"Are you mad at me?" I watched him as he reached out his arm to turn off the beside lamp. Brandon had his shirt off and I could see every muscle flex doing the small task. Once the light was gone, I could no longer see him. "I will take that as a yes." I sighed and placed the book I was reading on the beside table closest to my side of our bed.
"No, Callie I'm not mad." I felt him face away from me, leaving me to nothing but his back. He pulled the comforter up as I laid myself down. It had been a year since we had both graduated from college and began to rent this apartment. Time was flying too quickly so I had to be the one to slow it down. This was me putting up my shield the way that I always had.
I ran my hands reassuringly up and down his back. "You know, I know we decided to wait until marriage to have sex and I'm sorry." I did feel bad. Deep down, I really, truly did. After our moms' wedding we agreed to wait until after we became married to have sex with each other. This left Brandon still a virgin and me still only 'given' to Liam.
"You think this is what this is about?" He flipped himself over so he was facing me. He took a strand of hair that had fallen out of my pony tail and twirled it in his fingers. "Callie, if I wanted to just have sex with you, I would have asked to just have sex with you. I wouldn't have asked you to marry me."
"Are you mad that I said no?" It was true. Brandon made this big gesture at our moms' house tonight. Jesus and Lexi, Mariana and her boyfriend, and Jude were all there when he got down on one knee. Since the day I met him I had been waiting for him to get down on one knee and ask me yet here I was saying no.
He pulled me into him and leaned his cold forehead against my own. "I could never be mad at you Callie. We're still young and I understand your hesitation about getting married right away. You saying no is not going to change anything for me."
I felt the smile growing on my face and I knew this is where I belonged. "Wanna go grab some ice cream?"
"Callie, it's 2 am." He groaned.
"Oh come on, I grabbed some when I went food shopping earlier." I flipped the light switch on as I reached the doorway to our bedroom. I looked back at Brandon who was reluctantly climbing out of the bed and putting his slippers on. "God, I am living with an old man."
"And I am living with a woman who is so domestic. Grocery shopping, huh?" He raised an eyebrow at me and tried to hide his laughter. I loved that face.
"Get downstairs and get me ice cream before I eat it all."
"Damn, someone is testy tonight." Brandon laughed as he walked past me and went downstairs.
Our apartment was small. It was nothing special. It had a tiny kitchen with cherry oak colored cabinets and a small island counter. We spent most of our time in the kitchen so it had to be big enough for both of us to be able to maneuver around at least. It had a living room and two bedrooms for when Mariana, Jesus, or Jude wanted to visit. It was just right for the two of us getting our own place. Luckily, it was only the town over from moms and Lisa. We were entirely grateful.
"Chocolate chip or moose tracks?"
"Is that even a question?" I asked as I grabbed two bowls and two spoons from their respected places.
"Moose tracks it is." He laughed as he took the carton out and closed the freezer. I walked over and kissed his cheek. "But I do have a valid question."
"What's that?" I asked as I scooped out a spoonful of ice cream and fed it to Brandon.
"Will you ever want to marry me?" He looked hurt as he asked the question. This was clearly something that made him uncomfortable.
"I do want to marry you."
"Then why did you say no?"
"I'm not ready yet."
"Fair enough."
And that's where we left it. He was never one to push an argument and that's why I loved him. We finished our ice cream, put the dishes in the sink, crawled back into bed and kissed each other goodnight. We had forever to be together and as far as I knew, forever wasn't ending anytime soon. I did not want to rush things. We had just rented our first place and we needed to slow down. Brandon was mine and I was his and there was no changing that. At least I hope not.
