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Always Be Mine…Chapter 3…Decisions and Promises…
"Please, stay with me…" he pleaded, "Don't ruin everything, let's be us, forget about him, he will never fulfill your needs, please…"
She pushed him away, "I can't Nick, you came back out of no where, and I'd be lying if I told you it didn't change my perspective, but I can't, I just can't…I care about Ray, I do, and I can't ignore everything just because you're back."
Hannah woke up with a nauseating feeling in the pit of her stomach. She reluctantly dragged herself out of bed and looked into the mirror. While her reflection stared back at her, she let out a sigh that she didn't realize she was holding. Tonight was the big event before the big event. Tonight was her engagement party. She was getting married to Ray "Big Cat" Cataldo. Why am I doing this…? She asked herself as she tried to comb through the knots in her hair.
She was supposed to be happy right now, she was supposed to wake up and feel refreshed, feel overjoyed, feel…something. But she couldn't. All she could feel was emptiness…that's all she had been feeling for a while now, she kept trying to ignore it, but the feeling just would not go away, no matter how much she wanted it to…or did she?
Sighing, she shook it off…again.
Janet woke up, and on reflex moved her arm to the opposite side of the bed, when she couldn't feel Eddie beside her, she went into panic mode. Eddie was never up before her. Ever. She sat up, wiping her eyes to open them, and looked over to his side again, nope, he still wasn't there.
"Hey." Eddie said as he walked over to her, coffee mug in hand. Noticing her change in expression, he asked her, "something wrong?"
"No, no, I thought you left." She rolled her eyes at herself.
"Now, why would I do that?" He joked.
"I don't know, I haven't fed you breakfast yet." She challenged, trying not to laugh.
"Well Meadows, it just so happens that I made breakfast for us today." He stated, with maybe too much confidence.
"Oh yeah?" She'd be lying if she said she wasn't shocked.
"Yeah, it's on the table. Come on." He responded, pointing in the direction of the kitchen.
"Should I be afraid to go in there?"
"Nah, come on, it can't be that bad."
Janet got up, and he met her halfway, pulling her into a kiss. "Good morning." He gave her a weak smile, handing her the coffee mug.
Janet took a sip, "your hair's wet, when did you get up, I didn't even hear the shower."
"Yeah, you were out cold, guess I have ways of making you tired." He gave her an evil grin and a wink.
Janet just laughed, even though she new he was right. After work at Sully's, she found Eddie waiting for her on the couch, watching some game…of course, they decided to watch a movie, and they did…for the first ten minutes, and one thing led to another, they were in bed before either one of them realized what was happening. It was a good night.
They had breakfast together, and Janet praised Eddie, the food was edible! Granted, it was only scrambled eggs and toast, but he didn't burn the toast, and the eggs weren't runny, so she was proud of him.
"So you don't have work until later, I was gonna stop at the house and check on everything, and I was thinking, maybe…"
Her cell phone rang. Janet sighed; she held up her index finger and opened the phone. "Hello? Oh hi Hannah," she shot an apologetic look toward Eddie, "..um yeah, not till 12ish, why?...yeah, um I don't know yet…yeah okay, bye." She hung up.
"So what were we saying?"
"Hannah wants to meet you before work?" It wasn't really a question.
"Yeah." She nodded.
"Okay," he accepted. "Just make sure you tell her I have dibs on you tonight."
"But Eddie—"
"The thing is today, isn't it?"
"Yeah, and I was thinking…" she trailed, even though she knew what was coming.
"Janet, I can't, it's Big Cat for crying out loud, I'm not going there and physically proving that I support their relationship, Hannah can do so much better than him."
"I know," Janet persisted, "but, she's my best friend, even though I don't agree with it, I have to be there, I would kick myself if I didn't go."
"You have to, I don't."
"Please Eddie, she's your friend too, you guys go way back." Janet argued, "If not for them, come for me, I'd feel a hell of a lot better if you were there, and then you can have dibs on me after." She had him.
Eddie looked over to her, gave her smile, knowing he couldn't say no to her face…he nodded in agreement.
