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  “I was going to cook dinner. Have it waiting for her when she got home. Something easy.”

  “Easy is ordering from Phil’s across the street.” Linda said with her hand on her hip.

  “I can cook.”

  “Okay.” She laughed and headed back toward the meat counter. “You like to grill.” She said it as a fact she knew about me.

  I shrugged.

  Without asking she wrapped up two filets and gathered a bunch of asparagus. She plucked the ends off the asparagus and grabbed a bottle of something and sat it on the counter.

  “Let me finish this up, go pick out a bottle of champagne.” She pointed towards the beer and wine with a piece of asparagus.

  I nodded.

  I wouldn’t find a bottle of Ace of Spades in this little shop, but they had Yellow Label. It would have to do.

  By the time I returned, Linda had packed up our meal with a little card for preparation instructions and I was on my way.

  I returned home whistling. When I was safe in the house with only Nip and Valentine to critique my awful voice, I began singing and preparing the meal. Callie only had one class on Wednesday afternoon. She would be in a car already heading home. I was done within an hour.

  Two hours had passed and Callie hadn’t returned home.

  I texted her.

  Noah: Dinner’s ready. Where are you?”

  She didn’t answer right away.

  I waited another thirty minutes before sending another text.

  Noah: Where is my future wife? Call me.

  I called her phone, but it went to voicemail. I had no right to be, but I stared getting angry and annoyed. Where was she?

  I flipped through my messages to make sure I hadn’t missed anything and there it was. A message from this morning I’d missed.

  Callie: Reminder. Having dinner with Dad tonight. I’ll be home later. Wish me luck. {Heart emoji}

  I shook my head. Her parents lived in Manhattan part of the year and on a ranch in Texas the other half. I never knew when they were in town or not. Every few weeks, she’d have lunch or dinner with her father as a way for him to catch up on her life. She dreaded them because inevitable the conversation would turn to his plan for her future. While some people would call his tactic bribery, he called it encouragement. It was the reason Callie was in school now. If she got her degree, he promised to give her the brownstone.

  It was bonus that Callie actually liked school and since she changed her major to journalism, she was exited about her future. All this happened with in the last month, so much had changed since the wedding. Our relationship had grown.

  We were closer than ever.

  Asking her to marry me was the logical next step. Besides, it was the same words I said to Preston on his wedding day. He couldn’t see his life without Kate. It was the same way I felt about my Callie.

  I put the food away. We could have it for breakfast.

  I flipped on the television and vegged out with Nip and Valentine on my lap.

  I hadn’t experienced a quiet off-season in a while. Three years ago, it was Maria. Two years ago, it was the demise of Maria. Last off-season, before Callie started school, it was the two of us all over the world. Now that she was in school, she didn’t have as much freedom.

  That’s why I was looking forward to her spring break.

  We were meeting Preston and Kate in Aspen for five days. Now, that she said yes, it would be the perfect time to do some scouting for the wedding.

  I woke up when the dogs jumped up and ran to the door.

  “Hey guys.” Callie said as she dropped her bag and kneeled down to give them her attention.

  I stretched and sat up.

  “Hey baby,” I said. My eyes immediately went to her left hand. “Where’s your ring?”

  She looked down and then at me as she reached in her backpack, pulled out the box and slid the ring back on her finger.

  “I didn’t want to tell Dad with Mom not there. She would be so pissed.” Callie pushed a strand of hair behind her ear and smirked.

  I narrowed my eyes, but didn’t speak. Her explanation made since, but …I thought once I put that ring on her finger, she would never want to take it off.

  I shook the thought out of my head. She wore it now.

  She’d said yes.

  I had nothing to worry about.

  Three

  Callie

  The ring was beautiful. The proposal, sneaky but I was genuinely happy.

  I’d said yes because I could see my future with Noah, but saying it out loud to others, I froze up.

