Page 26 of All the Promises We Break

“Marry me this weekend.”

“What? You’re crazy.”

“Not crazy, I just don’t want to wait anymore.”

“After all we’ve been through with my parents, how amazing your family has been, and all that we’ve been through, you and I, while I wouldn’t necessarily say no to hopping on a plane, flying to Italy, and getting married on the streets of Florence, I’d like to celebrate with our team. You know?”

“Italy? Where did that come from?”

“Well, I had my Barbies marry there after seeing some romantic movie with my mom.”

“The softer side of Viper.”

“I wasn’t always your goddess.”

“You just gave me the most perfect picture of you on the floor playing with our daughter.” I can feel Dylan’s body tense up. “We all have dreams. It doesn’t need to be soon. We didn’t think we’d be here, but we are.”

After a moment of silence, my Dylan returns. “Maybe we should have dinner with your family? I don’t know how to do all this wedding stuff. I’m not ready for my parents and your parents to get together yet. I need more time to trust them.”

“We don’t have to. It’s our timetable. Funny you mention dinner. Before my father threw me out on my ass, he said to keep Saturday evening open.”

Driving over to my parents’ on Saturday feels good. Dylan wanted control of the keys, so I let her. It’s the first time we’ll be officially doing something as a family with Dylan, other than sitting in a hospital waiting room. After the gate opens, I point to my spot in the driveway, just back from the basketball hoop.

“If it gets too close in there, just tell me you want to shoot some hoops. No one will think anything of it, and you can just breathe. Remember, they love you.”

“This is all new for me. I’m just nervous. I don’t hate it.”

“Let’s get you relaxed then.” I lean over the console and cup her cheek in my hand. “Come here.” With a gentle tug, her lips meet mine. I can’t recall the last time I kissed a girl in my parents’ driveway. How old was I? I know one thing for sure. They were nowhere near as beautiful as my future wife.

Our lips slowly dance. Dylan crawls a little bit toward me. Her hand cradles my neck while her fingers flex back and forth, sending chills down my spine. I don’t even realize the second set of headlights that set the court aglow. It’s only the rap of knuckles on the driver’s side window that alerts us.

“Excuse me, kids, if you do that any longer you’ll fog the windows.”

Wes.

I can hear him laughing as he walks away. I’d never want to admit it to him, but we were too. We quickly pile out of the car and race to the door. I manage to flick the back of Wes’s ear before we walk in. He whines for a millisecond about it then goes about charming my mother.

Hayley comes bounding down the stairs, per usual, and dives into my arms. “Hey there, easy.”

“I’m sorry. Did I hurt you?”

“No. Some things are still just raw.”

“Hey, Dylan! I love your jacket.” Hayley threads her arm through Dylan’s and marches her away.

Wes and I are left standing in the foyer being loved on by my mother. “I can’t tell you what it feels like to have all of my kids with me tonight.”

“The only place I still get called a kid and have it be a good thing. Thanks for having me, Lil.”

“Where’s Dad?” I ask.

“I’m sure he’s cursing about the grill being too hot. He’s out back with a few cold ones for you.”

“A man after my own heart. You're able to have one, Goose?”

“Yeah, just one. Set me up.”

My mother wraps her arms around me again. I rest my cheek on her head. “Your father and I have been worried. He said you finished the week strong.”

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