Permission
Maggie
Three Months Later…
My parents are on their way to visit for the week, and then we are all leaving for Vegas where Ryder and Dina have decided to get married. Dina isn’t comfortable having a traditional wedding without her parents, so we are having a full-on party where she can really enjoy her special day.
Brayden and I are doing well. He still won’t have sex with me, but he’s making sure my needs are taken care of as much as he can. I want him desperately, yet he says not until we are truly on solid ground as a couple. According to him, I haven’t forgiven him completely, nor has he learned to forgive himself.
I’m no longer angry over what happened. I understand his past, his fears, and insecurities. I now know why he was using.
Have I forgiven him? Yes, in my mind, I have. Granted, he says we haven’t hit a hard spot yet to really find out just how much I have let go. Maybe he is walking on eggshells so to speak, just waiting to mess up and for me to flip out.
Brayden spends time with Dina and Ryder regularly, making amends. Dina is actually closer now with Brayden than they were before.
Harrison seems to have bonded with Brayden through all of this, too. They have a real friendship now. Before, I think it was a relationship of tolerance, not something genuine.
Harrison and Sophia have been hanging out, both claiming they are just friends with benefits. I know a lot about Sophia and can’t picture my brother being into her kind of kink. He’s a total prick to guys, especially ones trying to date myself or Dina. However, he is more of a knight in shining armor where women he dates are concerned.
I don’t know what happened in South Carolina, but he’s decided not to go back. Ryder has more than enough work to keep Brayden, Jake, and Harrison busy, so he has taken a permanent job there.
He found an apartment in Brayden’s building and is moving out once we return from Vegas. Although I wish he would just stay with me, he claims a man needs his own territory, like a dog. I guess he doesn’t want to pee in the corners here and stake claim. Besides, Brayden’s around all the time, so I honestly think Harry feels like he is imposing on me now.
My parents arrive, surprising Dina by attending her wedding. She doesn’t know it, but Cory will be meeting us out there.
***
Brayden
While Maggie’s parents are here, I need to talk to her dad. The ring I recently purchased is never far from my mind. I want to get this right; make all her dreams come true. The ring isn’t huge, but it’s what I can afford and still nice.
I paid back my debts to the city and Dina. Well, except the cost of my rehab and attorney fees, but I have a payment plan and am caught up with all my bills.
I finally get a moment alone with Harold at Ryder’s house and pull out the ring as I begin our talk.
“Mr. Lawson, you know how much and how long I’ve been in love with your daughter. And I know I’ve made mistakes, but I’ve learned from them, and through it all, my love for Maggie has grown even stronger. She truly is my better half, and I want to make her my wife. Do I have your blessing in asking your daughter to marry me?”
He doesn’t say anything for the longest time, which makes me uncomfortable, so I begin to ramble.
“I know I’m not worthy to even have Maggie as a friend, much less anything more after what I’ve done. I never deserved someone as precious and loving as her in the first place. The thing is, sir, you told me, when the time came, I would know whether to follow my heart or my head. Well, I’m following both.
“My heart loves that woman with every beat it makes and every breath inside me. My head knows she’s good for me and keeps me focused on doing right. So, sir, I’m not only asking, I’m begging you to give this your blessing.”
I know I sound like a complete pussy, begging this man for permission to propose, but dammit, I know Maggie will ask me if I got her dad’s blessing. If they don’t support the engagement, Maggie may walk away from me for good. I know it.
Harold suddenly smiles at me. “Son, I know you love my daughter, and we’ve all made mistakes, so you need to let go of that. You’re a good man deep inside. There are issues you have to face daily. You fight those battles just to be with my princess. You’ve always wanted to take care of her. I think you’ve worked really hard to straighten out your mess.” He places his hand on my shoulder, looking me dead in the eyes. “And, son, yes, you have my blessing to marry my one and only daughter.”
For a man who is a little over six-feet and still works out daily, rides a Harley Davidson in a motorcycle club, and has more tattoos than Ryder and me combined, he can be a giant teddy bear where his family is concerned. Don’t get me wrong; he still intimidates the hell out of me. I know, if I screw up badly enough, he will make sure I’m handled appropriately, and as the saying goes in small towns, They won’t find the body.
Needless to say, I know I don’t want to be on the receiving end of his anger.