  It concerned me that I forgot it so easily once I slipped the ring back in the box. I saw it in his eyes when he spotted my naked finger. It hurt him; I needed to make it up to him.

  I walked over to the couch holding my hand up in front of my face.

  “Maybe we shouldn’t have spent so much on the ring. After all, we’re going to need money, soon.”

  I sat in his lap, snuggled up close to him.

  “Money for what?” He hugged me to him as he grabbed my hand and kissed my ring.

  “To turn this place back into a house.” I looked up.

  “What?” Noah leaned back.

  “I thought we had to wait until you graduate.”

  “Well, apparently, journalism is a more stable profession in his eyes, so he said we can go ahead and do what we want to the house.”

  “Why don’t you let me buy it from him?” He nibbled on her neck.

  “No. It’s my house.” I leaned back. “My contribution to the Patrick household.”

  Nice save.

  “What’s mine is yours,” He said.

  “You’re going to far out run my earning potential. Let’s save your money for our old age.” I rocked her hips.

  “My earning potential is also limited by age.” He groaned and shifted under me for more direct contact.

  “You sound like an old man.” I sighed. “You’re only twenty-six.”

  He leaned back and eased the pressure.

  I pouted.

  “I probably have about four to six more years left in me.” Noah’s said and sighed. “I’m tired of getting hit.”

  “Wow.” I said and blinked. The idea of Noah not playing football caused a chill to run up my spine

  The average player was in the league for four years. He’d far surpassed that, but what would he do once he retired.

  “How much do you think we are going to need for our old age?” He asked and went back to kissing my neck.

  “I don’t know.” I pushed him back. “What do you think you’ll do after retirement?”

  “I don’t know. Probably coach.”

  “That could move us around a lot," I said.

  “Or if I stick with Coach, we could be here forever.” Noah's college coach was the one who brought him to New York and was in line to take over as head coach when the present coach retired.

  “We don’t have to think about this right now.” I scooted off his lap. Talking about money and retirement. It was all so depressing. I was only twenty-three. We had our whole life ahead of us.

  Noah gripped my hips and pulled me back towards him. He stared in my eyes, searching for an answer, but instead of asking the question, he kissed me. A long and wet kiss that made my insides flip. I moaned in his mouth and ran my finger over his hardness. He groaned and held me tight. We moved against each other, building the tension. Noah snaked his hand down my pants as he stared into my eyes. One hand slid through my folds and the other rubbed the tattoo on my wrists. The 89 tattoo marked me as his long before we meet. I grinded against his hand. The pressure crested. At its peak, I cried out and rode the wave down before falling on his chest.

  He continued to rub my tattoo. He brought my wrist to his mouth and kissed it.

  I stood up. My legs wobbled from the orgasm. I headed into the kitchen.

  I spotted the food in Tupperware on the counter.

  “You cook?” I yelled into th
e other room.

  “Yeah. I forgot about your dinner with your dad.”

  I ate a piece of asparagus. The balsamic glaze was sweet and tart.

  Noah walked into the kitchen.

  “I thought we would celebrate.” He said as he washed his hands.

  “I’m sorry.” I frowned.

  “That’s okay.”

  I hoped up on the counter.

  “Come here.” I motioned to him.

  Noah grinned. He ran his hands over my thighs and around my waist. I wrapped my arms around his neck.

  “Let's continue this celebration, in the shower. I kissed his neck, “and in bed, and maybe again in bed in the morning.”

  “Doing what exactly.” He whispered in my ear.

  “You want me to say it?” I rolled my eyes.

  “Yep.” Noah grinned.

  I leaned in and whispered in his ear. “Fuck me, Noah.”

  Noah loved to hear me talk dirty. It made me super uncomfortable, but it turned him on. So I whispered them.

  He scooped me up.

  I hugged him close and continued to whisper naughty things to him as he walked us up the stairs.

  I crawled out of bed early the next morning. I thought we’d celebrate more after breakfast in bed.

