Page 60 of Fall Over You

It’s getting dark as I drive out Creek Road, and I take in the fall colors starting to fill in. While it’s a longer commute than climbing the stairs to our apartment, I have to admit that it’s pretty peaceful. An owl swoops over the road with a snake in its talons, which ignites some long lost little boy wonder in me. Wouldn’t see that at the garage.

When I reach my destination and park, I’m relieved to see an untouched package leaning against the door.

Becca’s rings.

I pick it and the mail up and unlock the door, flicking on the light while I rifle through the mail. Junk, garage bills, and the seemingly ever-present bill for CJ’s rehab.

Like I needed the reminder. The irony that I’m holding her best friend’s engagement and wedding rings at the same time isn’t lost on me.

I’m not wasting more time on ancient history.

I toss the mail on the counter and rip the tab on the package. For a cheap ring set, it’s in a cute box, trying to make it look like one of the expensive jewelers with a bright blue bow.

How am I going to give it to her? On one knee? Just hand it to her and have her open it like any other present?

I’m itching to look at it now, so I carefully slip the bow aside and lift the lid, then open the clamshell box inside.

Tiny rainbows splash everywhere, even in the garage’s fluorescent lighting. There’s a big oval stone on a silver band, though not as big as she wanted. A V-shaped ring with tiny diamonds—fake diamonds—all over it will sit around the engagement band.

She’s right though. I really can’t tell it’s fake. Looks real enough to me.

It feels real. I’m asking Rebecca Jean Martin to marry me, just not for the reason I ever thought I’d get married.

The reason isn’t really important. She’s going to wear this ring to show everyone she belongs to me. With me. We’re going to be tethering ourselves to each other. Reversibly, but the thought of it ending makes my jaw tighten so much it hurts.

This little band on Becca’s finger. This sparkly stone proving she’s mine.

Holy fucking shit.

How is Ellie going to feel? Hell, how does she feel right now? I hope she’s not giving Becca too much hell, but she should have been able to get a text through if something was wrong. I’d better head back anyway, just in case.

I make a stunned drive back to the farm, my mind everywhere and nowhere. But when I get there, I can’t find Ellie or Becca. My heart pounds, a hundred worst case scenarios playing out. Not even T-Bone pops out to greet me. Are they still outside? It’s late now, and Ellie should be in bed.

She’s not. I peek into my bedroom to find nothing.

“Reba?” I whisper-yell into the dark. Then T-Bone’s smiling face appears from Becca’s doorway.

Thank god for the damn dog. She licks my hand as I walk into Becca’s room, doing my best to tread softly in case Ellie’s asleep somewhere.

I barely notice T-Bone’s incessant licking once I’m in the bedroom.

Ellie is tucked into Becca’s body on top of Becca’s sheets with Pussy sticking out from her arms. Both of them are sound asleep.

Consider my heart completely detonated.

I don’t have a ton of pictures on my phone. Most of them are of Ellie or parts I need to find for people’s cars.

This one might have to be my new background. The dim light from the hallway shines just enough to show their serene faces. I snap the picture, pocket my phone, then bend to decide how to shift Ellie out of Becca’s arms. T-Bone, per usual, thinks this is a game and wiggles between me and Ellie.

“Quit,” I whisper, giving her a pet. “You really are a turkey buzzard.”

She nuzzles into my hand and, fine, she’s cute. I stand straight and run my hands over her coat, which she rewards by slumping her face into my shoulder.

“Aw. You’re a good one.” I tug her collar to get her to jump down off the bed and scoop Ellie out of Becca’s arms. I carry her down the hall to her room and nestle her into her sheets, tucking her in with a forehead kiss. T-Bone has followed me this whole way, so I snap my fingers and point to the bed. “Up.”

T-Bone gets in bed with Ellie and I leave them to sleep. I get ready for bed, then peek into Becca’s room one more time before I turn out the hall light. The blanket shifted off her shoulders when I picked up Ellie and wrestled T-Bone.

With my heart in my throat, I step into the room and pull the blanket up to her shoulders. This woman is my future, and not long ago, I was against everything she stood for. Now, I’m about to commit to a lifetime with her, even if we don’t quite mean it.