Georgia On My Mind-Book Four

Chapter 18 - Proposal In Passing

When I get home, I entertain Scarlett by playing Candyland with her. A couple of hours later, I hear a knock on the door. Scarlett rushes to answer it. "Hang on, baby, let Momma get it." I go up to the door and hang on to her as I open it.

It's Mitch with flowers in his hand. "There's my girl. How are you beautiful?" He asks as he comes in and kisses me on the cheek.

"I umm... I'm good, Mitch. What a pleasant surprise. I didn't know you were heading home so soon." I say half-heartedly.

"I wanted to surprise you."

"Oh well, that you did, come on in," I reply.

Scarlett looks up at him. "Hi, Mitch."

"Hey, cutie. Have you been good to your Momma?" He asks.

"Yep! My Daddy got me jewelry. Look." She says as she reaches out her hand to show him her bracelet.

His face drops. "Oh? Daddy? You have a Daddy?" he asks her and looks up at me with a confused look.

I sigh audibly, "Come sit down, Mitch. We need to talk. A lot has happened since you have been on your business trip." I confess reluctantly.

"Look, Mitch, Daddy got Momma a necklace too." She says while pointing at the necklace I'm wearing.

I bite my lip nervously and place my hand over it. Mitch looks at me in shock. "I see that."

I feel like total s**t right now. I can't even look him in the eye. I don't blame Scarlett for telling him. She doesn't know any better, but this is rough. He comes in and loosens his tie and sets the flowers down on the table. "Fine, let's talk." He says as he plops down on my sofa.

"Scarlett, would you mind giving Mitch and Momma a minute to have a grown-up conversation? Go play in your room, baby." I suggest.

"Okay." She responds before running into her room.

I walk over and sit down on the recliner next to Mitch. He looks over at me, his eyes full of hurt. It's heartbreaking. "Georgia, please explain what is happening." He requests.

I sigh audibly, "So, do you remember when I told you I didn't know who Scarlett's father was? Well, that was a lie. I knew exactly who he was; I just never told anyone. He wasn't even aware until yesterday when he came into town to visit his father, who had a heart attack. He stopped to visit me at work, and that's when I told him."

He interrupts. "Why didn't you tell him before this?"

"I tried to, but he was forced to join the Marines because he got into some trouble with his Father. Something happened to where he didn't get paid while he was away; his phone was disconnected. I had no way of reaching him to tell him about Scarlett." I admit.

"Why did you tell everyone that you didn't know who the Father was? I would think knowing who the Father was and not being able to reach him is much better than not knowing who he is because you hooked up with a random guy?" He asks curiously.

My life sounds pathetic, like a made-for-TV movie, but I continue. "I agree; I let that lie go on too long. The lie was worse than the truth. I was nineteen; what can I say? I was trying to protect him from my Father's wrath."

He begins to fidget. I'm confident that trying to wrap his brain around my web of lies is not an easy task. "Well, why did he buy you jewelry? I understand buying his daughter jewelry but why you?"

Oh boy, here it goes. "Well, because we have a lot of history. I am sorry, but I cheated on you, Mitch. I cheated with Scarlett's father." I blurt out.

He pauses for a moment before placing his head in his hands, "I see. Well, doesn't that just put a kink in my plans for us today?" he responds, leaning forward, looking down at the floor.

I'm so sorry, Mitch. I have needs, and you haven't been there to fulfill them." I confess.

"What needs are you referring to?" He asks hesitantly.

"Well, for starters, you haven't laid a finger on me once. We have been together for six months, and you haven't so much as made a pass at me. I may be brazen for asking this, but I need to know- Are you gay, Mitch?" I bluntly ask.

He uncomfortably fidgets, "Gay? Don't be ridiculous!"

"Well, what is it? Why are we together? Most couples are having s*x in the first month, I'd say. What is going on?"

"Why does everything have to be about s*x?" he asks defensively.

I pause for a moment in an attempt to wrap my brain around his response, but I'm dumbfounded. I don't even know what to say at this point. I know the men in my family and the men around me, especially John Luke, are insatiable. Having a man in my life who's not interested in s*x is new territory for me since all I've ever known is John Luke, and he was ready to go every minute of every day. "Do you find me attractive, Mitch?"

He looks at me with a blank stare. "Yes, I do very much. You are beautiful."

"Are you sexually attracted to me? Like would you go down on me during s*x?" I ask him bluntly.

His eyes are wide, his jaw drops. "Are you really asking me this?"

"Yes, I want to know because it's something I enjoy," I say honestly.

He sits back on the sofa. "Perhaps."

I jump up from the recliner and begin pacing the floors,  placing my hand on my forehead; I'm so frustrated and confused. I take a deep breath and look back at him, walking towards him before reaching out my hand for his. "Come with me for a second." I request.

He reaches out his hand for mine, and I lead him to my bedroom and close the door behind us.

"What are you doing? Scarlett is right across the hallway?" he asks hesitantly.

"This won't take long," I tell him as I pull down my dress and bra. I reach my hand out and take his hand. His face is white as a ghost as I place his hand on my breast. "Do you like what you see and feel?" I ask curiously.

He swallows hard and chokes out. "Umm... yes."