  I padded down to the kitchen. Nip sat by the back door. He perked up and barked when I entered. He had a guilty look on his face. I peeked into the laundry room and saw Valentine sitting in her crate. Her blanket pulled out and on the floor beside her.

  I bent down.

  She stood and wagged her little tail.

  “Oh sweetie, you slept on the coal metal all night.” I pouted and let her out.

  She placed her little paws on my knees. I leaned down and gave her a kiss.

  I heard Nip at the door. He scurried away when I turned.

  I picked Valentine up and carried her back to the kitchen and opened the back door without acknowledging Nip. He ran out towards the back yard. I walked down the steps and sat Valentine down. It was a beautiful day. The sky was blue, the sun was out.

  When Nip did his business, he came and stood at my feet.

  I knelt down and pointed at him with a stern face. He licked my finger and wagged his tail. I shook my head, scooped him up and kissed him.

  “Keep it up, Nip.” I nuzzled him to my face. “One day she’s going to remember how mean you were to her and retaliate big time.” He kissed my cheek. I put him down and went back inside.

  We had all the stuff for breakfast tacos except for tortillas. I pulled on a jacket over my nightshirt and leggings. Slipped my flip-flops on my feet and walked out front. The bodega on the corner carried everything and if they didn’t, they would go to the store a few streets over and get it for you and deliver it to you. A family owned business, they’d been here as long as I could remember.

  I pushed into the store and the bell over the door rang, announcing my arrival.

  The smells in the store always made my mouth water. The meal preparation business was new for them, but it had revitalized the shop.

  I spotted Linda behind the back counter. The front was empty.

  “Good morning.” I waved and went to the last aisle to the left.

  “Hey Callie.” She was cutting up something. “How was dinner last night?”

  “We never got around to it.” I grabbed the tortillas and walked to the back to the shop. “I thought I’d cut it all up, make some eggs and have breakfast tacos.”

  “Too much celebrating last night.” She winked and giggled.

  “Yeah.” I said and narrowed my eyes. “What do you mean?”

  “You’re getting married.” She yelled and waved her hands over her head. I forgot sometimes that she was only seventeen. It was her thick Brooklyn accent and cropped black hair. It made her appear older.

  “Noah told you.”

  “Yeah. He showed Dad and I a photo of the ring, yesterday.” He wiped her hands on her apron. “Let me see it.”

  I held my hand out.

  She grabbed my fingertips and turned my hand. “Wow. What’s the cut? It’s unique.”

  “Ascher cut.”

  “Four carats.” She said like a seasoned ring observer.

  I nodded.

  “With his money, he could have sprung for eight at least,” Linda said and cackled as she picked her knife up and continued her meal prep.

  I smirked. He told the people at the local bodega. The news would be city wide in a matter of hours. I didn't’ want to keep it a secret, but it happened not twenty-four hours ago.

  “I’ll put them on your tab as soon as I finish up,” she said.

  “Thanks.” I waved the tortillas at her and headed for the door.

  “Oh. When’s the date?”

  I stopped at the door.

  “What date?” I narrowed my eyes.

  “The wedding date?” She held her hands out and stared at me like I had horns. “If you do it in New York, we’d love to cater it for you.”

  “Uhm. Sure. I’ll let you know.”

  My chest hurt and that panicked feeling returned. I looked up and down the street, waiting for the paparazzi to attack with the good news. The only people on the street were a couple of kids walking to school and an elderly gentleman sitting on a stoop talking to himself.

  No paparazzi here.

  I climbed the steps to the brownstone and unlocked the door. I pushed open the door to my apartment and headed for the stairs. My phone on the kitchen counter, beeped.

  I picked it up and unlocked the screen.

  It was a text from Kate.

  Kate: Preston told me the good news. I’m so excited for you. Can’t wait to talk wedding plans next week in Aspen. {Heart emoji}

  Wedding plans.

  Aspen.

