Authors: Ashley Johnson
I sat on the bench nearby and placed my head in my hands as I tried to figure out what to say.
The first thought I had was to try to wipe around my eyes and pray mascara wasn’t everywhere. “Where did you go? When I got back from my moms, Halley drove me by our, I mean your apartment and you weren’t there.”
He sat beside
close enough to where we weren’t exactly rubbing thighs and stared ahead as he replied, “I went to my parents to get away. I needed to clear my head and try to figure everything out.”
Out of nowhere,
I blurted out, “My stepdad was there and I had to call the cops before he could do anything to me.” His jaw dropped and I swear I saw a tear in his eyes as I finished. “All he did to me was slap me in my face when I spit in his. I couldn’t get him off me and that’s the only thing I could think to do. That’s why I changed my number by the way.”
I placed my head back in my hands
keeping the tears from falling again and just sat there. “Why didn’t you tel---.” He stopped his sentence then just pulled me into his chest where I quietly sobbed. I didn’t want to fight it anymore; I had no strength left to. “Dammit, I’m so sorry Macy. I should have believed you that night. I just, I don’t know what got into me. I love you more than anything and I can’t believe I fucked this up. Can you forgive me?”
I looked up at those gorgeous green eyes that I’ve missed so much.
They were glossy from tears that sat there waiting to slowly cascade down his beautiful face. I raised my hand and ran it up his chest to his neck and pulled him close to me. “I could never not forgive you Luke. You’re my whole world.”
I parted his lips with mine and he kissed me back eagerly.
He ran his hands through my hair and then pulled me closer to him. It felt like we never missed a beat and I loved that. He pulled away and looked in my eyes. “Will you come back to the apartment with me? My life has sucked through this shit, I need you Macy. I always knew I needed you but I didn’t know how much until that night.”
I smiled and leaned in for one more kiss. “That’s the stupidest question I’ve ever heard, of course I’ll come back to the apartment.” The peck I gave him turned out to be a full blown make out session that was interrupted when I heard Paul clear his throat.
“Grace, you need to report to the dance floor, it’s time to catch the bouquet.” He stood there with his hands on his hips so serious. I tried not to laugh as I stood up and linked our arms together.
Luke looked at Paul then at me with a puzzled look on his face. I grinned trying to figure out exactly what was puzzling him but then I remembered Paul called me Grace and Luke had no clue about that.
Instantly a grin spread across my face as I pointed to Paul then back to myself. “We’re Will and Grace babe. You know, like the show?”
He start
ed laughing and shook his head as he leaned in to kiss my forehead. “You’re so damn cute. I missed you so much. Go catch your bouquet. I’m right behind you.”
Paul grinned and pulled me away towards the doors. “See I told you he still loved you.”
Halley met my smile as I walked towards the floor ready to see whether or not I’d catch the bouquet. I had a bit of a feeling she would be tossing it directly to me. Crystal and Reina were standing there too. We hugged and talked for a minute before we all got in position. Halley turned around and suddenly it went flying towards us. You’d swear we were at a Mardi Gras parade and were all trying to go for the same bead. It was quite hilarious. I watched as it inched closer and missed my by half an inch I swear. I looked to see who caught it and Paul was holding it laughing.
“Well, Drew ought to get a kick out of this one.” I burst out laughing and hugged his neck. Crystal and Reina looked pissed that neither of them caught it and went to grab a flute of champagne before hitting the dance floor as the next song came on.
Halley and Marcus were off to the side talking to Gary and her father. Paul drug me back to the dance floor where we attempted to pop lock and drop it. I don’t know who was DJ’ing her reception but they had a pretty decent playlist. For every dance song there was about two slow songs. Most of the older family members had started to leave so really it was appropriate for those of us here, almost like a mini club. We danced our asses off until the next song came on.
George
Strait’s ‘I Cross My Heart’ came on and Luke came walking up and asked, “Hey Will, er Paul do you mind if I cut in?”
Paul and I looked at each other and laughed. Poor Luke. He stood there looking as confused as he sounded, it was pretty cute. Paul spoke up as he backed away from me, “As long as you don’t tattoo a penis to my head, you can have her.” He winked and walked off.
Luke still looked confused especially after the last thing Paul said. He placed his hands around my waist as we began to sway to the music. This felt so right; I missed his arms around me so much. “What was he talking about? Did you sit there and tell him how much you hated me?” He let out a light chuckle to indicate he was joking.
I looked up into his green eyes and smiled. “No, all I told him was how much I loved you.
Gary tried to scare him off though. Told him if he made me mad that I would get you to tattoo a penis to his forehead.” Luke burst out laughing and I leaned in closer to him as we continued to dance.
He kissed the top of my head. I bet anything he t
asted nothing but hairspray. I wouldn’t be surprised if he got stabbed in the lip by a bobby pin too. “I wish I could take the past back Macy. I would do anything to take it all back.”
I didn’t answer right
away; I just stood there taking this moment in for all it was worth. The past was nothing but hell and I was hurt but this right here made it ok. “What did you tell your parents?” I whispered afraid to speak out loud.
“I avoided the subject as long as I could until my mom bombarded me in my room and made me talk. She told me to quit being a stubborn ass and come back but I still didn’t know what to say because I felt like such an ass. And then you showed up at my apartment that night and when you started crying, I couldn’t take it. Your friend came and got you and I just shut the door, when all I wanted to do was pull you inside and beg for forgiveness. I called Halley that next day and she talked to
me and then I felt like an even bigger ass. I told her I was coming today and not to tell you. I wanted it to be a surprise.”
Did I just hear him right? I looked up and met his gaze. “Halley knew you were going to be here?” I wasn’t mad at either one of them. I was actually thanking the heavens that he even called her.
