JENNIE
One Year Later
"I'll learn on my own if you stop micro-managing me!" I scold, trying to push Lisa's hands off my handles.
She sits behind me on my new four-wheeler and revs the gas, vaulting us up out of the ravine and out of the mud. I gasp, leaning back into her and my stomach dropping to my feet as I clutch her forearms to steady myself. I laugh.
"Well, if you'd wear the helmet…" she says.
"But I can't see in the helmet."
We're mudding. It's not like we're cruising at thirty-five miles an hour out here. I don't need a helmet for this. And plus, I'm just learning how to use the quad today. She'll be lucky if I top out at twelve miles an hour.
But if I won't wear the helmet, then she won't let me drive it alone until I've been given proper instruction. Hence, the driver's ed lesson.
We race across the bank, mud splattering all over my new red ATV, my boots, and jeans. I also feel a few drops of something cold periodically land on my hair, held out of my face with a baseball hat, and on my shirt.
My finals just ended this week, and I've had lack-of-sleep headaches non-stop, but I feel so much better today. I'm glad she surprised me with this. A day of her, fun, and fresh air is all I needed.
She's been so great through my bad moods the past couple weeks as I study, making me snacks and doing well to not distract me while I get work done.
Although she did come into the library—my old bedroom—and tempt me with a quickie here and there under the guise that I needed a study break.
Yeah, okay.
I smile, remembering her walking in while my nose was buried in a book, pulling off her shirt, and telling me she's going to get a shower, but I know what she really wants, because she knows the sight of her in only jeans is my frickin' porn. I didn't put up a fight. I never do. I want her just as much as she wants me.
But now finals are over and so are classes until next fall, and I'm all her's.
Her truck is parked ahead, and her ATV still sits on the attached trailer, clean and shining just like new.
She pulls to a stop and turns off the motor, burying her lips in my neck and kissing me.
"I have a present for you," she teases.
I turn my head, grazing my lips over her cheek. "You already gave me my present." I run my fingers over the handles of my new four-wheeler and also remembering the orgasm I got at six a.m. this morning. It's been a very good birthday so far.
"The four-wheeler was just an excuse to get myself one, really," she explains.
I nibble her jaw. "So, what is it then? More antiques for my collection?"
"Cassette tapes aren't antiques, Jennie," she states firmly.
I laugh. "You're right, you're right. They're considered classics. Like cars over thirty years old. Like you!" I chirp. "You're a classic."
She clamps her hand over my mouth, stifling my laughter and shaking her head. She's not offended by my running joke. I only tease her about her age, because she still thinks it's an issue, and I'm trying to lighten the mood.
And to a few people around town, it is strange. But they mean nothing to us. Haruto, my sister, and Yeji have all come around, albeit Haruto a little slower than the others, but they're all that matters.
I bite at her fingers on my mouth, playing, but suddenly, she holds up a small, black leather box in front of me, and I stop.
My face falls, and I'm no longer laughing.
Lowering her hand from my face, she remains silent as I stare at the case, a million different thoughts running through my head right now, but I can barely hear them, because the pulse in my ears is deafening.
Oh, my God. It's not a…ring, is it? I mean, we haven't talked about this.
I always hoped it would come to this, but Lisa doesn't take big steps without a little help. I had no idea…
Slowly reaching out, I take the box out of her hand and open it, my mouth going as dry as a desert when I see the diamond ring inside.
Tears sting my eyes, and my mouth falls open.
It's a rose. Like the ones on the birthday cake she got me last year and the flowers I planted around the house this spring. A large diamond sits in the middle of platinum petals, adorned with little stones themselves, and it's unlike anything I've ever seen. Beautiful and special and completely me.
She wants to marry me?
I let out a little sob, overwhelmed. "Are you kidding me right now?" I snap. "I'm covered in mud!"
She's doing this now? When there were hundreds of dinners and breakfasts in bed this past year when I was pretty and clean?
Her chest shakes with a laugh behind me and she wraps her arms around my waist. "You're beautiful."
I rub my thumb over the large stone. It's real. All this is real.
"I've been planning this for a long time," she says. "You think I'd know what I wanted to do or say, but I can't think right now." Her breath falls across my hair as she whispers. "I guess I should've gotten down on one knee, huh?"
"No, don't let go of me." My voice shakes.
I swallow the hard lump in my throat and pull the ring out, setting the box down and trying it on. The cool band slides on perfectly, and I take her hand, putting it on the handle again with mine on top of it.
