I love her, she loves me… we both love Hannah more than anything else, so why not get married and make us a family? What the hell am I waiting for?

“Call Adam,” I tell my phone, pulling out into traffic as soon as I get the text from Gabby that they are safe and locked inside.

“What?” he answers shortly.

“I’m not coming back in today,” I say, sitting at a red light. Quickly, while listening to Adam start to yell at me for never being in the office anymore, I pull up directions to the nearest jewelry store.

I need Gabby to be my wife.

“Adam, fucking chill, dude. I’m getting shit done, am I not? I just need to take care of something important right now,” I say, locating a shop a few miles away.

“What the fuck is going on, Benton?”

“I’m asking Gabby to marry me,” I say, so scatterbrained and excited that I kind of feel like squealing.

Grown men do not squeal!

“Nice dude… um… congratulations. You think she’s ready for that?”

“She is. I am. I need her to be my wife, Adam. Need.”

“I know the feeling.” He chuckles and sighs. “Jesus, you fell hard, B.”

“Yeah… I did.” I nod, following Siri’s directions as I make my way to the shop. “I want to do it after the rehearsal dinner.”

“Oh. Um… I’m okay with it, but I’ll have to check with Annaliese…”

“No dude, not at the rehearsal dinner. That’s your time. I want to do it after. After all of that. I need to take her some place beautiful.

And I know just the place.

“Hey man, I need some help,” I say, parking in front of the jeweler. I then, as quickly as I can, tell Adam my plan to make her mine.

Gabby

Paper Lanterns

This past week of living with Benton has taught me that I really can love again. It’s scary as shit, and I worry every day that something will happen to rip this happiness out from under me, but I can’t force these feelings away any more. When he proposed this crazy idea, I laughed. Hard. Now that we’ve grown into a routine, though, it all feels so right.

“Hey, you,” he whispers on my neck before leaving a gentle trail of kisses down to my shoulder, causing goosebumps to rise from the gentle touch. “You always do this.” He chuckles, tracing the tiny bumps on my arm with his fingertips.

“Can’t help it.” I smile, pulling my hair to the side. “Zip me?”

He growls in frustration. “I’d rather be taking this off of you.”

“And I can’t be late to my best friend’s rehearsal dinner,” I warn, turning and wrapping my arms around his neck. Reaching up on my tiptoes, I press my lips to his as soon as his hands go around my waist. Deepening the kiss, I can’t find it in myself to pull back and finish getting ready. It’s so unbelievable to me how, in less than a year, I’ve fallen so hard for this man, when I never wanted any of this for myself.

“Hey, what’s goin’ on in that beautiful head of yours?” he asks, caressing my lips with his thumb.

“Just…. You. You’re filling my head with all these feelings and perfectness. I can’t help but feel like it’s all too good to be true. It’s just so hard to believe.”

“Hmm…” He yawns, breaking the spell he’s had over me.

“You’re so tired lately, Benton…. Why don’t you take some time off work?”

He gives me a funny look, then chuckles and shakes his head. Stepping back from me, his hands run down his face, and he sighs and curses.

“It’s not work, babe… I think with everything moving like it is between us, my brain just is moving faster than my body wants to. It’s all good… no need to worry. Come on, don’t wanna be late.” Grabbing my purse for me, he waits impatiently for me to finish my hair so we can leave.

What an abrupt change of mood. Just a few moments ago, he looked like he could ravage me and now he can’t wait to leave.

I didn’t lie when I told Benton this all seems too good to be true. I’m not sure why I can’t wrap my head around this, but I feel like something bad is lurking in the corners. I mean, other than my crazy mother.

Hannah’s been with Benton’s dad all day, and I’ve been primped and pampered with the help of Adam’s Black American Express. He’s good for something, I guess.

“Babe!” Benton yells from the living room.

So impatient!

“Coming, hang on!” I yell back, trying to make my hair perfect for the dinner tonight.

“No, really, Gabby get in here,” he yells again.

What the hell? I walk into the living room to see his eyes glued to the TV, and my heart immediately starts slamming in my chest. What happened? Where is she? This means they haven’t found her, right?

“Police surround a home in Bloomington, Illinois today after a tip that Lynette Burns Rosdale is hiding inside. The standoff has been going on for hours now. Let’s go to…”

That’s all I hear. My ears start to buzz, and I have to sit down.

“She was on her way here,” I whisper, staring at the woman’s image on the screen. The woman who put me through so much torture as a child. The woman that gave me life, and then ruined it.

“They got her, though,” he says, sighing. Looking at me, he smiles and laughs. “They fucking got her, Gabby! You don’t have to be worried anymore! There’s no fucking way she’s getting out of that… did you see how they had the house surrounded?!” He’s so damn happy and hugging me that I can’t help but feel some of his relief.

I laugh, because he’s completely right. I don’t have to worry every time I take Hannah outside. I don’t have to look over my shoulder to make sure no one’s following us. She’s locked away, and isn’t getting out any time soon. I’m sure that day will come, but I know now that she’s gone, and I feel a little freer than I have these last twelve years.

“Come on,” I say smiling. “We’re going to be late… and I have good news to tell the bride.”

Soon, we’re out the door and finally on our way to the Langham Chicago, one of the most expensive places in the city to party, but Adam’s not about to go low key on this event. Tomorrow is my best friend’s wedding, and I’m so happy for her, but I can’t help but feel a little green with envy that she can lead a normal life like I’ve always wanted but not deserved.

The entire drive, he still seems off about something. Nervous, almost. What’s his deal this week? I’ve noticed him working late into the night. I’ve noticed him getting up when he thinks I’m asleep to get work done. What’s going on at work that he has to work longer hours plus stay up all night? I know he’s busy, but that’s just insane.

By the time we get to the rehearsal dinner, everything is in full swing. Benton is white as a ghost for some reason, but, the minute we walk in the room, Annaliese finds me and grabs my hand, awkwardly playing with my fingers as she talks about everything we have to do tomorrow.

“So, you two are good the whole day?” She’s asked me this about a hundred times tonight, and each time she gets the same answer.

“Yes, babe. Hannah is with Benton’s dad all weekend. Tomorrow is just for you. Promise.”

She pulls me into a bear hug and squeals, making me smile and remember our crazy college days like they were just yesterday. It’s amazing how much growing up we’ve both done since this time last year.

The night goes off perfectly and, when it ends, I’m ready to get this weekend over with. I’m so excited and happy for Annaliese, but I just want to start my new life with Benton. All of my shit is currently in boxes in storage because we still haven’t had time to properly move anything. I’m ready to move on.

“You wanna take a walk?” Benton asks on our way to the car. It’s dark and late, but knowing I don’t have a crazy person out for me makes me more willing to spend time in public, even if it is the middle of Chicago in the middle of the night.