Don't Wake Me if I'm Dreaming (27 page)

I did as asked, looking at his face to see it light up. “Was that really necessary?”

“No, I just knew you’d look cute doing it.” He snorted and cleared his throat, suffocating a snicker trying to erupt.

I arched my brows daring him to laugh.

He pasted an innocent smile on his face.

I rolled my eyes at him pinching my lips together.

“Just don’t forget to control the handlebars.”

“Got it.” I pushed down on the pedal, nearly tipping the bike.

“You’re okay. Try it again.”

It took another try, and within seconds I was swerving down the cobbled street.

Jack rode after me on the other bike, catching up. “Remember to lightly use both brakes to keep from going too fast.”

“I’m still trying to figure out the gears.”

“I’m in second and it feels comfortable.”

We rode around town. I still wasn’t used to the feeling and was wobbly, but decided it was much more fun to cruise through town on a bike, than by foot.

“I think I want to buy a bike when we get back home.”

“I told you it’s fun.”

A
fter making dinner, Jack tossed a Caesar salad, and headed onto the back deck to set the table. The wind had calmed, but it was cold enough to dig out our sweaters.

When I returned outside, I noticed Jack had lit the fire pit in the center of the table, and the candle lanterns on both sides of the back doors. Strings of light bulbs wrapped the deck producing a soft glow, perfect for a romantic New Year getaway at Jack’s family beach house in Wrightsville.

It was much different than our first New Year, but much more intimate and to my liking.

“I’ll grab our drinks.” I headed back inside.

The east side of the house was mostly windows that faced the sunrise and wild waves of the Atlantic Ocean. The walls were painted white, and the décor was nautical and tastefully designed. A large ship wheel hung on the wall, and a huge anchor was mounted to the fire mantel surrounded by several navy and white candles. The floors were probably my favorite feature. Weathered beach wood that could withstand the revolving traffic bringing in the sand. The flooring continued into the kitchen, which also faced east, and was all white with chalk painted cupboards and cabinets. There was nothing about the house that was exquisite or inviting. Our bed for the weekend was in the loft that also had a spectacular ocean view and we frequently visited the room, starting the moment after we arrived.

I carried our glasses outside. “You’ve outdone yourself,” I said, handing Jack a glass while absorbing our setting. I walked over to the railing, looking out at the moonlit beach.

The tall grass surrounding the walkway visibly swayed around the floodlights. The moon reflected across the water as the waves crashed, dancing along the shoreline. I unknowingly spaced off from the tranquility of my environment, reflecting as an entire year together had come to pass. Our relationship neared perfection. It wasn’t just because we got along so well, or because our sex life was exhilarating, I think it had a lot to do with him opening my eyes to new adventures and trying new things. I was learning to rock climb, mastered riding a bike, with encouragement I was playing the piano again and spending more time finding the joys in life outside work and my apartment.

“Dinner is ready, Madame.” Jack’s voice returned me to the present.

“This has got to be the most romantic little haven.”

“I’ve always enjoyed coming here.” He pulled my chair out for me before returning inside collecting our plates. “Lot’s of great times and memories here.”

“The food almost looks too nice to eat and smells amazing.” The scent made my stomach growl.

“That it does.” He took a seat across from me. The flames emitted a low, soft glow just enough to produce little warmth, and provide a lustrous, bronze glow to Jack’s face. He was smiling, staring at me with gentle eyes as I situated my napkin and silverware.

It made me smile. “You look immersed in thoughtful emotion.” I stilled my movement, focusing my attention on him.

“Do I? I’m just having a moment.” He gazed around then set his napkin on his lap.

We ate in silence for a few minutes. “This crab cake, oh man. The aioli is—” I spoke until my food cut off my words then swallowed, “It’s so good it made me talk with a mouthful.” I covered my smile with my napkin.

“You can thank my mom for teaching me the way around the kitchen and sharing her recipes.”

“I have plenty to thank your momma for.” I smiled. “Do you suppose they’re missing us at your company party?”

