"Let's move to an exotic island. You can do hair for tourists while I give boat rides."

I shove him playfully. "Be serious."

He chuckles. "I'm not sure what I'll do or where we'll end up."

"I'm worried." I admit. I'd hate for him to give up a good paying career because of me. If I hadn't come around it wouldn't be happening.

"Callie, my family will help us. I always have a job with them. My parents are good people, and so are my grandparents. I promise it's not a big deal. They wanted me to manage the business when I got out of college. You could even get a job at one of the hotels in the salon."

"In Pennsylvania?"

"Or Maryland or Virginia. They have several locations."

I start the get sad again when he mentions Virginia, because it's one state away from my parents. It going to hurt me so much if they never want to see me again. I feel like they're going to shun me.

Cob gently pushes me off of his lap and stands. He stretches and yawns. "We should book the flight for in the morning or early afternoon. Let's do it from the laptop in the bedroom. I need to go some shut eye."

He extends his hand for me to take. "Come on. Tomorrow is a new day, and as long as I get to spend it with you I'll be able to figure out everything else."

I let him lead us into the bedroom. He takes his time removing my shirt and helping me out of my pants. While standing in my bra and panties I watch him stripping from his outfit and tossing it on the floor. He approaches again, kissing me slowly before pulling me onto the mattress. We're immediately making out, consumed by each other, and relieving stress at the same time. It's rea.s.suring knowing how much he cares for me. Asking me to marry him couldn't have been easy. This man has never been the type to settle down. I wouldn't have expected this, not even after we were together for several more years, yet we're getting hitched. He's asked me and I've accepted, because nothing is going to keep us from being together.

"Make love to me," I request."

"You've got it, babe. I'm already on it."

Chapter 24.

Cob After having s.e.x with Callie, we opened my laptop and booked two flights to Vegas. It's all sinking in now, the excitement and the fear. This isn't a decision I took some time to make, therefore it's scaring the h.e.l.l out of me. I don't regret asking her. When I look into those eyes I see my future. I know this feels right, but it's the repercussions that will haunt me.

What if she decides I'm not what she wants? What if I can't be faithful in the future? What if the excitement wears off and we're both miserable?

While Callie falls fast asleep, I'm stuck awake, wondering if I'm about to ruin our lives even worse than they already are.

I make a decision that I fear could cause a big issue. I call home.

My father answers. "This better be important, Cob. It's the middle of the night."

"I'm getting married," I announce without warning.

"Are you drunk? Your mother told me about your girlfriend. Tough break, man. I met that family a long time ago. They're good people, but there's too many bad memories linking us."

I sigh. "Dad, I'm not drunk. I'm absolutely sober. I asked Callie to marry me tonight."

"You have to withdraw the offer. You can't marry that girl."

I pinch the bridge of my nose. "I'm not calling for permission or a lecture. I'm calling because I didn't feel right doing it without talking to you and Mom first. I'm trying to do the right thing. I love her. We shouldn't have to end our relationship because of someone else's past."

"You're right. It's not fair. I can't imagine what you're going through."

"Why would Mom call her mother? Why did she have to get involved? She made it worse."

"Your mother is worried about you. We both are. That part of her life is over. She went through h.e.l.l. You don't know what it was like back then, Cob. I never knew my father, but he was an evil man. He wanted Mom gone, and the same for Callie's mom. He held them at gunpoint and threatened their lives. They were both pregnant. Can you imagine how hard it was to hear my father did that to your mother?"

"Wait, so Mom was involved with your father?"

"The father I never knew about until I was older. Yes, for a brief time."

"This just gets worse by the minute."

"Do you want to talk to Mom? I can wake her up."

"No. That's not necessary."

"You're going to elope aren't you?"

"I'm planning on it. How did you know?"

"I'd do the same d.a.m.n thing if I were you. It's the only way to stay together. You're both adults. You love each other. I get it. I'm proud of you for not giving up on her. I know you haven't exactly been too keen on settling down with one woman. She's obviously pretty important to you."

"She's everything, Dad. I wish you could meet her. You'd like her for me."

