J

After I returned to Westport, my day was plenty busy, but somehow, with Lisa out of town, my night dragged. Everything I used to do alone and find enjoyable seemed less interesting. Reading a book with a glass of wine was no longer my idea of a fantastic way to unwind. I was bored. And suddenly I'd become a slave to my phone. I even planned to sleep with it on my pillow so I'd know if she sent a text after I went to bed.

Later in the night, we spoke on the phone. She sounded so excited. "Mom's good," she announced. "And the house is amazing. I'll take pictures…"

I laughed. "Of course you will."

She chuckled. "Right. I get it. Yes. Still, in this case, you need to see the place. Today was demo and packing day. Tomorrow, the painters plan to blow through the house, except for the kitchen. Flooring will be done tomorrow too. My head is spinning at what you accomplished."

I leaned back on the pillows. "I made a few phone calls. You should be thanking Jisoo. She's the magician."

"Jennie, this was your idea. Own it. You're incredible." I heard her sigh happily into the phone. Then she caught me in a yawn. "Oh, baby, get some rest. We'll talk tomorrow."

"It's okay," I objected. "Let's talk more. Tell me everything." I curled up under the blankets, still dressed. Then as I laid there listening to her voice, I fell asleep. I felt terrible when something startled me awake, until I realized it was Lisa, snoring softly on her end. I started to end the call, but then I remembered she'd left the phone on while I was passed out. The sound of her breathing made her feel closer and I simply hit the speaker button, plugged the phone in, and laid it near my head. To my surprise, I found it to be incredibly comforting.

The next day, we woke up together. "Morning, Jennie," she murmured into the phone.

"Good morning, Lisa," I whispered. And for once, I meant it. The day felt full of promise. "So, I looked at my schedule. After some juggling, I think I can get back up there day after tomorrow, if you'd like." I bit my lip nervously while I waited for her response.

"I was actually going to come home after hospital hours today," she explained. "I figured…we could talk."

"Talk?" Alarm bells rang insistently in my head. "Is something bothering you?"

"Everything's good, Jennie," she insisted. "I just…I miss you. Okay?"

I sighed. "Yes. I get it. I miss you too," I admitted.

I heard her inhale sharply. "Good. I'd hate to think I was suffering alone."

"When should I expect you?" I asked eagerly.

"I'm not sure. Depends on how the day goes, but I'll be sure to send you text messages and call when I can. Sound like a plan?"

My face hurt from smiling. "Yes, a great plan."

We ended our call soon after that, but all day I fluctuated between checking for missed calls, unopened texts, and the time. At seven in the evening, she announced via text that she was on her way back. She promised to call as she neared.

I sent a quick response with some stupid kissy face emojis that I regretted as soon as I hit send. Then I decided to rush to take a quick shower. I'd had a particularly exhausting and dirty day. For some reason, I wasn't thinking and when I emerged from the shower, I was startled to hear sounds in my house.

Cinching my bathrobe, I peeked out into the bedroom only to find Lisa reclining on my bed. I could've killed her. "What the hell were you thinking?" I spluttered as I neared her, unsure if I'd hit her or hug her.

"I was thinking…damn, I'm tired after the long drive and maybe if I lie here quietly enough, Jennie will emerge naked." Lisa grinned.

"You lose," I teased. "But if you ask me nicely, you could win…"

She rolled off my bed and hauled me into her arms. "Just being here, I already have," she whispered. "Oh, but I'm the kind of girl who likes to push her luck."

I sat hard on the bed. "What are you saying?"

Lisa stood in front of me and held both my hands. "I love you, Jennie."

I knew I should say something, but I could only swallow hard and try to hear her over the sound of my blood rushing through my ears and I tried to concentrate on something other than my heart pounding madly in chest. Somehow, I managed a nod, my eyes wide with fear.

"I've learned a lot the last few years," she began quietly. "I've learned how precious memories are as I watched my mother lose all of hers. I learned that happiness can be fleeting. I've learned to hold onto what's good with both hands." She looked pointedly at ours, which were still joined together.

"I get it. I know these things too. I learned them from a bad marriage." I released the saddest laugh I'd ever heard.

"Well, I think we could both learn a lot from a happy marriage," she suggested seriously.

"We probably could." I shrugged in a non-committal way.

Lisa cleared her throat. "I think we should start working on that happy marriage soon."

I stopped breathing. I know I did because my lungs began to burn and I thought I was going to pass out.

Leaning in, she kissed me. "Relax, Jennie. I'm only asking you to marry me." Then she pulled a ring out of her pocket and held it up for me to examine.

I swallowed hard. "No…" I shook my head and watched her shrink back like I'd hit her. Lisa began to back away, but I held on with both hands. "Wait," I whispered, my voice hoarse.

She nodded, but remained silent. The pain I caused her was evident in every bit of her being.

"I shouldn't have said 'no.'" I murmured.

Her shoulders sagged from relief. "So, you'll marry me?"

"Probably," I began.

She groaned.

"Just listen. Please." I watched her frown. Patting the bed beside me, I tugged her closer. Once she acquiesced, I scooted nearer until I was practically in her lap. "After Kris, I never thought I'd even consider it. Then you showed up."

Lisa finally met my gaze.

"See, the first time around, I let Kris sweep me off my feet with his money and his charm. I vowed to never do that again." I blew out a breath. "Just once in my life, I want to do it right, Lisa. I'm sure to you it sounds stupid and even juvenile, but I want the dream."

Her head tilted. "You want me to court you?"

"Yes. I want you to date the shit out of me." I bounced slightly in the bed.

"I can do that," she murmured with a grin. "So, this really isn't a no, is it?"

I shook my head and smiled. "Not even close. This is a not yet." I licked my lips. "I guess I'm asking you to treat me like I'm worth the wait, like I'm worth the effort."

Leaning in, she caught my lips. When she pulled back, she murmured, "You're worth all of it." Then Lisa studied me. "How slow do you want to go?"

"You know…like we go out, we stay in, we have ridiculous amounts of sex, and…you ask me again in six months." I bit my cheek, hoping she'd accept my conditions.

"I can live with that." She kissed me again and my heart filled with happiness, hope, and love.

I gasped at the powerful emotions coursing through me. "One more thing." I raised a finger.

She sighed. "Of course there is."

"And you move in three months from now." I grinned shyly. "I'm going to hate being apart."

"Agreed," she responded in a low sexy voice. "So this agreement…do we shake on it, kiss on it? Do we have to post it, make it Facebook official?"

I wrapped my arms around her neck. "Oh, I think we can cement this deal way better than that."

"Can I add my own conditions?" She smirked. "I want to be able to snap pictures whenever I want."

"I can live with that," I replied, "because I don't want to live without you."

Opening my robe, Lisa chuckled. "Then we should get right to cementing things."

THE END