Page 80 of One Hotlanta Night
A small smile graces her face.
“I need to talk to you about something,” I tell her softly, two fingers turning her chin to face me so I can look into her gorgeous eyes as I drop the news. She’s tired, and this is the last thing I want to add to her worries right now, but we need to have this conversation.
I’m well aware that I’ve been the one ready to move forward with our relationship every step of the way, quickly taking her from girlfriend status to fiancée to helping her pack up to move in. In my eyes, I don’t see the need to wait at all if it’s what we both want. And I believe—no, I know—she loves me, but she’s been skittish when it comes to making any permanent changes. And this is one hell of a permanent change.
“Vivian.” By the way her eyes lock on mine, I know I have her complete attention. I swallow.Here goes nothing.“The project I’m working on here in Atlanta… Well, it was never going to be long term. I don’t know if I explained that before.” She slowly shakes her head, searching my eyes like she’s trying to anticipate what I’m going to say. I swallow. “They called me in today to let me know that it’s ending sooner than expected.”
“How soon issoon?” she asks me, eyes widening.
“End of the month.” I wrap my arms tighter around her as a buffer at my announcement. Her body goes rigid and I can feel her sharp inhale.
“What… what does this mean? For you—”
“For me? Forusis what you mean,” I tell her firmly. My next words have to be careful if there’s going to be any chance she’ll go for this. “Listen, mi amor, I am very good at my job. This company brought me here to Atlanta, to you, and I’m grateful for that. It brings me satisfaction and pays me well. Well enough that I can provide for both of us… and for our family.” I slide a hand over her stomach and rest it there. We haven’t discussed children per se, other than my obvious attachment to my family and her desire to have strong family bonds. I’ve assumed kids will be part of that equation. “Listen, mi amor, there’s an opportunity for me to stay with the company, get a promotion even—”
“But,” she finishes for me. “What is the ‘but’?”
“But it means we would have to move.” I hope she’s clueing into the fact that I sayweand not just me. Because that’s exactly what we are now. There is no me without her. I’ve waited too long for her and won’t let her go. Ever.
“Move where, exactly?” she asks in a quiet voice.
“Miami,” I respond just as softly, matching her tone. She stills in my arms, eyes unblinking, and for a second I think she’s stopped breathing entirely.
“Miami,” she repeats slowly. “That’s where you were born.” It’s a statement, not a question, but I nod my head anyway. “When would you have to leave?” It’s not lost on me that she’s using the singular. It stings.
“My boss’s boss was the one who spoke to me today. He says there’s only a few spots down there and that they’ll pay for moving expenses—”
“When, Michael?” she cuts to the point, and I can’t stall anymore.
“End of the month,” I admit in a low tone. Her body goes rigid as if I can actually feel her walls rise up, shutting me out. Determined to get through the rest, I add quickly, “I’m flying down there tomorrow to check it out. I can look for an apartment while I’m there…” I trail off, feeling like it’s too much.
“That’s… that’s really soon,” she whispers, and I skate my hands over her arms, trying to keep her warm and melt this wall of ice she’s putting up. Trying to get her to stay with me in the moment. Stay with me forever.
“I know it is,” I start, “and I know it’s asking a lot.”
“What does this mean for us?” She pulls away slightly and although it’s the last thing I want to do, I release my hold. She stays on my lap, but her arms rest on her thighs, fingers worrying the hem of her shirt.
“For us? Well, I’m hoping it means you’ll marry me sooner rather than later,” I say with a laugh, attempting to lighten the mood.
“You can’t be serious.” She levels me with a glare. Guess I crashed and burned on that one. Taking both of her hands in mine, I raise them to my lips and tenderly kiss her ring finger.
“I’m dead serious, Vivian.” I let that soak in for a beat before continuing, “I mean it. I want to marry you, mi amor, and if this means we get married sooner than we originally planned, so much the better. Sure, we could move to Miami right now as an engaged couple, but I want to make it official. Let the whole world know you’re mine and that I’m the luckiest damn man to have you. I can’t wait to start our life together as husband and wife. I’m already committed to you. I have been since the moment we met. I knew you were mine right then, and I’m yours, Vivian. Every last part of me, it’s all for you.”
She’s quiet on my lap for a long moment, and I hold my breath, wondering what she’s thinking of all this but too anxious to ask. Until all of a sudden she pulls her hands from mine and bolts up from my legs, putting distance between us.
My hands fist at my sides, willing myself to stay calm as Vivian begins to pace, as if she can outpace her thoughts. She’s muttering to herself, and I can’t quite make out what she’s saying, only that the words sound agitated. Is she truly worried or just trying to talk herself out of it? My shoulders tense and beads of sweat start to trickle down the back of my neck when she starts to speak.
“Michael, I can’t… we can’t…” Her steps zigzag as if she’s not aware of her direction. “This is crazy,” she whispers, not looking at me. “Who gets married after two months?Who does that?Only crazy people!” It’s the worst timing but I want to crack a joke and tell her I’m crazy for her. Because it’s true. But I’m sure she won’t take it that way right now. This is a lot to take in. Hell, it was a lot for me to move down to Georgia, leaving my family and friends behind. Miami may only be one state away, but it’s a helluva longer drive. And a completely different culture. If this is wild for me to think about, it must be ten times more so for her.
I take some deep breaths. Anything to calm my racing pulse as she works this out for herself. As she works out our future.
“Am I crazy?” she mutters to herself. She halts and fixes me with a glare. “You want me to just uprootmy whole lifeand move somewhere else with you? Afar awaysomewhere else? Miami isn’t exactly a couple exits down the highway, you know. My whole life is here, my mom, Claire, Raelynn. This isn’t fair. You can’t just take me away from them, Michael!” Her voice ends on a near shriek.
Does that mean—am I an asshole to take this as a sign that she’s considering it? That she’s not just automatically writing it off? I’m used to making decisions based on my gut; it has servedme well. But Vivian has only spoken in bits and pieces about her past. The little crumbs I get hint at impulsive decisions that she’s regretted later. Iwon’tlet her regret me. Not ever. But I have to get her on board first. With our life together.
Proceed with caution, I tell myself.This is harder for her than it is for you.
“I know how much you love all of them, mi amor,” I placate. “I’m not trying to take you away, but Iamtrying to build us a future.” She huffs and resumes her pacing. Measuring my words with precision, I continue, “Vivian.”
