I love your mind. You’re so smart. You challenge me in ways that no one else has. You’re unpredictable and constantly keep me on my toes - like proposing to me this morning.”

Tears begin to fall down my cheeks. For the first time in a long time, they’re tears of love and happiness. I feel Colin’s anxiety changing into waves of joy. He wants us to be together just as much as I do.

“I thought that when you finally said yes to one of my thousands of marriage proposals that I would officially ask you on the star in the Dallas stadium. However, I now know how selfish that would have been. Football is my dream, not yours. When you asked me to marry you this morning, I knew that we had to make the engagement official here. For you and me, Texas A&M is where we began. It’s where you pursued your dream of becoming a doctor, and I launched my quarterback career. It’s only right that this is where we make our dream together come true.”

Then with tears glistening in his beautiful green eyes, Colin drops to one knee in front of me and pulls out a ring box. He takes my hand and says, “Doctor Caroline Jane Collins, will you give me the greatest gift in the world and agree to be my wife, the mother of our children, and most importantly, my forever partner? I promise that I’ll love you until infinity, support you in your career, and try very hard not to manipulate you into doing what I want.”

I laugh through my tears at the last part and reply, “You’ve got yourself a deal.”

We hug each other and giggle like the two in love idiots that we are. Then, Colin opens the box a little too dramatically for my taste. It’s empty. I look at him surprised.

“Well, you see Caroline,” he says as I use my thumb to wipe the tears from his eyes. “You kind of surprised me with the whole let’s get married proposal this morning. I didn’t have time to pick you out the ring that you deserve. So I made a phone call to a jeweler in LA. He’s designing you the perfect ring. I can’t wait for you to see it, but it’ll take about a month.”

I laugh because the two of us can never seem to get our timing right.

Colin adds, “In the meantime, you can wear the original engagement ring if you want?”

I shake my head no and chuckle ruefully. “Oh no, McKinney! That’s your ring that I proposed to you with. You wear it.”

Colin gets all serious for a second. “Remember. We aren’t going to tell anyone about that. I can’t wear a girl’s ring on my pinky finger.”

“No. I get it. Maybe you can give me the jeweler’s phone number. I’ll see what he can create for you out of that ring that is manly enough for you to wear. We wouldn’t want it getting out that you got owned by a girl.” I smart talk back.

Colin throws his head back and laughs a deep belly laugh. Then, referring to a conversation we had the first time that we ran together, he says, “And not just any girl. I got my ass kicked by Caroline Jane Collins who’s fucking perfect.”

Epilogue

COCK BLOCKED… I’ve been cock blocked. Allison Katz, her camera crew, lighting people, etc. are setting up in my living room. Kenzie had my furniture changed out to seem homier. Her words, not mine. She also has framed pictures of Charlie and I strategically placed around the house. They’re mostly pictures taken when we were in college.
God, we look so fuckin’ young.
I’ve removed a couple of the pictures where I can tell that Charlie was getting sick. I don’t need reminders of that part of our lives.

Charlie hates my house. She hasn’t said it in so many words yet, but I can tell. I can read her like a book. I told her that it’s just four fucking walls and a roof. If she wants something different she just needs to say the word. Hell! I’d sleep in a fucking tent if it means that I get to wake up next to her beautiful ass every morning.

We spent yesterday reviewing the interview questions. Thankfully, they’re fluff questions at best. I talk to the media for a living. Today is nothing new except I’m not a sweaty gross motherfucker being asked questions about every decision that I made on the field. But, I’m also finally answering some of the media’s most pressing questions about me like what happened to my first marriage. Kenzie and I’ve worked on my answers. I’m prepared.

Part of me would like nothing more than to reply, “Umm… Have you met Caroline? Once you’ve had the perfect woman, nothing else will do.” But, Charlie would kick my sorry ass all over the house if I answered a question like that.

No. Today, I’m talking about my girl while she sits next to me – right where she belongs. The world will finally get to meet the only person that owns me.

She’s apologized about a million-fucking-times that we’re doing this interview. I rolled my eyes. Look! I would rather not have three camera men, a sound guy, two lighting experts, Allison Katz , some producer, a makeup girl and Kenzie in my home on a random Monday. But, I inadvertently got us into this mess. It’s the least that I can do to try and change the world’s opinion of us.

Charlie’s spent all morning in the bathroom getting ready. I tried playing the angle of stress relief sex, but she shot me down cold. She said in her snotty voice, “No Colin, I don’t want to smell like fuck musk when I’m about to be on national television.”

God, her mouth kills me. I pointed out that it’s not like anyone could smell her sitting in their living rooms. That’s when I got kicked out of the bathroom and sent to my office until Kenzie says that Allison is ready for us.

I wonder what in the hell is taking Charlie so long. She’s fucking gorgeous. It’s not like she needs to put war paint on to cover her face.

We decided not to announce our engagement during the interview. This kind of pisses me off, but Charlie insisted that we need to let things blow over before we rub our engagement in Sasha’s face. Unfortunately, Kenzie agreed with her.