“Of course they do. You were the Bella of the ball last year.” He was suddenly lost in thought for a moment, looking into the flames. “You sure hooked me that night.”

“I still can’t believe you drug me on the floor and made me dance in front a party full of strangers.”

“I surprised myself with that one. I never did ask how you ended up dropping your glass that night.”

“You wouldn’t believe me if I told you.” That truth would never spill.

“Hmm. I almost forgot I have a gift for you.” He wiped his mouth, and then set his napkin down and hopped from the table. “Sit tight.” He returned a moment later with a very small flat box and handed it to me.

I opened it, looking at three little charms. “Tuscany is in the shape of a bus.” I tucked in my lips to keep from laughing.

“You’ll never let me live that down, so I decided to endure it with a forever reminding charm.”

“You willingly rode a bus through Tuscany to please me. I wouldn’t need a charm to remind me.” I smiled. “But I do love it.”

“You bribed me with sex!”

“Verona.” It was in the shape of a rose. I turned it over and read the engraving. “Romeo found Juliet.” I smiled at him. “That was the best play ever.”

“I admit it was better than the Nut Cracker.” He returned the smile shaking his head.

“Venice, a gondola. Are these from our trip to Italy?”

He smiled. 

“Sneaky very sneaky, thank you, babe. They’re perfect. I actually happen to have a gift for you as well. However, I wasn’t nearly as creative.”

I gave him a kiss before heading inside.

I returned handing him an envelope.

“What is it?”

“Well, open it.” I placed my hand on his shoulder.

He opened the envelope and read the contents. “You’re kidding me! Super Bowl tickets!” He stood, lifting my feet for a hug. “Awesome gift. Thank you.”

My feet returned to the ground, and Jack grabbed both of our glasses, handing me mine. “To an amazing year spent in perfect company. Happy Anniversary, Sasha.”

“Happy Anniversary.” We toasted our glasses. “I figured you could take a buddy to the game, and I can escape on a girl’s weekend with your sisters.”

“Are you kidding, you’re coming with me.”

“Actually, I think the only place I’m going is inside for a nap.”

“Is nap code word for wanting sex, again?” He teased. “We’ve got about forty-five minutes until they’ll start lighting fireworks on the beach. We can watch them from the bed if you want.”

I shook my head liking that idea.

We cleared the table, leaving everything to clean later in the kitchen and headed upstairs.

“Dang it. I forgot the champagne. I’ll be right back.” Jack hurried down the stairs.

I quickly undressed and crawled in bed waiting for him.

He returned with the bottle of champagne and our glasses, handing me one and then walked around the room and lit a few candles. “The one year anniversary of our first kiss.” He toasted my glass.

“And hopefully, many more of both.”

We lay cuddling together with my head on Jack’s chest. My hand was exploring his body, peaking a sexual mood, but found it rather odd he wasn’t as responsive as normal.

He held up his hand a little. “Sorry, it’s a little small and hard to see.”

“What, no, it’s definitely not small!” A little laughter seeped with my words.

He laughed, realizing I wasn’t looking at his pinky. “Hmm, you have such a dirty mind.”

“Considering our physical sit…” I noticed a glimmer on his pinky and stared for a few seconds. My hand cupped my mouth. I was just able to see the blue diamond sparkle.  

“Do you like it?”

I nodded, unable to speak for a moment. My hand retracted a few inches from my mouth, “You already gave me an anniversary gift.”

Jack stood quickly pulling his pants on walking to my side of the bed and knelt down.

I sat up, wrapping the sheet around me, still speechless and now excited.

He looked at me with gentle eyes. “Sasha, you have been my greatest gift, my muse, the reason I wake each day a fulfilled man. Will you please marry me, and make me the happiest man alive.”

Jack slid the ring on my finger. The large blue diamond sat alone on a band sparkling from the cast of candlelight.

I reached, hugging him, still unable to speak.

He felt my tears on his back. “Those are happy tears I hope.”

