Knocking at their door, I couldn’t help my stupid grin. I was excited to be near her. It had only been a few hours, but I couldn’t wait to see her. She was in a tank top and joggers. I pulled her into a hug and kissed the top of her wet hair. We went to the couch, settled into our designated spots, and pulled the gray blanket from underneath the coffee table we always used.
“What couldn’t wait till the morning?” Marissa asked as I placed my arm around her shoulder as she leaned into my side.
I shrugged. “I just wanted to see you.”
She chuckled. “No huge pressing secrets on your conscience.”
That made my back stiffen. Had she found out about the B&B? What would happen if she knew? That place held so many memories of her parents and was the first place she saw herself having a future. I knew I couldn’t sell it. I couldn’t do that to her. I should resolve all those threads and let her know.
Would this ruin the progress we had made?Was honesty worth the risk? What if she says no?
“For tonight, I just wanted to see you.” I shrugged. “Any secrets from you?”
I could sense there was something she wanted to say, but then she sighed. “No secrets for tonight.”
But not no secrets for either of us . . . my stomach felt tight. What did that mean?
Marissa put her head on my chest, and I used my right hand to play with her hair. We agreed to take it a day at a time. It would take a while to learn everything about each other. It didn’t mean I needed to worry.
Bert nodded at me. He had put two lazy boys close enough that he could hold hands with Nan while they sat in their chairs.
Nan grinned. “Alright you two, you can be as lovey as you want, within reason. But whoever loses tonight has to wash the dishes.”
Marissa chuckled and yawned. “It’s on, Nan.”
“How are the wedding plans going?” I asked Bert and Nan.
“I’ve no idea. I’m happy with whatever she chooses. My only stipulation is it be as soon as possible.” Bert grinned.
“Can’t stand to be without me?” Nan wiggled her eyebrows.
“No. I can’t.” Bert kissed the back of Nan’s hand.
With that, the music for Wheel of Fortune started.
“Who’s being all lovey now?” Marissa rolled her eyes. “I’m super tired and I don’t want to end up doing dishes by default when I fall asleep.”
A few hours later, we had won at Jeopardy, but lost at Wheel of Fortune. Bert had gone home, and I rested on the couch, Marissa sleeping in my arms.
I dozed off and woke up there with Marissa still in my arms in the early morning. My left arm was screaming in protest from loss of blood flow, but at this point I was happy to lose it, rather than move. It was dark in the house, other than a faint glow coming from near the TV. I could lay here forever, feeling Marissa in my arms.
My phone went off again and again with notifications. The world was yelling for attention, but I didn’t care. There was nothing that mattered more than right here, right now. I rubbed Marissa’s hair in my fingers and pressed a kiss to her forehead. She was gorgeous.
Marissa murmured something in her sleep and stirred. She sat up, tipped her neck to the side, and lifted her arms up in a stretch, nearly hitting my face. Her nose wrinkled, and she flopped down on the couch in the other direction. She had exposed her stomach, and I stared at the vicious lines that ran across it. The car wreck must have been terrible to heal like that. I leaned over and pulled her shirt down, knowing she would be more comfortable with the scars covered.
I turned and grabbed an extra blanket to cover her up, then stretched and stood. I should head home.
“She almost died, you know.”
I jumped but refused to let the yell escape my lips and wake Marissa. I put my hand to my heart and turned to see Nan standing nearby watching Marissa.
I looked at Marissa and thought of what the world would be like without her in it. My world would be gray. Nan shuffled closer.
“Did she get the scars from the car accident with her parents?” I whispered. Marissa had opened up about a lot of things, but with the accident, she could only seem to share a tiny piece at a time.
“Yep.” Nan sighed. “The poor thing was out cold for forty-eight hours. She woke up to a world forever changed. Left her home and moved in here with me.” The pain in Nan’s voice was clear as she relived that moment.
“That must have been a very hard time for you both. The grief of losing people you loved and navigating new life together.”