Whatever. As long as Charlie remembers that we’re getting married soon, why the fuck should I care about the world knowing? I’ll add it to my list of shit that I don’t care about. I remind her frequently that she’s about to be Mrs. Colin McKinney. I’m wondering how long it’s going to take before she informs that she isn’t going to change her last name or some other bullshit like that that’s just going to irritate me. To give her credit, she’s been playing along nicely with my new name game. Who knows? She might surprise me. That seems to be her specialty.

Kenzie walks into my office and says that they’re ready for me. She’s a beautiful girl and can fuck like a beast, but she’s got nothing on my Charlie. Charlie’s got it all. She’s the complete package.

God, I love being male. My idea of getting ready for this interview was throwing on clean jeans and tucking in a shirt. Although, thinking about Charlie has made my dick hard so I wait for Kenzie to turn her back before I adjust it. Sitting on TV with a boner is probably frowned upon.

They already have Charlie positioned on the couch that Kenzie insisted that I needed. She looks fucking magnificent. Her wavy caramel colored hair, lavender eyes, and cherry red mouth are doing nothing to help my hard on go away.
Maybe I can talk her into a pity fuck real quick so I concentrate on this damn interview.

Charlie flashes her beautiful white teeth at me and says, “You look handsome, baby. You even put on a belt.”

“Yeah… yeah… yeah… smart ass,” I reply. “My jeans are clean too.”

She playfully hits me in the arm, and I pull her to me. I can’t stop touching her. Just being near her makes me happy.

Charlie screeches, “Colin, stop it. You’re going to mess up my hair.”

I think, “I would like nothing more right now than to mess up your hair.” Dammit! That does not help my dick that’s already hard as a fucking rock, relax.

Oh shit! I just noticed what she’s wearing. Fuck me. My girl’s in a lavender wrap dress and silver heels. I catch myself before I let out an audible groan. Images of her in a dress similar to that in college makes my dick jump.
Down boy! She’ll murder us if she sees you moving.

The makeup person starts putting powder on me while someone puts a mic pack behind me.

Charlie giggles that fucking precious girly laugh. “You look cute with makeup on, honey.”

I smile at her with the half smile that I know makes her wet, and reply, “Anything for you my beautiful girl.”

She smiles back at me and rests her hand on my thigh.
Seriously, clear the room. It’s been about twelve hours since I’ve been inside of my girl and that’s too fuckin’ long
.

She must notice my discomfort because she whispers in my ear, “In a couple of hours, I’ll make you scream my name.”

Allison clears her throat and reminds us, “Caroline, Colin you’re mic’d.”

Charlie blushes one hundred shades of red and replies, “I’m so sorry.”

I kiss her cheek and say very loudly, “Let’s get the show on the road. We obviously have plans this evening.”

My girl squirms and hides her face in my shoulder. It’s so fucking cute that I can’t stand it.

I mentally repeat in my head.
Call her Caroline. Call her Caroline.
She’s threatened to cut me off if I call her Charlie in the interview, and that will not do.

Finally, the interview begins. Allison asks us the easy questions. How we met and background shit like that. Charlie’s animated when she’s talking.
The world is going to love her as much as I do.

Allison asks Charlie if she has seen my underwear modeling work. She blushes a beautiful shade of pink and says that she might have peaked at a picture or two.

We take a ten minute break. Charlie stands up, and I watch her walk into our bedroom.
Here’s my chance. Maybe I can score a quickie.

I follow in behind her and shut our bedroom door. “You okay, beautiful?” I ask.

She’s sitting on the couch in our sitting room. Charlie looks at me with those lavender eyes, sitting there in her lavender dress. I need her… NOW.

“Yeah, I’m fine. I just hate telling the world about us. ‘It’s none of your business’ keeps screaming in my head,” she explains.

I sit down next to her and pull her to me. She smells like heaven, mixed with flowers, and angel tears.
God, she’s so fucking perfect.

“You’re doing great, baby. You’re so fuckin’ charming that you’re makin’ me look bad.”

She laughs and hits my arm. I decide to make my move. I start kissing the spot on her neck that makes her squirm. Charlie tries to push me away, but it’s a halfhearted attempt. I’ve got her. She’s mine.

I slide my hand up her thigh and feel her lace panties. Fuck me! They’re sopping wet.
Oh yeah! She’s definitely mine.
There’s no stopping me even if she wanted to. I begin kissing her mouth and sampling all that is Charlie. She tastes better than she smells. A fine delicacy that makes me painfully hard as my dick scratches against the inside of my jeans.

I take a second to turn off the mics before I move her panties to the side and slide two fingers inside of her. She moans into my mouth. My fingers will not do. I need to be inside of her. Now.

“Make it quick, baby, and do not touch my hair,” she warns through the cutest little moans that I’ve ever heard.

I make my jeans go away so quickly that you would think that I was fuckin’ Houdini. My girl is going to let me have her. I’m not waiting around for her to change her mind.