I shook my head. “Yes, to both questions.” I saw my dim reflection on the window of holding Jack in my arms and gazed until the first big bang lit up the sky. I knew this was exactly where I belonged.

A
dog
. I rolled my eyes. “Jack, you realize by putting this thing,” I held up left my hand, “on my finger that meant anything you bring home will soon be my responsibility as well.” I stood with my hands on my hips protesting. “And vacations, you can kiss them goodbye! We’re not taking a dog to
Rio
or Angel Falls!” I was certain this was the first time we highly disagreed on a subject between us.

He laughed, staring at my perturbed stance. “It’s a dog, not a baby. We’re just window-shopping. We don’t have to adopt today, I just don’t want you to be so objective just yet.”

“Objective! I don’t want a dog. Have you seen my shoe collection? It’s mastication heaven! It would be a total sin to kill a pair of Jimmy Choo shoes. He’ll be damned to eternity in hell!”

“He, huh?”

“That’s not funny.”

He chuckled.

“Sasha, he’s right. There’s no harm in looking.” Sam allowed himself a wry smile listening to me nag.

“You!” I pointed at my brother, and then ran pinched fingers across my lips. “Zip it!”

The guys both laughed.

“I’ve never been to a dog shelter.” Paisley looked and me with her big beautiful light eyes.

“Please?” Parker crossed his fingers together begging.

“Oh nice. Way to lay it on thick.” I grinned at him.

I ran my hand through my hair, and then grabbed my coat. “You’re relentless.” I huffed at Jack and squinted at my niece and nephew’s beaming faces, marching out to the truck.
Just when I’m convinced Jack’s the smartest man alive, he does this!

The sound of dozens of dogs barking overpowered the shelter. We had no clue where to begin or what type of dog Jack was even interested in. He had expressed he didn’t care about the breed, as long as it wouldn’t have to be brushed every day, and that it would physically be capable of running with us.

Parker was begging his father for a chocolate colored chowchow named Chewbacca and Paisley had her eyes on a huge hound and Rottweiler named Ruby. I looked down the end of the hall and saw Jack had knelt down shaking a paw that extended from the chained link door. The Blue Heeler Terrier mix pushed a tennis ball to the kennel door with his nose when I walked up. There he sat, wagging his tail profusely.

“He’s so ugly he’s actually cute,” I said to Jack.

“That’s an oxymoron because its contradictory terms to describe the same thing. Thing being the dog,” Parker stated.

“Well, la dee-dah, mister smarty pants! Bet you can’t spell
supercalifragilisticexpialidocious
!” I said, in a playful but jeering voice, mocking his larger than life intellect. 

Paisley giggled through her comment. “Aunt
Sashy
that’s not a real word.”

“Oh, don’t you dare tell Mary Poppins that!”

My nephew spent the next five minutes asking me to slowly repeat the word while trying to sound out each syllable, spelling it into sections, losing complete interest in the dogs.

Jack knelt, contently visiting with the same dog, showing no interest in any of the others. “Can you play catch?” he asked.

The dog picked up the ball and pressed it into the kennel door, wagging his tail. The name Barkley was written on the nametag just above his age, gender, and breed.

“What do you think, do you like me, huh, Barkley?” he asked the dog who became even more excited. “You know your name.”

Great, they were quickly becoming best of friends.

“Well, I think that’s a horrible name. And he’s hideously ugly.” I stood with my hands on my hips, expressing my distaste at the idea of a dog; especially the one Jack showed interest in.

Jack looked up at me, showing his best puppy eyes, and then looked back at the dog. “Want to go for a ride? Huh, buddy, do you like riding in a truck?” He smirked feeling my eyes narrowing at him.

The dog barked.

“No, he doesn’t, and I hope you’re not expecting him to reply.” I groaned.
It wouldn’t be a bit surprised if you could speak dog among your other languages.

Jack stood, and reached for my hand. “I still don’t understand why you’re so against the idea, but you sure are cute when you’re ornery.”

