Forever Mason, page 24
“This is something I can’t support,” Mrs. Cohen says as she turns to leave the room. Mr. Cohen stands there, staring at me.
“Have you purchased her ring?”
I shake my head. “No, sir. I’m on my way to my parents now to pick it up. It belonged to my great-grandmother and then my grandmother on my mom’s side. I suppose if my grandma had a son, he would’ve used it for his wife, but being as my mom is an only child, it was passed down to me.”
He stares at me. The silence is unnerving. He frowns. He sighs. He does everything he can to make me feel uncomfortable. I think he’s waiting for me to give in. To tell him that I’ve changed my mind, but that isn’t going to happen. I want to marry Katelyn. I want to have babies with her and raise our family in Beaumont.
“I guess it’s not going to matter what I say because, in the end, you’ll do whatever. I don’t agree, not at nineteen, twenty, or even twenty-five. We had aspirations for Katelyn, career goals, but those have since derailed. You have my blessing, but I ask that you wait. Grow up, explore the world before you weigh each other down with marriage. The road ahead is going to be bumpy.”
I nod and choke back the anger bubbling inside of me. “Thank you, sir.”
“Don’t thank me,” he says. “Know this, Mason. If you and my daughter marry before you graduate, her college debt is now yours. We won’t support her.”
Duly noted, jackass.
I shake my head and leave. He’s trying to scare me, and while I should run in fear, I won’t. Maybe Katelyn deserves better than me. Lord knows if she dumped my ass, her parents would be elated. But I don’t deserve better than Katelyn. She’s the best thing to ever happen to me, and I plan to show her this the only way I know how.
Thirty-Five
Josie spreads rose petals all around the center logo of the football field, and every few feet, she’s lit candles, which give off a romantic ambiance. She tried to convince me to propose somewhere more romantic, but this is who I am, and I want my marriage proposal to Katelyn to be memorable. I guess I could’ve gone to the cliffs or a nice restaurant, but on the field is where I’m comfortable.
I stand there, watching Josie finish what she’s doing. The roses were her idea when I told her I was going to propose on the field. Of course, I had to get coach’s permission, but he was all for it. She told me that the florist where she works keeps fallen petals for moments like this and that they were free. It made sense for me to ask Josie to help, and I am thankful she came up with this plan. I never would’ve because I just don’t think this way. I clear my throat and smile when Josie turns around.
“Really?” she says as she takes me in.
I look down at myself and pull on the hem of my suit coat. “What?”
“You look like you’re waiting for a flood.”
Glancing down at my feet, I bend my ankles slightly and frown. “It’s all I have.”
“Why not wear a nice pair of slacks and a button-down or something? Katelyn is going to be so beside herself she’s not going to care what you’re wearing, Mason.” Josie comes over to me and sets the bag of petals down, and then straightens my bowtie. I stand there, with my chin raised so she can do her magic.
“Well, now she’ll remember how ridiculous I look.”
“No, she won’t. She’s going to remember walking into the stadium and seeing you standing on the fifty-yard line, surrounded by roses and candles. She’s going to remember every word you say to her and how you dropped down onto your knee to ask her to be your wife. She’s going to remember the exact moment you slipped your great-grandmother’s ring onto her finger and how you sealed all of this with a kiss. Katelyn’s going to remember the important parts.”
“What if she says no?”
Josie stands in front of me. We’re almost at eye level. She looks at me, her eyes searching for something. “You don’t give yourself enough credit, Mason. You are the most amazing man I have ever met. You stepped up when . . .” she pauses and glances away for a second before returning her gaze to mine. “Katelyn isn’t going to say no. She’s going to cry and hold you. She’s going to profess her love to you, and she’s going to squeal because she’s engaged. And then she’s going to bombard you with wedding plans because that’s what women do. We plan and execute.”
“Thank you.”
“For what? Being honest with you?”