“Yeah, I’m sorry. I should have called you because I wanted to know how you were. I love you so much Macy, I’ll never fuck up like that again.”
I tiptoed up and kissed his lips. We walked off the dance floor as the song ended and I began walking up to Halley. I didn’t even say anything to her at
first; instead I threw my arms around her neck and hugged my best friend. “Thank you so much Hales,” I whispered in her ear.
“You’re welcome,” she whispered back. I let go of her and hugged Marcus congratulating them both. They were going to be heading out soon to their hotel. They had an early flight tomorrow to the
Bahamas. Halley knew that’s where she wanted to honeymoon since she was a little girl, or at least that’s what she told me when we first met. When Marcus proposed she began saving every little penny she could to make her dream come true. Her father helped out too along with Marcus putting up money and she was so excited to go. She was all packed up and ready. I told her she better bring me back something pretty awesome and she told me all I was getting was a postcard. I knew better than that.
She made it very clear she didn’t want rice thrown at her so everyone was going to blow bubbles as they made their exit. Everyone lined up with bubbles in hand and as they ran through the crowd to their limo, bubbles filled the air. A minute later they were inside and heading off. A few people hung around talking and dancing. Paul stood by my side with his arm linked to mine
being the awesome date he was.
I saw Trevor out of the corner of my eye, he was talking to Reina and she looked absolutely smitten with him.
Her eyes sparkled as he talked and she touched his arm resting it there for a minute while she laughed at something he said. His eyes met mine and I winked and mouthed thank you. He smiled back and walked her to the dance floor as another slow song came on. Who would have ever thought that after all we’d been through we could even smile at each other in a room? My guess was that I would always hate him but that wasn’t true. He turned out to be one of the people I was grateful for the most.
I was grateful for the learning experience because isn’t that what life is all about. Reina leaned up to kiss him and he returned the kiss, I couldn’t help but smile and wish him all the happiness in the world whether it was with her or some other girl.
Halley had rented the place for the entire night so everyone could have fun but one by one people were starting to file out. I know I definitely wanted out of these shoes and this dress. I wanted to be comfortable in sweat pants and a t-shirt. Oh, and get all these damn bobby pins and this hairspray out of my hair.
Luke grabbed my hand and I let our fingers intertwine. I forgot just how perfect our hands fit together. My heart skipped a beat when he leaned in and whispered, “You ready to go home?” Ohmigod I was so ready to go home with him.
The butterflies in my stomach were practically cutting flips; I’ve never wanted something so bad. I wanted nothing more than to lie next to him and let him hold me and I would never move from that spot ever again.
“Yeah, I need to let my date know I’m leaving with another man.” I winked and he smacked my butt as I walked towards Paul. He ended a phone call and looked at me smiling.
“Well well Grace, this night has been fun but my honey just called to tell me he has a wonderful evening planned. So I’m ditching you.”
My jaw dropped and I began laughing. He was so funny and little did he know I was coming over here to ditch him in the first place. I never told him I was ditching him I just stuck my best pouty lip out and nodded. I gave him a big hug. “Thank you for being the best date ever. Call me later.”
He waved to Luke then made his exit. “Was he mad?”
“Oh no. He ditched me for his boyfriend so I never told him I was trying to ditch him.” He scrunched his nose and made a face that was too damn cute for words. I reached for his hand as he led me outside.
He opened the door to the Challenger for me and when he got in he leaned across the seat and pulled me in for a kiss. “I hope you don’t mind, but I have quite a bit of kisses to make up for.”
“I don’t mind at all.” My heart was beating rapidly in my chest and my breathing started getting ragged. I missed this effect he had on me.
He parted my lips with his and pulled me closer. I wrapped my arms around his neck and scooted as close as I could be without practically being on his lap. I placed my hand on his thigh and moved it up his leg then stopped and just rested it on his inner thigh.
He let out a soft moan as we continued to kiss. I opened one eye and noticed the windows were beginning to fog up. I pulled away laughing and Luke started the car as he rolled down the windows. He didn’t turn the radio on; it was just the two of us holding hands enjoying each other.
Chapter 20
The apartment was just as I remembered before all this mess happened. Still spotless and everything was in its place. I stood there in the kitchen taking the atmosphere in. I was home and I knew I was safe. Luke slipped his arms around my waist and kissed my neck before he scooped me up. I let out a shriek as I wrapped my arms around his neck.
I was glad he picked me up because those shoes were starting to kill me. I should have taken them off in the car and I have no idea why I didn’t. I kicked them off as he stood me up
. Oh god that felt amazing. I really hope I’d never have to wear them again. Matter of fact tomorrow, they were going to be placed in the back corner of the closet.
Luke sat down on the bed and I sat next to him with my head on his shoulder. We sat that way for a few minutes before he raised my head and looked me in the eyes. His green eyes were wet with tears that threatened to spill over his beautiful cheeks. He unbuttoned his shirt and I could see his tattoo from after he lost Juliann and their baby. Around his heart there was
an ‘M’ with barbwire around it. I just stared at it and reached to touch it. I ran my fingers over it and then laid my hand over it. Why did guys seem to think they needed tattoos when we had issues? My first thought was Trevor and the bracelet. Thank God this wasn’t that insane.
“When did you do this?” I started to trace over it again and looked up to see a couple tears fall from his eyes.
I reached up and wiped them from his cheeks. My heart felt like it were breaking again just seeing him like this. “I did it two days after our falling out. I was sure you wouldn’t be back after I left you like that and I had quite a bit to drink and had my friend do it for me. If I couldn’t have you in my heart, I wanted you by my heart. I was torn up.” He searched my eyes for a moment before he began to speak again. “I’m so sorry. Please let me spend the rest of my life making it up to you. I’ll do anything to keep you here with me and happy. I can’t let you go again. That was the worst thing I’ve ever done.”