“You said you were just
window shopping
, and it looks to me more like you’ve opened the window.”

“Sasha, I’ve thought this over and truthfully I would like a dog, but if you can honestly tell me bringing him into our home would bring you misery, and that it’s not worth it to giving him a better shot at life then I’ll walk away and won’t ever bring it up again.”

I stared at him a moment, then the dog, then at Jack again. “I’ll have you know, if he even sniffs my shoes, you’re both dead!”

“I’ll go take care of the paperwork,” he said with a jubilant smile.

“I’m going to see if I can find my brother somewhere in this damn zoo.”

As we began walking away from Barkley, he dropped his ball and let out a small long whimper.

“He thinks we’re leaving him.” Jack turned looking back at the dog.

“Oh, for the love of…! Hurry up already.” I could have kicked him I was over this dog ordeal.

Jack headed into the lobby with a look of satisfaction that I found so repulsive it made me cringe.

I walked back over to Barkley and knelt to his level. “Listen, dog. I’m sure you’ve sensed I’m not a fan of you or the idea of you, so you better not blow this.”

The dog looked at me wagging his tail.

“I know you heard me warn about my shoes. I’ll have you back here…”

“I see you found a friend.” Sam walked over to kennel to look at the dog.

“Hardly, but Jack did.”

“He’s a nice looking dog.”

“He’s ugly, and this whole thing is a ridiculous idea.”

“Come on, give the little guy a chance. What’s the worst that could happen?”

I momentarily envisioned the dog destroying the house, yard, and of course chewing up my shoes. “Complete annihilation of my future home, happiness, and my shoe closet.”

Sam laughed. “I must say I have a touch of envy. I would love to have a dog, but Erica’s allergies would be the death of her. And she says it’s inhumane to take an animal out of its natural environment for our personal pleasure, which is a lousy excuse.”

“It’s a legitimate excuse.”

“If a dog is bred and born in captivity, explain what natural environment it’s deprived of? Do you really believe there are wild poodles and pugs running around in the woods somewhere?”

I reluctantly laughed. “You and Jack both have a stubborn will that makes argument nearly impossible.”

“Ah, but I’m correct.” He looked self-assured. “You’ll see everything will be fine.”

Jack returned with a happy expression a short while later holding an envelope in hand. “It’s official, we’re dog parents.” He tapped the envelope on my hand kneeling down in front of Barkley, who was wagging his tail with such excitement his hindquarter was nearly bouncing to keep up with the movement.

A man came in and opened the gate. “He’s all yours. He hooked a leash on Barkley’s collar and handed it to Jack.

We drove back to Jack’s house and said goodbye to my brother and his kids. Sam had stayed two nights and had a long drive back to D.C.

“I want family pictures of the new addition.” Sam made a goofy face then gave me hug.

“Funny. You be careful driving. The roads don’t look so well.” I held him a moment, not wanting him to leave.

“I’ve got it.” Parker placed his hands behind his back. “S. U. P. E. R. C. A. L. I… F. R. A. G. I. L. I. S. T. I. C. E… X. P. I. A. L. I. D. O. C. I. O. U. S!”

“Good job, kid. It took me a week to remember how to spell that.” I ruffled his hair then hugged Paisley. “I love you guys.”

“Bye, Barkley.” Paisley hugged the dog and then climbed into their car.

We watched them drive off. Still a little unnerved over the dog situation, I headed up the driveway leaving Jack to follow. It was snowing just a little, and I was shivering, wanting inside for warmth. “Why a dog?” I asked between the chatter of my teeth.

“I’m lonely with all this space.” Jack looked at his house. He threw Barkley’s ball, “Go get it, boy.” He let go of the leash and Barkley blazed across the yard after it.

“Liar! You don’t have time to be lonely.”

“I had a dog my whole childhood. Toby, the best friend I ever had. I’ll make time.”

“You’re not really feeling lonely are you?” I asked a little put off by his comment.