I shake my head. “For being you, Josie. For being one of my best friends all these years. For being here and helping me make this special for Katelyn.”
Josie smiles softly. “We’re family. There isn’t anywhere I’d rather be right now other than here, making this the perfect moment for two people I love. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to scoot home and get your girl.” Josie kisses my cheek and leaves me to my now sudden surge of anxiety.
The “what if” game is strong in my head right now. Am I making a mistake by asking her now? Are we too young? Am I not the right person for her? Deep down, I know the answer to these questions, but I can’t get her parents’ voices out of my head. I think that maybe if they had been more susceptible to the idea, I’d feel better about what I’m going to do. I want to marry Katelyn tomorrow, the next day, next year, or in five years. I’d marry her tonight if that’s what she wanted. And I know I can wait when it comes to asking, but I don’t want to.
“What if she says no?” I say aloud to the empty stadium. I shake my head. She won’t, and if by chance she does, so be it. Maybe marriage isn’t right for her. I’m not going anywhere unless she kicks me to the curb. I look down at my watch and see that it’s time to get into position. Josie and I timed everything, and unless there’s a hiccup with Noah, Katelyn should be walking through the tunnel any second now.
I stand in the middle, surrounded by rose petals and lit candles, which lead to the sideline. My hands are clasped in front of me, and when I hear the distinct sound of footsteps, my heart starts to race. This is it, one of the most significant moments of my life.
Katelyn appears. She looks around, and then her eyes land on mine. “What are you doing?”
“Come here,” I say to her. She walks toward me, tiptoeing around the flower petals at first and then giving up and walking on them. I take her hands in mine. I’m desperate to kiss her but want to wait until the right moment. I inhale deeply and smile, but before I can even say anything, a tear falls down my cheek. I wipe at it and laugh. This is going to be harder than I thought.
“I planned a speech, but the words escape me, so I’m just going to wing it.” Another deep breath. “I was fifteen when you made your mark on my life. I was this naïve kid, and you knew exactly what you wanted. I didn’t have a clue how to act or speak to you, but your presence put me at ease. When we had our first kiss, everything in me changed. From there, we’ve grown up together, learned how to love each other in more ways than I can count. You’ve been my confidant, my go-to, my cheerleader, and you’ve shown me how to be a man.”
Tears fall from her eyes, and as soon as I let go of her hands, she wipes her cheeks. I drop down to my knee and produce the black box that’s been in my coat pocket. I open the lid. “I can’t promise you much, but I can promise to love you for the rest of my life. I can promise to be the best damn husband, father to our future children, and your best friend until the end. I love you, Katelyn, with everything that I am. Will you marry me?”
Her hand covers her mouth, and she nods. “Yes, Mason. I love you so much.” I rise and pull her into my arms, before picking her up and spinning her around, as she squeals in delight. After setting her down, I pull the ring from the box and slip it onto her finger.
“This ring belonged to my great-grandmother and then my grandma.” The single solitaire diamond sits on a thin gold band. “If you don’t like it, we can get something else.”
She shakes her head. “This is more than perfect. I love it Mason.” Katelyn holds her hand out and admires the ring. “I can’t believe you did all of this,” she says as she looks around.
“Uh, I had help. Josie said I needed to step up my game. I can’t take credit for anything.”
“Nice suit.” She pulls at my lapels, and I blush.
“I thought I should look presentable.”
Katelyn steps forward and brushes her lips against mine. “I liked the gray sweatpants I saw you in this morning.”
“Oh yeah?” What is it with women and gray sweatpants? I seriously don’t understand the obsession.
“Maybe we should . . .”
“. . . go home and celebrate our engagement?”
She steps back, and she frowns slightly. “I love Josie, but she’s kind of a buzzkill on our sex life.”
I pull Katelyn back to my chest with a thud. “Josie and Noah are gone for the night. So we have the apartment all to ourselves, and I don’t really care if the neighbors hear you. They’re always partying and banging on the walls, and it’s time we return the favor.”
