But I didn’t want that. Well, Iwanted it, but…I was going to do right by her. Show her restraint. True love. Not that she had to put out to get something. Or put out because she got something.
“You know…waiting for marriage doesn’t have to take too long, Sarah.”
She leaned back so I could see her eyes. “What do you mean?”
“I’m ready for you now, Sarah.”
She sat up. “You mean sex? We can—”
“Marriage.”
She froze, her eyes wide. “Did you say…marriage?”
“Scares ya, doesn’t it?”
“Ummm…”
I laughed, hugging her tighter. I figured it would, and that this would have to move slowly. That was fine by me. I loved seeing her reactions. She still didn’t think herself worthy. Hell, I wasn’t great marriage material either.
I had a roof over my head, some clothes, and a couple of good jobs. It wouldn’t be easy street for her to marry me, but one thing I did have was a whole heart, filled with love, to give her. That had to count for something, right?
“It’s okay, Sarah. Just breathe.”
“Marriage,” she whispered. “Not a word in my vocabulary, really.”
“Consider it added.”
“You’d really marry me, Drey?Me?”
“I could ask the same of you. Like I said before, my life isn’t easy. Not paved in gold.” She looked up at me. “But there’s one thing I can give you.”
She rested her hand on my chest.
“My soul, Sarah. Me. One hundred percent me. Scars and all.”
“I like scars,” she whispered. “Between us we have a few, huh?”
“I’d say.” I waved to the waiter to get the check. “You ready for part two?”
Chapter Thirty-Seven
Sarah
“So,ifweeverdid get married, what would it be like?” I asked Drey as I settled beside him in the limo.
The ride was so smooth, I couldn’t believe we were even moving. I had no idea where we were going, but that was fine. I was with Drey. On Valentine’s Day no less!
“Marriage or the wedding?” He smoothed my hair back as he tucked me closer beneath his arm.
“Wedding.”
“You first. You dream of a big fancy wedding? Long white train. Fifteen bridesmaids?”
“I don’t even know fifteen people.”
He laughed. But it was true. When I thought about it, whowouldI invite? Sure, there was Angelina, Lizzie, Bill, Hunter, and a couple other people from the bar. But as far as family or… I’d always been alone and never thought about it, so it all seemed so foreign to me.
“No. I think I’d want something different. Sneak away and elope. Just me and you. You know? No fancy this or that. Me and you.”