Chapter 129
1028 Words
“So you said yes to helping Jenny,” Jim said. “Why did you? What made up your mind?”
Because when the woman that you love asks you for something, and it’s within your power, you f*****g do it. The end.
Chris shrugged. “I just realized that if Jenny trusts me enough to do this, I have to come through, you know? I can’t imagine what it took for her to ask me for help, and I can’t just turn my back on that kind of courage. If she’s ready to take back her life, and start to get past whatever happened to her, then I’ll fight with her.” He looked at the guys. “I’d never leave any of you exposed and alone in a firefight, and I’m not leaving her out there unprotected and vulnerable. I’ve got her covered.”
Dean looked at Chris, remembering what it had been like to know that Chris was in his unit, under Dean’s command. The man had been nothing short of the quintessential Ranger: tough, focused and fiercely physical. But more than that, Chris had been solid, steady, dependable. When Dean had had a mental breakdown in a school just outside Kandahar, Afghanistan, Chris was one of the few people who’d seen his Lieutenant hurting and in shock. Dean had trusted Chris with his weakness and vulnerability, and he trusted Chris with Jenny.
Nobody better to be there for her; she’ll be OK with him. He’ll keep her safe, and he’ll get her through this.
Dallas got to his feet. “OK, y’all. I want to get home to Olivia.”
“How is she?” Jim said.
“A bit better,” Dallas said. “More relaxed, now that the house has sold.”
The guys nodded. They knew that Liv wanted to get that piece of property as far away from her as humanly possible, after all that had happened there.
“That was one fast sale,” Chris said. “And over the holiday season? Did she accept a low-ball offer, just to be rid of it?”
“No,” Dallas said. “She got full price… some businessman bought the house for his wife as a Christmas present.”
Dean, Chris and Jim all blinked at that.
“Some guy bought a house as a present?” Chris said. “f**k, man. I bought my Mom a sweater.”
“I know, right?” Dean said. “I bought Emma a trip to California, and I thought I was the ultimate romantic. Coughed up for room service and everything.”
Dallas grinned. “I bought Olivia a ring.”
The guys sat bolt upright, staring at Dallas.
“You what?” Dean said. “You f*****g what?”
Dallas put on his coat, watching his friends’ faces with great amusement. “Yeah.”
“Like, a ring ring?” Jim said. “Like… the real deal? Engagement? Promise to marry? Bind your lives together forever and all that?”
“Yeah.”
“And?” Chris asked. “What did she say?”
“Oh, I haven’t given it to her yet,” Dallas said. “I’m still hanging on to it.”
“For the love of God, why?” Dean said, aghast.
“She’s not ready,” Dallas said. “I saw the perfect ring, though, and I just bought it, so I have it when she is ready.”
“My God, man,” Chris said. “Why did you tell us this? Now we have to keep our mouths shut, and all I want to do is tell Jenny.”
“Yeah, and I want to tell Emma.” Dean shook his head. “Damn you, Foreman.”
“Well, the thing is that I’ve been dying to tell someone,” Dallas said sheepishly. “It’s been kinda killing me, actually.”
“You got it on you?” Chris said suddenly. “The ring?”
“Yeah, always. I never let it out of my sight.” He reached into his inside coat pocket. “You want to see it?”
“I know I sound like a chick, but hell yeah, I want to see it,” Jim said.
Dallas opened the small box and the three men gathered around him to peer in at the ring.
“It’s beautiful man,” Dean said. “Liv’s going to love it.”
“You think?” Dallas sounded nervous. “You don’t think she’d prefer something more traditional?”
They looked at him.
“What the f**k does that even mean?” Jim said.
“Like… more typical. I mean, I love the sapphire and diamonds, but maybe she’d want the big old diamond, you know?”
They stared at him.
“What the f**k’s a sapphire?” Jim said. “That blue stone in the middle?”
“Yeah.”
“It’s perfect, man,” Chris said gently. “I’ve seen Liv wearing sapphire earrings before and they looked amazing against her hair. I know she loves them. It was a good choice.”
Dallas relaxed. “You think?”
“Yeah.”
He snapped the box shut again, and tucked it carefully into his coat pocket. “Well, I like it. It just looks like her, you know?”
Dean’s face suddenly split into a grin. “I’m really happy for you, man.” He embraced Dallas, and then gave him a punch in the shoulder. “When Liv is ready, you ask her. I bet she’ll say yes.”
“For sure she will,” Jim said. “You two are good together… give her a bit more time, then make your move.”
“Almost engaged to Olivia Jameson!” Chris said. “Would you have believed it a year ago?”
“Nope.” Dallas grinned. “No f*****g way.”
“Just goes to show you,” Dean said. “You never know what life has in store for you, huh?”
“Yeah,” Dallas agreed. “What, and who.”
- Writer
