Nate (A Texas Jacks Novel) (43 page)

“So? Who was she then?”

“Heather Morgan, my ex-high school sweetheart. We dated for a long time. Actually, we grew up around each other. We had big plans for our life together, until my mom got sick. After she passed, I broke up with Heather. I couldn’t think straight, and I eventually made some unwise choices during the course of the period after, until I met you. Talking to you was the best choice I’ve ever made, to date.”

“I love that you think that. But, can you tell me what she wanted? And why you looked like you were having a tender moment with her?”

“She was asking to come back to me. She missed me, and she felt like she had given me enough time and space to finally rekindle what we once had. I told her that the only door I would be knocking down was yours, Charlotte. I truly mean that.”

“Thank you for being honest with me. I still don’t like that she came back into your life, though, or the moment it looked like you two were involved in.”

“How do you think I felt when Dave was around? I wanted to punch the guy, and I’m not a violent man. I thought for sure you had slipped through my fingers. I was so upset that day at the track. He was there, being too friendly in your personal space, and all I could see was this red rage. I’d had enough, and wasn’t thinking straight when I jumped off my bike and started to exit the track. I was careless and blinded by jealousy. The likes of which I wasn’t used to experiencing before,
ever.
”

“Dave isn’t
you
, Nathan. He’s a friend, but not a personal, close one. I would never jump to another man when I have no clue where I stand with the one I love.”

My eyes fly to his, and I’m in shock that I just admitted that out loud. It’s how I feel, and I meant it when I said it to him at the hospital when he was sleeping. I couldn’t stand the thought of rejection from him. It would sting if he didn’t repeat the words back to me.

If his stunned expression is anything to go by, then I’m ready to hightail it out of here.

“Can you please repeat those words?”

I know I can’t hide the feeling anymore, and I’m not about to play games. So I put on my brave face, and say it again. “I love you, Nathan. I have for a long time, now.”

“Do you know how often I’ve imagined you saying those words? I thought I heard you say them in the hospital, but then realized it was only a dream that I thought was real.”

“I did say it back then, too.”

“Come here, little one.”

I scoot closer to him so he can pull me into his arms. He leans us against the couch, as gingerly as he can. I lean against his good side when he kisses the top of my head. I shyly look up at him, wanting to know what he’s thinking.

“Charlotte,” he looks down into my eyes from his perch on the couch. I strain my head up more to get a better view. “I’ve been in love with you since the beginning, I just didn’t comprehend what I was allowing to happen. I regret my actions. I should have told you months ago how I felt. Can you ever forgive me and my stupidity?”

“Nathan, how can I
not
forgive you? There is one thing that I need to ask of you, though.”

“Anything.”

“Can you forgive me for not trying harder to make you share your feelings? Can you forgive me for when I felt like I let you down after you told me about your mom? Here you’ve shown me a new part of life, and reached out your hand, holding mine the whole way, when I’ve let you down.”

“Charlotte, I have to apologize here, too. I was so mad at you for not saying anything after my confession. Though, I didn’t know it had happened then, and it would take days to remember it all. I blamed you for a while. I was so beyond mad at you, myself, Carianna—I should have talked to you like an adult following that night, and I didn’t. I let it go the route it did and pushed you further away. I didn’t mean to toy with your emotions, or to be so distant and hurt you. I was hurting myself. I had to go through the grieving process the rest of the way. I was mad. I was hurt. I was sad. I wanted to be alone. I just didn’t know how to take in all of these emotions, or where to go with them. The guys really helped show me the light, but the kicker was when I thought I lost you. I realize that it was only my own doing.”

“Even though you don’t need it, I’ll tell you that you are forgiven. I wanted you to tell me these things on your own, without the help of alcohol. I felt horrible for not reaching out in a better way. I think at this point, we need to let go of our mutual hurt and anger, and move on. Can you do that for me?”

“I want to do that, and I’m trying. It won’t be easy, Charlie. I will still have setbacks. I will still get upset and feel lonely all over again, but never as lonely as I was, if we work on this together. I can make you a promise that I won’t drink again like I did the night you found me. I’ve never gotten like that before, and I don’t ever want to experience it again.”

“I like that promise, and I can be your foundation. You just have to let me in when you have a hard day.”

He leans down and kisses me softly, and that’s how we end our evening. On the couch, cuddling, watching movies, and working out our past hurts, our future wants, and our lives in the present.

One and a half years later

I can’t believe I’ve spent over a full year with Charlie. We’re in a better place now than we were in the year prior. I’m learning to work out my issues by actually talking to her. She’s been there for me on my hard days, and my best days. She encouraged me to make more time for my family, which is slowly coming back together, but still is a work in progress. We can’t change who we are overnight. It takes time to work out the kinks. Regardless, it’s been a great year, with several new additions to it.