She rushed over to him and gave him a hug, "I love you." She whispered against his chest.
He held her close, running his hands through the back of her hair.
Later, Best Friend Windows…
Eddie hated doing paperwork. Hated it. He would rather do anything, even laundry, even house work, but especially today he hated it, he could not focus at all. He was sitting at his desk, and Nick had yet to arrive. He was a half hour late, one of the perks of owning your own business; you didn't have to arrive on time.
About two minutes later, Eddie gave up, well not really…he just stopped because he knew he would have to be the one to do the work anyway, Nick had no idea what he was doing when it came to that stuff.
"Hey Eddie, what goes on?" He didn't hear Nick come in.
"Not much."
Eddie looked at Nick, he seemed kind of troubled. "Anything wrong?"
"Hannah's party is today," Nick hesitated. "She wants all of us to go, me, Ronnie, Aubrey, the Commander and Leslie, and the guys…you up for it—I know it's Big Cat but—"
"Ugh don't remind me, I'm already going."
"What?" Nick was surprised. "Why the sudden change of heart?"
"Janet—"
"Ah, that girl has got you wrapped around her finger."
"She just, I don't know, I had it all planned out for lunch today, and Hannah calls—the next thing I know, I'm agreeing to go, when have I ever done this Nicky, doing something just because a girl asked me to?"
Nick chuckled, "she's not just some girl and you know it, love makes you do some crazy things man."
"I never said that, and hey, what goes on with you and Aubrey?"
"Eh, she's been great lately, especially ya know supporting me with my dad being sick and all…she's really great."
"But she's no Hannah." Eddie stated, reading it in his eyes.
Nick rubbed the back of his neck, afraid this was going to come up sooner or later. "I don't know man; I think she might be one day." He lied.
"Look, it's your life, but you can't keep kidding yourself, break it off before the poor girl gets hurt, I mean me and the guys no how this engagement party is, but her getting married is taking a toll on you man, and I know that you still…have feelings for her." Eddie continued when he realized Nick was digesting the information. "But you know Hannah, you know how stubborn she is, I just wish she could figure out what a snake Big Cat is, she's so oblivious to the situation, and I think you're the only person that can knock some sense into that thick head of hers."
"I've already caused too much damage; I really just want her to be happy."
"I know you do; do you honestly think she'll go through with it?"
"I don't think she will if she finds out the truth about Big Cat, do you?"
"Well, I was talking to Janet, and she agreed with me when I said Hannah deserves better than him." Eddie continued, "If she found out what Matt said about Janet, I think she would have second thoughts."
"Yeah, and I'm much better than Big Cat? Me?" They both laughed. "But Matt said that not him, I don't know, I just hope she realizes before it's too late."
"She will man, she will…"
"And besides, if Matt or Ray says anything about you or anyone, especially Janet again, we all know you won't think twice before you rearrange their faces."
They both laughed.
"Well Eddie, I've been thinking…I got a job opportunity, I have a chance to go on tour with the one and only U2…"
Hannah's house…
Janet walked in somewhat aware of what she was about to hear, it had to come out sooner or later…she just wished it wasn't today.
"Hannah?"
"Hey, thanks for meeting me like this, if you had plans or something, I'm sorry—"
"It's okay, I think Eddie was planning something, but never mind, he just told me to tell you that he had dibs on me later," she laughed slightly, "but I'm sure you already have a pleasant evening planned with Ray."
"Yeah, well…I'm not so sure."
Janet shot a worried look, "What goes on Hannah?"
"I don't know if I can marry him Janet, I just don't know it would be easy to say that Nick coming back didn't change our relationship…but it did, I mean my thinking has been totally fogged, I just want to know where my feelings are set. But I can't seem to get it together."
Janet gave Hannah the whole speech, the 'you have to know what's best for you, do you love him, think about Sam' was all down on the table, bare for her to see, nothing black and white…and now it was up to Hannah to decide how to handle everything…Janet could tell her best friend wasn't 100 percent sure. But it was Hannah's decision that mattered, no one else could help her make it. It was her that would change everything either way. Janet left the house, putting a lot more weight on her friend's shoulders.
