Before she had ever gone to bed, Catherine had received the text. Meet me at the Y in the morning for basketball. I’ll catch a ride with Bruce and go home with you. Lots to tell you. I love you. Good night.
She’d reread the text at least thirty times.
For some reason she wanted to read anger into it, but it was worded with I love you, and lots to tell you as if something good had happened after he’d left her. That couldn’t be it, he’d been upset, but as she’d recalled, he hadn’t been angry.
Sitting in the parking lot of the YMCA, Catherine tried to collect her emotions. She twisted the sparkling diamond ring on her finger. This was a hiccup in their relationship, that was all. In time they’d have another. Perhaps one of them would sleep on the couch then or spend the night at a friend’s. That was what couples did when they argued, right?
How the hell was she really supposed to know? The last relationship she’d been in was over four years ago, and though it had lasted equally as long, they’d been young. There hadn’t been family involvement, or a group of friends. In fact, they’d both been so young there weren’t even pasts to contend with.
Everything with Alex was new—even if it was built on a friendship that was old.
She blew out a breath, closed her eyes tight, and willed the anxiety to cease. When she opened her eyes, she saw him.
Alex was walking toward her car, and he was smiling. What could he possibly have to smile about?
Taking one more deep breath, Catherine opened the door, and stepped out of her car.
By the time she was out of the car, Alex was to her. His hands came to her cheeks, and without a word, he lowered his mouth to hers and kissed her as if nothing had ever been wrong between them.
“I love you,” he said softly. “I love you.”
Catherine batted back tears that stung her eyes. “You’re not angry with me?”
Alex kissed her again. “I never was. I just needed to sort through things. I’ve done that.”
“We’re okay?”
He brushed his thumb over her cheek. “Better than okay. I went back to your parents’ house last night and talked to them. I asked them for their blessing, and apologized for proposing without it. We cleared up some feelings, and your mother hugged me before I left.”
Catherine’s lip trembled as she looked up at him. “You went to my parents’ house?”
“I had to.”
“You didn’t have to, but you did.”
“I’m not that guy they believed me to be. And I’m ashamed that I might have been. That’s in the past. I’m devoted to you. I swear.”
Catherine lifted her arms around his neck and his hands moved to her waist. “I love you. I’m so sorry all of this happened.”
“It won’t be the last time.”
That caused her to laugh. “I was thinking that while I was sitting here. We’ll go through this again.”
“Of course we will. I’m sure inside you still have some doubts about me. You can’t make all the hard feelings go away in a few months.”
“There are no doubts.”
Alex let out a hum. “We’ll see.” He kissed her forehead. “New business. Bruce wants to know where he’s supposed to live,” he said grinning down at her.
“We haven’t even discussed that.”
“I think more than anything, he just doesn’t want me dropping in like I did last night. He came after me with a nine-iron.”
Catherine pressed her hands to his chest. “Did he hit you?”
Alex laughed and shook his head. “He was prepared. That’s all.”
“Good,” she sighed. “There’s so much to think about. Where will we live? We need to set a date. Rachel wants to have that engagement party.”
Alex leaned in and kissed her again. “We’re not in any hurry. We’re committed to each other. That is the most important thing. Married or not, I’m yours and you’re mine.”
“Forever, Alex.”
“I promise. Nothing can come between us—nothing.”
While the team, and the sister, grunted and chirped at one another about their lack of skill, Rachel and Catherine sat on the bleachers and planned an engagement party.
“We’re already into October in two weeks,” Rachel said as she studied the calendar on her phone. “But that’s okay. I still think if you do it at Alex’s house, you’ll have room. No offense, you don’t have enough parking at your house.”
“Well, when I bought it, I was sure you’d be the only one to ever visit. Who knew this was how our year was going to turn out?”
Rachel laughed and ran her hand over her belly. “Who indeed.”
“He asked my parents for their blessing last night,” Catherine said in a hushed tone, though no one would have ever heard her anyway.
“Wow. How did your mom take it when you told her you were engaged to Alex Burke?”
“She should have taken it better than she did. It’s not like she didn’t know I was seeing him.”
“Dating and marriage are two different things.”
“I suppose. But he took the initiative to go and talk to them.”
“He’s a good man.”
“So you keep saying.”
“And I mean it.” Rachel adjusted her position on the bleacher. “Maybe you should hurry and get pregnant.”
“What?” Catherine laughed and nearly choked on it. “Talk about ramping things up.”
Rachel smiled, rubbing her hand over her belly. “Think about it. Our babies could grow up together.”
Catherine looked out over the court where the friends playing ball called one another names, and Sarah took the ball and laid it up to increase the score.
“I’m sure he won’t want to wait. I don’t think I’m the one with my biological clock ticking,” Catherine humored, but the thought was now planted. Rachel was right. Her baby could grow up with Rachel’s baby. Was that what Alex wanted too? Their children to grow up with the children of his friends?
The thought was appealing.
But first things first. She needed to get him home and they needed to settle all of the feelings that were hurt the night before. What better way to move on than with makeup sex?