This time it’s Katelyn who is blushing. I lean down and kiss her, teasing her with what’s to come once we get home. “Are you ready to go home?”
She nods. “Do we need to clean this up?”
I shake my head. “Nope, I have that covered as well.” Thanks to Josie, who volunteered to be my right-hand person for all of this. If it weren’t for her, I’m not sure how I’d be able to pull this off.
Katelyn and I walk hand-in-hand out of the stadium to the parking lot where my truck sits. I wish I had the sense to decorate it or put something flashy on there to announce our engagement, but I guess that can wait until we’re married. I help her into the truck and watch as she slides over to the middle. Seeing her still do this after all these years brings a smile to my face.
After I get in and head out of the lot, she rests her head on my shoulder and lifts her hand to look at her ring. “This is perfect.” I grab her hand and bring it to my lips. I know it’s not a huge diamond like her mom wears, but this one has sentimental value, and I think that means more than size. I’m also a guy still in college and can’t afford much. In hindsight, maybe I should’ve waited until I could put something bigger on her finger.
“I’ll get you something bigger after we graduate.”
“You will not, Mason Powell. This ring is perfect, and I’m never taking it off.” Hearing her say this brings another smile to my face. I’m the luckiest man in the world right now and can’t wait to get her home and show her just how much her saying yes means to me.
I help Katelyn slide out of the truck after I’ve parked. I unlock the door and push it open for her to go in and hear her gasp. My mouth drops open at what I see—rose petals everywhere, along with a tray of strawberries and a bottle of champagne.
“Oh, Mason. Everything is just so perfect.”
“Thanks, but—”
“No, don’t do that. You should take credit for how special you’ve made this for me. For us. I love you so much, Mase.”
“I love you too, Katelyn.” I hold her in my arms and marvel at what Josie has done. I feel guilty for taking credit for something I didn’t do.
Katelyn takes my hand and follows the trail of rose petals down the hall. There’s a temptation to stop and pick up the champagne and strawberries, but my lady has other ideas. She opens our bedroom door, and I’m relieved to see our bed is clear of any flowers. I’m not sure I want to be the one who has to pick all of those up.
My girl turns and stands in front of me. I’m going to marry the love of my life. My high school sweetheart. She’s the only person I’ve ever wanted or will ever want. The idea of growing old with Katelyn has me wanting to show her just how much I love her. I push my hands into her hair and descend on the sweetest lips ever. I’ll never get tired of kissing Katelyn. She’s my everything, and I’m about to show her just that.
Katelyn steps back until she’s put some space between us. She undresses, even though this is one of my favorite things to do. Nothing aggravates her more than when she’s getting ready in the morning, and I’m trying to take her clothes off. I can’t help it. I love her body. It’s perfect. I swallow hard at the sight before me, with her plump breasts and peaked nipples. She watches me as she slowly takes off every piece of clothing. It’s hard to believe we started on this journey when we were sixteen, looking at each other naked and with wanton need. I can’t imagine sharing it with anyone else. She slips out of her panties and tosses them into the growing pile of clothes. I take off my jacket, kick my shoes into the corner, and start to unbutton my shirt.
Katelyn lays down on the center of the bed and beckons me forward. I climb over her, kissing and nipping at her soft skin while my fingers tweak her nipple until I reach her center. Her legs spread, welcoming me. “Mason,” she whispers as she trails a hand down my arm leaving a trail of goosebumps in her wake.
The way she says my name is a plea for me to move quicker. If I am anything, I’m a pleaser when it comes to Katelyn. Whatever she wants, she gets. I yank my shirt off, and the rest of the buttons go flying. Oops, I suppose I should’ve taken the time to unbutton them. Honestly, it’s probably time to retire the shirt anyway. The whole not fitting thing was definitely comical. I move off to the side and push my pants down and kick my legs until I’m as naked as the day I was born. I glance at her just as a bit of sunlight peers through the blinds. Her ring sparkles, and that’s when it hits me. I’m not only marrying my best friend but the only woman I ever want to be this way with. She looks at me with pleading eyes. “I love you.” Katelyn may want me to hurry, but I’m not going to do that. I’m going to take my time.