Later that day…
Eddie and Janet were getting ready to go to the engagement party. Hannah decided to go through with it, well…the party at least. Janet insisted on getting there earlier than everyone else, she had a duty to fulfill as maid of honor.
"Tell me again why I'm doing this?" Eddie whined.
"Because you hate disappointing me, and Hannah wants you there." She replied quickly, as if that response was rehearsed.
"Right," he fumbled with his tie. "Do I have to wear this?"
"Yes." She knew he was going to ask that.
"Well this damn tie won't tie."
"Let me help you." She walked over to him, beginning to fix it.
"You look beautiful."
She gave him a shy smile, "Thanks, Eddie; you don't look too bad yourself, especially now since positioned the right way." He grinned that cocky/happy grin that made her melt inside. Eddie leaned down without hesitation to kiss her.
"Thank you for doing this." She kissed his cheek.
"Anything for you."
"Anything?"
"Don't push it." He warned, even though they both knew he was joking. They both laughed lightly, Eddie noticed her looking at the ring again…how many times could one person look at one piece of jewelry and not get tired of it? Well she definitely wasn't tired of it yet, probably never would be, and neither was he. "Ya know, sometimes I think you love that ring more than me."
Janet looked up, keeping her focus on him, surprised by his statement, "I think I love it because you gave it to me."
"I never got around to explaining why, I was so happy you forgave me, I had everything set, everything I was gonna say was all planned."
"What do you mean?"
"You don't really know why I gave it to you."
"What? Well I was thinking about that, it's because you care about me, you trust me, and…you want to be with me." There was a hint of question in her voice.
"Exactly, but…" He intertwined his fingers with hers. "The truth is, you scare the hell outta me." Janet looked confused, but let him continue, "I need you, you've always been there for me—always, I'm able to open up to you, share things I want no one else to know. You get me Janet, you really get me. I care about you and so much—I love you so much that it scares me." The brims of her eyes were getting wet. "Hey don't cry, you'll ruin your makeup."
She laughed through the tears, "why are you telling me this now?"
"I was gonna tell you that day, but I didn't want to overwhelm you more," he went on, "You accept me for me Janet, you're the only person on this earth that knows the real me. The guys, yes, but I mean, just the other day you called me sensitive, no one has ever said that to me before. Ever. Do you get it now? That ring is a promise, a promise for us to only move forward, a promise that I will always be faithful to you, and to us, a promise that you have me…always and forever. I love you, probably more than you'll ever know."
"Wow, I don't even know what to say, except I love you too, so much."
"That's good enough for me." Eddie gave her a romantic kiss, "thank you for listening."
,
"Anytime." The tall man hesitated.
"Eddie?"
"There's one more thing."
"What is it?"
"I can't tell you yet, you'll just have to trust me and wait. Okay?"
She nodded, "Okay, you know how much I trust you, but—how long?"
"Soon, you know time flies when you're having fun." She pulled him into a hug for the second time that day. Yes Eddie, I'll marry you she thought as she held him as tight as possible.
"Hey Eddie?"
"Yeah?"
"How long did you have it for?" she asked, "'Cause I was talking to Owen and Ikey—"
"They told you didn't they?"
"Yeah so…"
"Two weeks and three days."
"You knew that long, huh?"
"Yeah, I did."
"I love you."
"I love you too."
"So what goes on with Owen and Ikey?"
"I think Owen is on his way to forgiving him."
"That's great, what about you?"
"I'm not there yet, but I think I can be eventually."
"Why can't you?"
"He betrayed our friendship, and all the trust I had for him left for him, he was Owen's best friend—still is. He crossed a long line, I mean, his best friend's girl…that's just unforgivable, and I have a hard time forgiving people for betrayal, it's just the way I am. I've been betrayed a lot in my life, as you know, and I will not allow that from a friend, that's the worst kind."
"I understand."
"I know you do, you always do." She grinned, giving him one last peck before excusing herself to the bathroom.
