Page 82 of Hearts Held
Everett cocks a small smile then nods in my direction. “You’ll have to explain that one to the both of us, dove. ’Cause last time I checked, we weren’t married yet, and we haven’t said we love each other, either.” He raises a playful eyebrow at me as my face heats with embarrassment at my bolddisplay.
“I…” Oh, shite, I really buggered this. “I felt it was the right thing to say in the heat of the moment.” Wringing my hands together, I can feel perspiration gather at the back of my neck.
Everett has mentioned more than once he wasmineand I washis, though we’ve never confessed our love for one another. Maybe this is all heated passion, pure lust, and now I’ve completely made a fool of myself due to miscommunication.
Everett rises from his desk and begins placing his tweed coat and wool sweater on.
“Let’s go,” he states, then walks toward Kenneth’s coat and throws it in his direction.
“Where are we going?” I ask, figuring we may be about to hunt Seraphina down.
He opens the office door and gestures for us to leave. With a wide grin he states, “We’re going to the courthouse.”
“You’ve gone mad,” Kenneth says as he takes a cigarette out of his pocket.
Everett reaches for my hand as he pulls me through the door.
“No, I’m in love,” he remarks, as we make our way toward the courthouse to solidify our union, easing all worries and stress I had deliberately caused myself.
On the way, we pick up rings at a smaller jewelry shop owned by Marcus’s mother.
I choose a delicate cushion-cut sapphire with a silver band, and he chooses a matching band with my initials carved on the inside.
At the courthouse, as we stare into one another’s eyes, delivering the simple vows I never thought I’d speak again, my heart feels so full of love and joy.
He leans down as we seal our kiss, our union, our promise of forever.
Then Kenneth, Tilly and Bobby cheer in the background alongside a weeping Baba.
Everett’s handsome face leans down to whisper in my ear, “I loved you since the night you told me your dream to have a farm. The night you escaped everyone at the Den and I found you seated in the corner, by yourself.” Then his lips graze my cheek, down my neck and back to my lips.
I never thought I’d bethis happy.
I never thought someone could love me as deeply as he does.
I never thought I’d feel as safe as I do.
Though anxiety peers out from the subconscious part of my brain, reminding me that I could lose everything in an instant, but I shove it back.
Back as far as I can, to the recesses of my mind, so it may not ruin this perfect moment.
As we sit in the courthouse, surrounded by our small group of family, I realize how much I have to lose.
Chapter 28: Brielle
Hold On, Chord Overstreet
Tilly and I walk down the cobbled pathway to the hospital.
“Ya know, Bobby is a real sweetheart. He has now proposed with three rings! THREE! ’Cause I keep saying ‘not yet.’ That man has no patience, I tell ya.” She emphasizes her point with her delicate hands. “I figure if I keep this up, the man is gonna buy me a motorcar or a house!” She giggles to herself, placing her black-gloved hand over her mouth.
We rush inside the warm hospital and take our patient assignments. She giggles about her recent escapades with Bobby and asks how “marital bliss” is, though Everett and I have only been married for a week.
Irefrain from telling her how much bliss he has given me on our dining room table, the library, the bathtub and, well, almost everywhere in our new home.
It is still a strange feeling to have moved into his large house. I still have my townhome, for it’s a walk away from the hospital and Piggy enjoys our small, cozy abode rather than the large mansion Everett has.
Luckily Tilly’s assignment is close by mine, so I can listen to her boast about Bobby’s flamboyant displays of affection.