I run my hands over her breasts, causing her back to arch beautifully, and I don’t stop my ministrations until I have her moaning and satisfied beneath me. Still, I take my time as I push into her, keeping my eyes locked on her. This time, sex with her is different. Long gone are the magazines, the trips to the library, and the trysts in her shed. I’m making love to the woman who will be my wife, who will take my last name as hers—knowing this as I push inside of her hits differently. We’re connected on a different level from here on out.
We kiss and moan our way to a release together and ride the waves of pleasure while my heart is about to burst from love for her. “I love you, Katelyn,” I mummer against her neck. “I love you so much.”
She brushes her fingers through my hair, and I can feel the smile on her face when her cheeks press against my forehead. Then I push up onto my elbows, our noses brushing against each other’s. “I’m going to spend my life making you happy,” I promise.
“You already do,” she said back before bringing me back down for another kiss.
Thirty-Six
This past year has flown by. I swear I went to bed a tired and sore football-playing college sophomore one night, to a guy about to be married the next. I’ll never forget the day I asked Katelyn to marry me, nor will I forget when Noah and I were sitting on the couch when Katelyn and Josie came into the living room to tell me they had set a date for our wedding. They, not Katelyn and me. They. I gave Katelyn so much shit, even though I didn’t really care, but watching her cater to my broken heart for a couple of days was worth it. In the end, the date doesn’t matter, as long as we get married. Honestly, I thought she would want to wait until we were out of college, but she doesn’t. She says we’re already living together; we might as well get married.
I mute the television when I hear a knock on the door. I take Noah with me to answer it. He’s walking now and a mini-tornado. He has to be watched all the time. Everything in the apartment is Noah proof. Not baby proof, but Noah. He’s like the superman of babies.
I’m surprised to see Nick standing on the other side of the door. He looks from me to Noah and then back at me. “Damn, you and Katelyn had a baby?”
I step aside and let him in. “How’d you find us?”
“Your mom told me where you were living.” He says as he looks around the living room. Then, he turns and looks at me. “How have you been?” I set Noah down, and he takes off, waddling and squealing. Nick and I hug and slap each other on our backs.
“Things are good. Katelyn and I are getting married in a couple of days. It’s a small ceremony, but you should come.”
“I should probably stay away.”
I know why he says this, and all I can do is shake my head. “Want a beer? I’ve got a lot to catch you up on.” Nick nods and takes a seat on the couch. I snag a running Noah and set him down in his playpen. He’s angry. He bounces up and down while jawing at me.
“He’s cute,” Nick says as I head to the kitchen.
“He’s not mine.”
“You moonlighting as a babysitter these days?”
I laugh and hand him a beer. “Something like that.” I sit down next to him and give Noah his bottle. He takes a sip, drops it on the floor, and then screams until I pick it up again. Unfortunately, this can go on for hours if I don’t nip it in the bud right away. I pick up the bottle and set it on the table. He whines until I bark out his name, and then he quietens down.
“Wow, you’ve got the secret touch.”
“Yeah, me and this stud muffin have an agreement.”
“So, not your kid, which means I’m assuming he’s not Katelyn’s either.”
I shake my head. “Nope, this little guy belongs to Josie.” I hear the air leave Nick’s lungs.
“Damn,” he says quietly.
“Yeah. Noah’s a year old, my little buddy, and a holy terror now that he’s walking.”
“Are Josie and Liam married?”
My head turns to him so fast I swear I’ve given myself whiplash. Has he been living under a rock? “Dude, where have you been?”
“School. Studying. Learning my way around a coat room.”