"I'm sure I will. This will wear off with time. You have to be patient. Just remember that marriage is a big deal. I know people your age just a.s.sume you can get a divorce, but back in my day it meant something. I stood before G.o.d and promised forever. It's been tough at times, but I'm glad I did it. If you feel like this is what you want, I say go for it. Don't tell your mother I said that. She'd kick my a.s.s and punish me to the couch."

We both laugh together. "We fly into Vegas tomorrow morning."

"When do you want me to tell Mom?"

"It doesn't matter. She won't change our minds."

"I wish we could be there, son. I know it would mean a lot to Mom especially."

"I can't have people there that won't support us. It's bad enough I can't give her a huge wedding."

"The Little White Chapel is known for good weddings. Go there. A friend of mine got married there last year. They did a huge photo package and were very professional. They even let them pick their ceremony and do their own vows."

"I'll go there then. Thanks, Dad. I appreciate this."

"I'm guessing you're nervous. That's why you're calling isn't it?" I'm not shocked he knows exactly how I'm feeling. My father has always been able to read me.

"I'm scared s.h.i.tless. We're rushing into this. How can I not worry?"

"You could wait."

"No. We're not waiting. I won't take the chance of losing her."

"Then you have to do what you feel is necessary. People have married for way less."

"What if I screw up?"

"The best advice I can give to you is, don't. Make it a point to think before you act. Don't take her for granted. If you're friends marriage is much easier. You have to trust each other. That's the biggest."

"You inspire me to be a better man."

"Get some rest, Son. You'll know whether you're making the right decision. Don't overa.n.a.lyze it. If you love her, you'll make sacrifices to be with her. It's a simple as that."

"I appreciate the advice."

"Good, now go to bed. My a.s.s is tired. I'm hanging up."

Once the call ends I head back to bed and nestle up next to Callie. She needs her rest more than me. She's had one h.e.l.l of day. I fall asleep a little after two, exhausted and freaked out with what we're about to do.

My alarm scares the c.r.a.p out of us. We both sit up in the bed and look at one another. In order to make our flight we're going to need to get up and head to the airport. "It's now or never," I say.

She stretches and leans against me. "I'm so tired."

"You can sleep on the plane, babe."

"Are we really getting married?"

"It wasn't a dream," I rea.s.sure her.

She claps her hands together and smiles. "Okay. Let's do this. Let's go to Vegas and get hitched."

"Are you being serious or sarcastic?" I confusingly ask.

"Do you love me, Jacob Monroe?"

"I do."

"Then we're getting hitched."

I hop out of the bed and wait for her to do the same. When she doesn't budge I grab both of her hands and pull until her feet hit the floor. She's screaming and fighting, but I'm stronger. "If I have to carry you over my shoulder I'll get you to the airport."

She's beating on my shoulder. "Okay, okay, put me down."

It only takes us a few minutes to dress, brush our hair and teeth, grab our bags, and head out the door.

We make it through security pretty fast, so we stop and grab some bagels and coffees before we board the aircraft. Callie takes my hand after we've found our seats. I turn my head to the side and look into her eyes. "Here we go."

"I can't believe we're doing this. It's exciting and terrifying at the same time. My parents are going to flip."

"What would you do if they showed up to try and stop us?"

"We'd run out the back door and find another place to marry us, right? Isn't that what you would do?"

I shrug. The plane takes off and I feel the pull as we begin our ascension. "I don't know. I think I'd try to talk some sense into them first. I mean, you've obviously made your point. We're going to extremes to be together. They can either accept it, or risk a future relationship with you. If you were my child I'd want you in my life."

She bites her bottom lip. "How many children do you want?"

"I don't know. How many do you want?"

"One or two."

"Are we in a hurry for these two kids?"

She giggles. "No. Are you?"

"Not particularly."

"What if it happened by accident?"

"Then I guess we'd be parents."

She's all smiles. "Good answer."

I bring my lips up to her ear. "I'd never ask you to get rid of something we made together, Callie. I'm not just doing this to keep us together. I'm doing this because I know I can't lose you."

"You won't."

"I almost did already."

"I came back. It wasn't even a full day."

"It felt like a week," I say sarcastically.

"I heard you talking to your dad last night, Cob."

I feel terrible about it. "You did? I thought you were sleeping."

"It's fine. I'm glad you had someone to talk to. It's a big step."

"He told me to go for it."

"At least someone is on our side."