“No, not really, but it does get boring at times being here alone.” He reached for my hand. “You know, being the future Mrs. Thomas, this house is ready for you whenever you’re ready to move in.”

“Assuming I’d rather live here than have you move into my apartment?” I playfully raised a brow.

“It was a practical assumption.”

“When I officially become Mrs. Thomas, I plan to do so.” Although I was teasing him, I planned to keep my word.

We walked as far as the front of my car when Jack spun me, and playfully pinned me to the hood in a suggestive way. “Then I had better hurry up and make you my wife!”

“Holy cow, that’s cold!” My teeth chattered uncontrollably, I recoiled from the freezing hood, “Brrrrrrrrrr!”

“I better get you in a hot shower and fast!” Jack lifted me over his shoulder and ran up the driveway.

Barkley jumped at Jack’s feet, trying to lick my face. “Bite him, you worthless mutt.” I spat my words between bursts of laughter.

***

I
was towel drying my hair when I heard Jack yell in an angry tone. “Are you effing kidding me?” Barkley was on the bed eating one of Jack’s slippers when I walked in the bedroom.

Jack grabbed the slipper and smacked the bed with a holler. “This! This is bad!” He stood wrapped in a towel scolding the dog.

I glanced at the alarm clock next to the bed that read just after four in the afternoon. “This is where I say, have fun with your new companion! I’m going home to clean up. You can pick me up tonight around eight if you still feel like going out to dinner and a movie.”

He looked at me in defeat.

“Let’s get a dog, he said. It will be fun, he said.” I ran the brush through my hair, collecting my bag showing zero pity. “Love you.”

“I feel the love.”

***

A
fter cleaning up, I had two hours to spare until Jack planned to be here so we could see a movie, but I expected at any moment, he’d call and explain he didn’t want to leave the dog home alone. So I took the liberty of deciding we weren’t having dinner together and cooked myself a breakfast feast.

My plate was now heaped with hash browns, bacon, sliced ham, eggs, and toast, which I found as comfort food to cope with the four-legged terror that was now an addition to my relationship.

Aimee knocked on the door before she entered, announcing her presence. “You’re not naked on the bathroom floor are you?”

“No.” I laughed under my breath. “That was forever ago already.” I spoke feebly, dishing my plate. “Hungry?”

“Chimney Christmas, are you feeding the army?” She snorted a surprised laugh.

“I was feeling a bit hungry.”

“A bit. That plate is gargantuan.”

“So I suppose I did cook a bit much, but I needed comfort food.” I began weeping, wiping my eyes on my sleeve.

“Noo, not you, too, for cryin’ out loud! Everywhere I go, crying seems to be the new trend.” She sat her handbag down to hug me.

“Who else is crying?” I looked up, trying to control my tears.

“Scott’s been a bawl baby all day. I had to get out of the house. Why are you crying?”

“Jack got a dog and I’m going to be stuck with it until it dies.”

“Hang on a sec. My empathy is off kilter today. It’s a dog not a baby!”

“That’s exactly what Jack said. Actually, my eyes are burning from the onions.” I laughed, tossing fresh chopped onion on my plate.”

“Gross. You should have cooked them first. Are you pregnant?”

“Hell no!” I covered my plate in ketchup.

“Stoned?”

“Hardly!” I glanced at her, piling ranch on top of the ketchup.

“Do you want to be?”

“At least I won’t have to make breakfast for a week. And don’t be absurd.”

“I’m going to crack the window. I think there’s a slight bacon fog in here.” She coughed, fanning her face.

“Make a plate.” I set an extra plate on the counter.

“I’ll pick at yours. There’s no way you’ll ever eat all that.”

Aimee and I sat on the sofa watching a reruns digging into the heaping pile of food.

“Don’t freak out,” she warned. “I have a little somethin’ somethin’ for us to smoke.”

“Uh, no,” I protested, knowing whatever it was, she was up to no good.

“Oh come on, live a little.” She hurriedly grabbed her handbag and returned to the sofa pulling out an Altoid container with a joint stuffed inside.