Her finger doesn't yet have a ring as I entwine our hands.
But it will.
My heart swells like it's too much for my chest to hold, and I'm speechless. She certainly surprised me. I can't believe she did this without giving me one clue what she was up to.
I stare at our hands together, leaning back into her and even more excited now for everything that's to come. I think part of me—a small part—was still waiting for her. It was always in the back of my mind, that fear that she might still see me as too young or not ready for this or her, but she has to know…
I'm happy every day. There's nothing that feels better than her.
A few raindrops hit my arms, the clouds overhead darkening, and I finally find my breath, inhaling deeply.
"So, you going to say 'yes' or…" She trails off.
I smile at the small ounce of fear I hear in her voice at my silence. "Yes." I turn and kiss her. "You make me so happy. I love you."
She presses her forehead to mine. "I love you so much it hurts, baby."
Her mouth sinks to mine again, and she takes my face in her hands, kissing me and teasing my tongue to where I feel it everywhere. My breathing turns ragged, and I'm about to suggest we take this to the truck, since we're all alone out here, but the rain picks up, hitting my body much faster now.
I break the kiss and look up, squinting against the rain to see the storm clouds overhead. Summer storms are starting early this year.
She climbs off, helping me, and we both jog to the passenger side of the truck, her opening my door for me.
"Can we do it today?" I ask, taking my brand-new, unused helmet off my seat and setting it on the floor.
"Get married?" she asks. "You really don't care about the wedding, do you?"
I look over to see her grinning at me as she pulls off her muddy shirt and tosses it into the bed of the truck.
I stand in the open door and shrug. It never occurred to me growing up to care about a party and fancy clothes. When other young women dreamed up their theme colors and bridesmaids' dresses, I just wanted everything after that. The husband, the kids, the home with the smell of cookies after school, picnics and road trips…
I climb the step, about to get into the truck, but she pulls me back around and into her. I fall into her chest, my feet still planted on the step, and wrap my arms around her neck.
"I kind of do care about it," she admits, flinching a little as if in apology. "I've never been married before, either, you know? I'd love to see you in a dress."
Now how can I say no to that? I nod, kissing her again. It might be fun, actually. Engagement photos in the mud? Yes, please.
"I was thinking Mexico," she tells me, peering up at me. "A beach on the Sea of Cortez and just you, me, and our close and personals?"
I smile. "Hell, yes."
Sounds right up our alley. Quiet, private, and perfect. And I'd be lying if I didn't say it excited me to go somewhere I've never been. I've barely been out of this town, and the idea of having to get a passport thrills me as much as now having to shop for this dress Lisa is going to die when she sees me in.
I'm already bubbling with excitement at the look I hope to see on her face.
She looks up at me, growing quiet and her eyes serious. "You gonna want kids?" she asks.
My heart thumps, knowing this is a potentially sensitive subject.
"One, at least?" I broach, timid. "Is that okay?"
I understand that starting over is a lot to ask of her, but I would love to have her baby.
Eventually.
To my surprise she barely hesitates before nodding. "I'm okay with it," she answers. "Can't wait too long, though, or I'll be getting the senior citizen discount at the kid's graduation dinner."
I break into a laugh.
"After you get your degree, though," she tells me, "it's on, okay?"
"Okay."
I sit down in the seat and pull off my muddy boots, throwing them in the bed with Lisa's shirt, and I take off my hat, my hair falling around my face.
"You know…" I start, "I'm a little nervous."
"Oh?"
I shake my head, tsking. "Marrying an older woman with so much more experience…"
She comes up to me, grabbing my hips and pulling me to the edge of the seat and into her. I run my hand up her chest.
"I don't need my wife to know what other men like," she states. "Just what I like."
My eyebrows shoot up, getting an idea. Slowly, I unbutton the flannel shirt I'm wearing and watch her eyes go round when she sees I have nothing on underneath it. I open it slightly, inviting her eyes to rest on my bare breasts.
"And what do you like?" I taunt like that night in the kitchen when I put a Band-Aid on her finger.
Her gaze is locked on my chest, and I let the shirt fall down my arms, my nipples hard from the chill of the rain in the air.
I drop my voice to a whisper. "I think I need more practice."
Her eyes grow dark and full of desire as she looks up at me. Pulling herself up on the step, she dives into the truck and out of the rain, her body coming down on top of mine. I fall back on the seat, opening my legs for her as I work to open her belt.
Our lips hover over each other.
"Whatever the birthday girl wants," she whispers.