Noah

When Callie didn’t come back to bed. I got up, put on my workout gear and skipped downstairs.

I thought we were going to continue the celebration. We wore each out last night.

I’d been skipping a lot in the last few days. First from nerves and now because my girl agreed to marry me. I was lucky and relieved. I was over being single.

God, I sound like a girl.

I reached for the door.

Callie barreled through. Her red hair flowed behind her.

I jumped out the way.

“Whoa.” I reached out and caught her.

“Hey.” She ran through my outstretched arms. “Where are you going?”

“For a run.” I reached for the door.

“I was going to make breakfast.” She held up a package of tortillas.

“Can you give me an hour?” I stretched. “I’ll be back by then. You don’t have class today. We can celebrate all afternoon.”

“I have to study.” She fidgeted with her ring.

“Maybe call your parents and let them know.” I bent over and touched my toes.

“Mom’s at the ranch.” She said and disappeared in the bathroom.

“They have phones at the ranch.” I yelled.

“Have you told your dad?” She came back to the doorway.

“No, I couldn’t get him yesterday." I twisted to the left and the right. "But, he texted me that he’ll call me back this afternoon.”

"Who else knows about the engagement?" she asked.

I stopped in mid-twist. My eyes narrowed.

"What do you mean?"

“Kate and Preston know?"

I nodded.

"You told Linda in the bodega on the corner."

"What did she say?" I grabbed my shift off the table.

"She wants to freakin cater it for us." Callie held her hand up.

“Well, not sure that’s going to be possible if we get married in Aspen.” I pulled my shirt over my head.

“Asp …” Callie blinked and held on to the wall.

I hurried towards her and put my hand on her waist.

“Hey, Baby. You okay?” I guided her to the bed and sat her down. I knelt in front of her.

She exhaled.

“We’re getting married in Aspen?” She asked with pure disgust on her face.

“Well, it’s an idea. They have this amazing mountain outdoor chapel area that you have to fly up in a helicopter.”

“Helicopter.” She gripped the comforter.

“I know. It’s a little crazy, but I thought we’d keep it small. That way we can do something special. Something we’ll remember.” I rubbed her thigh.

I spoke, but I wasn’t sure she heard me.

She nodded and stared down at the ground. Nip came over to investigate. She reached down and placed him on her lap. Like she needed a buffer between the two of us.

“Callie. What’s wrong?” I stood.

“You’ve,” she paused and took a deep cleansing breath, “planned the whole wedding? Have you set a date, too?”

“No.” I rubbed my face. “Of course not. I’m just saying these are some ideas. I’m not saying we’re getting married next week, but since we’ll be in Aspen, we can have a look.”

Valentine whimpered from her crate. She wanted in on the family discussion, too.

I crossed my hands over my chest. When it appeared Callie had nothing else to say, I shook my head and went to let Valentine out.

I walked to the laundry room through the kitchen.

Callie followed me.

“Hey Val.” I reached in and picked her up.

She barked and wagged her tail. At three months, she fit in my palm.

“She needs to go out,” Callie said.

I nodded and opened the back door.

I set Valentine down. She looked back up at me. Callie stepped out.

“It’s okay, baby. You can do it?” It gave Valentine confidence to navigate the stairs.

We stood side by side, watching our little girl stumble down the stairs, one by one. We both signed in relief when she made it the bottom safe.

I leaned back on the railing.

“Are you trying to tell me something?” I asked Callie.

She set Nip down and looked up at me. She blinked her eyes, leaned in, and placed her head on my chest. I wrapped my arms around her. I stroked her hair and squeezed tight.

“It was a surprise.” She leaned back and looked up at me. “The proposal. I thought we were a year away from marriage talk, especially since what happened at Preston’s wedding.”

I stiffened.

“I thought we resolved all of that.”

“We have. But, it was still a surprise.”

Her words hit my heart like a hammer. I dropped my arms and stepped back.

“Don’t freak out on me.” She sighed. “I want to marry you.”

“You’re telling me not to freak out.” I gripped my chest. “You think you’re projecting a little bit.”

“Maybe.” She grabbed my hand. “No. I’m not freaking out. All I’m saying is give me more then twenty-four hours to enjoy being engaged before we move on to the wedding. Is that all right?”

She hugged me again.

“Of course it’s all right.” I kissed the top of her head. “I want you to enjoy every bit of it.”

I thought about Kate and Preston. By the time the wedding rolled around, she was sick of it.

Callie yawned.

“You’re tired.”

“I need a vacation.” She nodded.

“Well, that’s good, because in four days, we will be on one.”

“I can’t wait.” She hugged me tighter, tilted her head up and stood on her toes.

I leaned over and kissed her.

She smiled and I kissed her again. I loved that smile on her face.

The goal was to keep my fiancée smiling. That was my only job.

“Can you do something of for me?” She asked.

“Anything.”

“Can we wait until after we get back from Aspen to tell people?”

“Sure.” I nodded.

“I just want to hang out and relax and have a nice quiet vacation.”

“As much as you can with Preston and Kate Clark as our travel companions.”

“And two dogs.”

“Three dogs, they're bringing their new addition.” I pushed a strand of hair out of her face.

“Four people, three dogs and how many assistants?”

“None. The house has a staff, but other than that we are on our own.” I played with one of her red curls.

“Kate’s okay with that?”

“Kate prefers it.” I ran my hand through her hair. “It’s Preston who’s going to have an issue. If his wife’s not around to do stuff for him, he would usually ask his assistant.”

“Oh great. I’m going to be the back up.” She leaned her head on my chest.

“Nope Caliente.” I kissed her cheek. “You belong to me.”

She giggled and kissed me back.

Yip Yip.

Nip stood at the bottom of the stairs behind Valentine. She was covered in leaves and dirt. She attempted to jump up the steps, but tumbled backwards.

Nip groaned.

“Oh Val.” Callie said.

She went to the bottom of the stairs and scooped Valentine in her arms. She carried her back up, Nip close on her heels.

“Don’t worry. You won’t be little for long.” She kissed her nose as she cleaned the dirt out of her fur.

I looked down at Nip.

“You are no help.” He stared up at me and barked.

We all walked back into the house.

“Breakfast will be ready in an hour,” Callie said.

She retrieved the steak from the fridge.

“I’ll be back in an hour. You need anything?”

“No, just don’t …”

“I know.” I held up my hand. “No more telling people we’re engaged until after Aspen.”

“Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.” I nodded.

She rolled her eyes at me.

I grabbed her from behind and held her to me while attacking her neck with kisses.

“Noah.” She squirmed in my arms.

Both Nip and Valentine barked.

“See. You’re upsetting the children.” The little dogs jumped around at our feet.

“I’ll be right back.” I kissed her cheek and headed toward the front door.

I felt better. She was tired. It was like when I switched from college to the pros. In my rookie season, we’d played twelve games. My body was a wreck and we still had four more games to go.

Last year, Callie and I were lounging on a beach in the south of France. What a difference a year made?