  I leaned against the counter. I flipped the tortilla packet over and over in my hand. When I dropped it. I grabbed the handle of the cabinets and reminded myself to breath.

  It was all happening so fast.

  Four

  Noah

  When Callie didn’t come back to bed. I got up, put on my workout gear and skipped downstairs.

  I thought we were going to continue the celebration. We wore each out last night.

  I’d been skipping a lot in the last few days. First from nerves and now because my girl agreed to marry me. I was lucky and relieved. I was over being single.

  God, I sound like a girl.

  I reached for the door.

  Callie barreled through. Her red hair flowed behind her.

  I jumped out the way.

  “Whoa.” I reached out and caught her.

  “Hey.” She ran through my outstretched arms. “Where are you going?”

  “For a run.” I reached for the door.

  “I was going to make breakfast.” She held up a package of tortillas.

  “Can you give me an hour?” I stretched. “I’ll be back by then. You don’t have class today. We can celebrate all afternoon.”

  “I have to study.” She fidgeted with her ring.

  “Maybe call your parents and let them know.” I bent over and touched my toes.

  “Mom’s at the ranch.” She said and disappeared in the bathroom.

  “They have phones at the ranch.” I yelled.

  “Have you told your dad?” She came back to the doorway.

  “No, I couldn’t get him yesterday." I twisted to the left and the right. "But, he texted me that he’ll call me back this afternoon.”

  "Who else knows about the engagement?" she asked.

  I stopped in mid-twist. My eyes narrowed.

  "What do you mean?"

  “Kate and Preston know?"

  I nodded.

  "You told Linda in the bodega on the corner."

  "What did she say?" I grabbed my shift off the table.

  "She wants to freakin cater it for us." Callie held her hand up.

  “Well, not sure that’s going to be possible if we get married in Aspen.” I pulled my shir
t over my head.

  “Asp …” Callie blinked and held on to the wall.

  I hurried towards her and put my hand on her waist.

  “Hey, Baby. You okay?” I guided her to the bed and sat her down. I knelt in front of her.

  She exhaled.

  “We’re getting married in Aspen?” She asked with pure disgust on her face.

  “Well, it’s an idea. They have this amazing mountain outdoor chapel area that you have to fly up in a helicopter.”

  “Helicopter.” She gripped the comforter.

  “I know. It’s a little crazy, but I thought we’d keep it small. That way we can do something special. Something we’ll remember.” I rubbed her thigh.

  I spoke, but I wasn’t sure she heard me.

  She nodded and stared down at the ground. Nip came over to investigate. She reached down and placed him on her lap. Like she needed a buffer between the two of us.

  “Callie. What’s wrong?” I stood.

  “You’ve,” she paused and took a deep cleansing breath, “planned the whole wedding? Have you set a date, too?”

  “No.” I rubbed my face. “Of course not. I’m just saying these are some ideas. I’m not saying we’re getting married next week, but since we’ll be in Aspen, we can have a look.”

  Valentine whimpered from her crate. She wanted in on the family discussion, too.

  I crossed my hands over my chest. When it appeared Callie had nothing else to say, I shook my head and went to let Valentine out.

  I walked to the laundry room through the kitchen.

  Callie followed me.

  “Hey Val.” I reached in and picked her up.

  She barked and wagged her tail. At three months, she fit in my palm.

  “She needs to go out,” Callie said.

  I nodded and opened the back door.

  I set Valentine down. She looked back up at me. Callie stepped out.

  “It’s okay, baby. You can do it?” It gave Valentine confidence to navigate the stairs.

  We stood side by side, watching our little girl stumble down the stairs, one by one. We both signed in relief when she made it the bottom safe.

  I leaned back on the railing.

  “Are you trying to tell me something?” I asked Callie.

  She set Nip down and looked up at me. She blinked her eyes, leaned in, and placed her head on my chest. I wrapped my arms around her. I stroked her hair and squeezed tight.