I push his hand away. "I don't believe you, Mitch! Christ! I'm feeling very rejected by you now." I cry out to him with tears welling up in my eyes.

He places his hands on my shoulders to console me. "No, don't cry. Please don't cry." He pleads.

"We have been dating for six months, and you don't want to have s*x with me. How can I not cry about this?" I ask him tearfully.

"There is something you should know..." He says hesitantly.

I look up at him. "What is it? Whatever it is, you can tell me."

"I've just... I've never...well...I've never had s*x with a girl before." He confesses.

Wow! This is big news! "You are a virgin?"

"Well...yes,"

I place my hand on my forehead to try to make sense of what he just confessed. "So you are sexually attracted to me; you are just nervous?"

He laughs nervously. "Well, yes."

"Oh! I had no idea! Why didn't you explain that to me?"

"It's something that men have a hard time discussing." He answers as he reaches behind him, scratching the back of his neck.

I'm not sure he's telling the truth, so I decide to test him. "You better get more relaxed, Mitch, if you want this to continue because I have needs," I warn him as I close the gap between us.

He backs away and swallows hard.

"I'm serious, Mitch. We are both twenty-three years old, and time's wasting. I want to have lots of s*x and more babies." I say seductively.

He backs up into my dresser and belts out a nervous laugh, "Listen; I came home because I wanted to ask you to marry me. I realize that you cheated on me last night. I'm willing to let this slide just this once if you agree not to do it again and accept my proposal. I already called your Father to get his blessing." He says as he reaches down into his pocket, pulls out a small black box, and pops it open.

I look inside the box; it's a beautiful princess cut diamond ring. I gasp while reach down to touch it. "Wow! It's gorgeous! Are you for sure want to marry me? After what I did last night?"

"Yes, I for sure want to marry you."

"Doesn't it bother you that I had s*x with a man in this bed multiple times last night? I mean amazing, mind-blowing s*x?" I ask as I point to the bed.

He throws his hands up. "Are you seriously going to bring that up as I'm trying to propose to you?"

"I'm just dumbfounded that you are willing to forgive so easily."

"I think it's just a miscommunication between us, is all. Now going forward, I would like to start fresh and ask you to be my wife." He says while he takes out the ring and sits the box down while reaching out the other hand.

"Gee, Mitch, I don't know," I respond hesitantly.

"Listen, do you care about me?" he asks curiously.

"Of course I do."

"Do you love me?" he asks.

I stand there staring at him, trying to contemplate if I do love him.

"Wow, you are taking too long to respond." He says as he lowers his eyes to the ground.

I reach out to touch him. "Yes, I mean, of course, I do feel love for you. I just... I mean...I am still stuck on the whole s*x thing."

He's starting to get frustrated with me. I can tell in the way his tone has changed. "Why are you stuck on the whole s*x thing? If you love me, then what's the problem? Why can't you just be patient with me?"

"I mean, I feel like I have been patient. Six months is pretty patient, I think." I blurt out.

"Just try on the ring and see how it feels." He suggests as he reaches out to take my hand.

I put my hand in his, and he slides the ring on my finger.

He smiles as his eyes meet mine. "There, it fits like a glove."

"Hmmm... yes, it certainly does, but are you one hundred percent sure you want to marry me? I mean, I am a s*x-crazed woman!" I say jokingly.

He laughs. "Yes, I am! I want to marry you, Georgia! I just want to make sure that you feel the same way."

I lower my eyes to gaze at the ring. He looks so pitiful right now; I have a hard time breaking his heart.

"Just say maybe for now, but please don't wait too long to let me know you have changed your mind. I need to know where you stand." He insists.

"Wow! Would you seriously be okay with a maybe? Are you desperate?"

"Well, yes, I'm desperate for you to be my wife. I'm willing to wait for you and give you some space just so that you are sure." He says reassuringly.

I begin to tear up. "God, that's heartbreaking."

"Don't feel sorry for me, love. I will give you some time to stew on things. I have to leave on another trip with my assistant, Simon. I'll be back in a few days." He says as he stuffs his hands in his pockets.

"You are leaving again? So soon?"

"Yes, darling, I'm so sorry." He responds while reaching out to me. He pulls up my straps to my bra and dress. I honestly forgot they were still down. He didn't even acknowledge that I still had my t**s out. So strange!

I eye him curiously, trying to read him. "What happens if you come back, and I decide I don't want to marry you?"

"Well then, I guess I will have to move on. I'll be hurt. My family will be hurt. They love you, and they love Scarlett." He responds as he lowers his eyes.

"I know you all have been very kind to me. I guess I'm just really confused as to why you are reacting this way."

"Well, I just feel like I need to give you some space to think about everything. I have to go, Georgia. I'll be back in a few days." He confirms as he leans in and kisses me on the cheek.

As he leaves the room; I can hear him say goodbye to Scarlett in her bedroom. The sound of his footsteps echo down the hall before he opens the front door and close it on the way out.

I sit down on the edge of my bed in shock. What the f**k just happened?! I gaze down at the ring and admire how beautiful it is.

Wait! This is crazy! I don't want to marry Mitch. I love John Luke. He's going to be so pissed! How did I get into this mess? I place my head in my hands and sit there, trying to think about the consequences of accepting this ring and what it means for Mitch, my business, and John Luke.