Chapter 76

Molly had been living at Xander’s house for two weeks, and almost finished with the baby’s room, she had started reviving the neglected garden.

Xander had been just as productive, converting an unused room into an office space fitted with two desks, two phones, and two computers. One for himself, and one for Johnny.

“So, now that we’re business partners Xan, how do you feel about getting matching shirts?

Imagine,” Johnny said as he traced the horizon with his hand, “B.J. Fights, Inc. Hey? What do you think?”

Xander swiveled in his chair, looking to see if Johnny was serious.

“Let me get this straight, ‘B’ for Beast, and ‘J’ for Johnny? So together they make ‘B.J?’ Really? You do realize what that sounds like, right?”

Johnny snorted, trying to conceal his embarrassment.

“I was joking, obviously. Anyway, what’s our roster look like for the Amateurs and Pros right now? Last time I checked, we had a few boys from Tommy’s gym leaning our way. Any progress there?”

Xander rolled his chair to the side of the computer, leaving space for Johnny to wheel over and look at the spreadsheet Xander had open on his screen.

Johnny scanned the names listed under both categories.

“No way. Dude, this is amazing! Just through word of mouth and we’ve already got Bonanza on our team? One of the best pros to come out of Texas? There are like five other guys on this list that could blow any of the Spitz fighters out of the water, and what’s left of Tommy’s team. This is solid work, Xan.”

Johnny pushed himself away from Xander’s computer desk and back to his own.

“I should probably start contacting gyms around different cities and shamelessly promoting our skyrocketing business, yeah? I don’t want to sleep on this. As your managing assistant and business partner, do I have your permission to go forward?” he asked, now standing on his two feet, saluting at Xander like a soldier would to his ranking officer.

“Proceed, soldier,” Xander said, trying on his best military voice.

“Aye-aye, Captain.”

Johnny picked up his phone and began dialing numbers from a small, black book on his desk.

Molly stood at the doorway, holding a tray of sandwiches and two glasses of orange juice.

“Is he still too worked up to eat right now?” Molly whispered, pointing at Johnny who was now enthusiastically introducing himself over the phone to an event coordinator in Houston.

“He’ll eat it eventually if you just leave it here with us. Thank you, baby. You didn’t have to.”

Xander took the tray full of food from Molly and set it down by Johnny, motioning for him to eat something.

Molly sat on the edge of Xander’s desk, observing the office he had put together in so little time.

“It’s the least I can do to help. Really, if there’s anything more I could be doing, just let me know. I’m so proud of you two, baby. What you’ve accomplished already is impressive, to say the least.”

Oh shit.

Xander looked at his computer screen behind Molly, where he had accidentally left open a page laying out his plans to propose to her within the next month.

I have to get her out of here before she sees it.

He cleared his throat loud enough for Johnny to turn around, darting his eyes and nodding his head subtly toward his computer. Johnny seemed confused at first about what Jedi-mind tricks Xander was trying to perform, and then finally caught on.

“Ah, sorry to cut you off, but I’ve got a call coming in on the other line.” Johnny abruptly hung up his phone and practically jumped up out of his chair.

“Molly! I’m glad you’re here. I needed your help in the um… in the yard for a second. There’s this tree that’s blocking my view of the mountains there and I was thinking we could try and figure out where to transplant it.”

Molly raised an eyebrow at Johnny.

“Sure, J. We can go look at this… tree you want… moved.”

Sliding off of the desk onto her feet, Molly leaned over to kiss Xander’s forehead.

“I think he needs to be walked daily. It’s your turn next.”

Xander laughed nervously. As soon as Johnny and Molly left the office, he quickly rolled over to his computer screen and exited the “Prop. Page.”

Whew, that was close. I knew it was a stupid idea to write it down.

Xander looked out the window to check if Johnny and Molly were far enough away from the house to be safe.

I could just quickly go over everything again.

He reopened the page and began reading details of the various ideas he’d had for how he could propose to Molly. From the moment Molly welcomed him back into her life, Xander had been brainstorming ways he could ask her to be his wife. Starting from the top of his list, Xander read through his ‘proposal proposals.’

“On the beach, during the sunset.”

Romantic, but it might be hard for her to walk in the sand at almost nine months pregnant.

“Wedding ring in a cupcake.”

She could choke and die. Not exactly what I’m going for.

“Jumbo-Tron at the next Ranger’s game.” And if she say’s no? Thousands of people would be watching. No thanks.

Xander scrolled down to the very bottom of the page, bypassing a number of ideas that made him roll his eyes, or better yet, laugh at himself.

Wait, what’s this one? Reading the second to last sentence, Xander felt goosebumps on his arms. This is the one. It’s perfect.

Everything but the final idea, Xander had deleted. The front door opened and Xander closed the screen just as Molly and Johnny walked back into the office.

“You’re all smiles. What are you doing?” Molly asked suspiciously.

“Just thinking about you, Molly Tompkins.” Xander pulled Molly onto his lap and kissed her lips.

Molly Delgado. I like the sound of that.