Engagement Party…
Janet and Eddie arrived early as planned to help with the set up, to make sure everything was perfect. "Rooster is gonna be here, so don't make a big scene, it was just one kiss, okay? It didn't mean anything to me."
"I know, I promise I won't. Has he seen the ring yet?"
"Yeah, and I don't want to hurt him any more than I already have so…please?"
"Who can blame him, but I promise nothing bad will happen."
"Thank you."
They walked into the backyard, everything was perfect, the tables were he only thing left to fix. Pizza Girl had outdone herself. Hannah seemed in a better mood than she was before or at least less stressed out. Janet and Eddie strolled hand and hand up to her. "Hey guys," Hannah greeted, "thanks for coming." Janet let go of Eddie's hand and hugged her best friend.
"Congrats Hannah."
"Thanks." Hannah turned over to Eddie, "Thanks, for coming, I know Ray isn't your favorite person, but it means a lot."
"Yeah well…" he paused, thinking of something to say. "Do you need any help setting up?"
"Um…sure, a few of the guys are inside bringing in last minute decorations." He headed for the house.
"So, how'd you do it?"
"Get him here?"
She shrugged, "oh you know, I just looked at him." She answered proudly.
"Nice, well he loves you so if anyone were to convince him, it would be you."
"Well yeah, you should know what that's like," she said motioning to her engagement ring. "You're engaged, you're having this party for crying out loud." She laughed. Right I'm supposed to be happy. Hannah thought as they walked in to join the guys.
The Party Starting…
People were arriving like mad. Pizza Girl was really proud of the turn out. Everyone was. Nick came in later, after deciding not to go on tour, last minute of course. Coincidently right after his baby brother professed his love for his girlfriend.
Rooster walked up to Janet, tapping her on the shoulder. Not seeing Eddie in sight. "Hey can we talk, I just want you to know—"
"Please, Rooster let me go first, I'm really sorry I took advantage of your feelings, I really am."
"It's okay really, it's my fault, I never told you and now it's too late."
"Yeah, but—okay, I know this is gonna sound really lame but, can we still be friends, I mean, I mean I miss you, I miss the way things used to be, can we somehow get back to that?"
"Sure Janet, I'd like that, just one thing."
"Shoot."
"Are you happy, does he make you happy?"
"Yeah, I am." She smiled and on reflex, looked at the ring again, not noticing Rooster's expression. "I care about him, and I hope one day you'll accept him."
"I'm not making any promises."
"It would mean a lot to me."
"Well, if it helps, I know how happy you are, I know how much he loves you, I've known you forever and I've never seen you so happy."
Is it that obvious to the world that Eddie loves me?! She tried her hardest not to giggle at the thought. "Thanks Rooster, that makes me feel a hell of a lot better." He smiled at her, and for a split second she felt sorry for him. She could only imagine what he was going through.
Eddie had heard the entire conversation, he was going to surprise Janet with some champagne, but when he saw them together, he gave them their space. Keeping his distance, he watched them like a hawk. When Rooster walked in the opposite direction, Eddie knew it was safe.
"Hey there beautiful," she loved it when he said that. "Want some?"
"Where have you been?"
"Around, chattin' with the guys, the usual, but I'm sensing I'm not the only one that was." He explained with a knowing look, staring in the direction of Rooster.
"I apologized, and he did too—hey how much did you hear?" She could read him like a book.
"Enough."
"Enough as in?"
"All of it." He stated, "I'm proud of you."
"And you didn't—"
"He's not a bad guy, I can't blame him for liking you." She blushed. "You handled it well, just know that if he did anything that I wouldn't approve of, my fist would have met his face."
"Yeah, I know…thanks." She kissed him deeply, for a minute or two they forgot they were surrounded by people.
"Janet, there's people watching us." He struggled to speak against her mouth.
"I love you, and I want the whole world to know it." She answered matching confidence he had when he said that to her.
"I love you too, and I have a feeling tonight I will even more."
It was true, several people were watching them, but no one seemed to know notice Rooster, only a few feet away, a tear rolling down his cheek.