We’re not married yet, but I’ve already become a permanent fixture in the home of the Davenports. Greg and Lindsay were married. Jaxon and Jennifer had a baby. Bethany finally settled down with one man, and he treats her like she’s his queen. Rachel and Anson had twins—both girls, to Anson’s horror. We’ve had a few good laughs at that.

Tonight, we’re celebrating our birthdays, Charlie and I, at
Texas Jacks.
We’ve invited our family and friends to come celebrate with us. It looks to be a promising evening with everyone we love, and all of the joy and laughter they bring us.

“Are you having a good time, sweetheart?” I bend to speak in Charlie’s ear over the music. She wraps her arms around me and snuggles in closer.

“Yes, cowboy. Thank you for the best birthday to date. I don’t know how you will top this next year.”

“I’m sure I’ll find a way, don’t you worry.” I lean in and kiss her cheek, then up to her ear, where I nip it. “I’ll be right back. I think I just saw Holt and Tucker head off to the pool tables. I want to see how much I can swindle out of them.” She giggles, and I pull away to find the guys.

I clock them near the DJ booth. I’m heading their way when I spot Dave. We haven’t exactly gotten past the Charlie-episode, as I call it, but we manage to coexist together, when we have to. Thankfully it’s not that often. I give him a head nod and keep on moving to the two targets in my line of sight.

“Is it all set and ready to go?” I ask, the moment I get to them.

“That’s an affirmative!” Holt salutes me.

“All right. Let’s get to it then.” The DJ hands me a mic and cuts the music.

“I would like the birthday girl to come out to the middle of the dance floor, please.” I look through the crowd and spot Charlie. She looks at me, trying to guess what I’m up to. I don’t think she has a clue. I hope no one spoiled it, at least.

She makes her way over, but does it hesitantly. “This beautiful woman standing before all of you tonight is the center of my life. She’s saved me from a downward spiral. I want her to know how much I think of her. To me, she’s the best part of me. I love you, Charlie. Happy Birthday.”

She smiles at me, and I already know that if I were up close to her now, I would see how much it shines through her eyes. She’s about to walk away, but I stop her again.

“Charlotte Davenport, I have a question to ask you.”

Everyone is pretty quiet now, as I’ve got their full attention.

“Will you dance with me?”

Everyone starts to boo me, thinking I was going to pop the question. I can see her, and she looks like she’s laughing, but pleased and happy all the same. I watch her make her way to me, and we start to lose the attention of the partygoers. Once she makes it to me, I take her hand and walk her back to the dance floor.

“You crazy man.” She socks me in the arm, but I can hear the mirth in her voice.

I pull her into my arms as a slow song comes on. Right as we start to slow dance, I stop and drop down to one knee. The music goes to a low hum, while I stare up into Charlie’s eyes. Everything ceases to exist but her in this moment. I pull the mic back out from my back pocket and start to talking to the love of my life.

“Charlotte Davenport. From the moment I laid eyes on you here, in this very place, I couldn’t stop. I felt a connection with you from the start. We had our ups and downs, but through it all, you’ve made me stronger. I’ve given you my heart, and then my love. Now, I want to give you one more thing. Will you do me the honor of taking my last name, and becoming my wife?”

Charlie’s eyes are wet with the tears running unchecked down her cheeks. She stands there in a stunned silence. I pick up her left hand, and hold a ring out to her ring finger. I start to slide it on. I’m confident that she will say yes.

“Are you going to leave him hanging?” someone shouts from the crowd.

Charlie pulls out of the spell I cast upon her and slowly nods her head, whispering, “
Yes
."

The moment finally dawns on her, and she beams the biggest simile on me before she jumps me. I almost fall over, but manage to save the day. I wrap my arms around her waist, resting my head on her soft belly, giving her an extra firm squeeze. She lets go and I stand up. I gather her back into my arms and kiss the daylights out of her.

“Ladies and gentleman, I would believe that’s a yes.” We hear the DJ say over his mic. “Everyone, please join in celebrating this fine couples’ joint birthday—and engagement—out on the dance floor. Grab a partner and let’s dance!”

“I can’t believe you surprised me like this. I had no idea!” Charlie exclaims.

“It was a miracle that no one blabbed it to you. I’m shocked!” I laugh. I nuzzle her hair as we sway to the music. “Thank you, little one, for coming into my life. I love you.”

“I love you, too.”

We spend the rest of the night celebrating life with those we hold dear to our hearts. I won’t say it was an easy one, as I had one important person missing, but I’m learning to deal with those hard times in a better way now. I have all of the support I need now. My mom would have loved Charlie, as I’m sure she does while she watches over us from Heaven.

Seven years later