Page 69 of Legend
“No…no,” she said. “Don’t feel bad, the ring’s worth has tripled since then. And the guy who bought that truck, souped it up then it went on a monster tour.” She beamed at me. “So a happy ending all the way around.”
I smiled back. Too funny. I had to realize this was not your typical marriage proposal. However, Glory had never been your typical girl.
“Legend, I want you to be my husband, my partner and mate. The daddy to my kids, the peanut butter to my jelly and as Ma Walker once said…The sugah in my tea.”
We both laughed.
“Giovanni Cassio Descalia…Will you marry me?” she finished.
I nodded as the look in her eyes hit me square in the chest. I felt like I just got punched there. All the vulnerability she hid from the world, all her hopes and fears, everything she was inside showed right in her beautiful eyes. The effect of this look almost overwhelmed me. “I will,” I whispered in a choked voice.
As a lone tear rolled down her cheek, she grasped my hand and slid the ring onto my finger. Then she smirked. “Dang right it fits.” She let out that wicked giggle of hers.
I peered down at it. It was a thick gold band with a diamond inlay all along the circle of the ring. It too looked old like the one I had gotten for her. I loved it. It suited me well. Of course, she knew that even years ago. Grinning at her, I reached down, grabbed her up and set her into my lap. “I love all that is you, Glory. The fighter, the bad girl and the little girl that is you.”
We both grinned at this description.
Clearing my throat as it had swelled with emotion, I finished, “I can only hope to live up to the love you have for me.” Then I kissed her.
This kiss was different from the ones we had shared before. It was more like a sealing of something that we both knew would last forever. Tender, sweet and warm.
Minutes went by as we held each other. The kiss got deeper and more breathless. I couldn’t help it, my hands wandered as I caressed her all over. God, I wanted her, right here and right now.
Finally, I broke the kiss and abruptly set her from my lap onto the suede leather seat next to me. “I-I don’t want to get caught. You know…” I shook my head. “...by my cousins.”
Laughing, Glory nodded. “Yeah, that would be…” She burst into laughter. “...not very dignified.” She then gave me a wink. “But doing it in a limo is on my list now.”
I chuckled. “Oh, yeah? I didn’t know you had one.”
“Hells yeah. Ever since the shower. I call it my naughty list.”
I stared at her as I wiggled my brows playfully. “You liked that shower, hmm?”
“Liked?” She elbowed me. “I want that everyday!”
“Ok, we can try.” I wrapped my arm around her shoulder and leaned my head back onto the seat. “This is so perfect.” I paused. “Well, until we arrive at the estate.”
“Come on, Legend,” Glory urged while taking my hand in hers. “It can’t be that bad. I mean you are going to see your brothers.”
“Yes. That will be the best part. And wait until you meet my Aunt Maria. You and her will get along great.”
“So, we will deal with the bad parts as we go.” Glory nodded her head.
“Cross that bridge when we…” I shook my head and asked, “Is there a Texas saying for this?”
“If the crick don’t rise?” she suggested then shook her head. “Nope, not the same meaning. Um… oh, I know. If your dad is hellbent for leather, you gotta be quick out of the chute, like greased lightning.”
We both laughed.
“I remember that!” I exclaimed. “One of our fight trainers said it, Scooter, right? Like anyone could forget his name.”
Nodding, she said, “Scooter! Oh, my God…After dad hired him as an instructor, he told me his mom named him that. It was his legal name, Scooter Flag!” She laughed even harder. “We all used to crack up at his drawl and old Texan talk then he would make us run the mile while saying, that dog won’t hunt.”
I kept chuckling as I nodded. “Our class did the same and he’d yell,quit hollerin’ down the rain. Now drop and give me twenty!”
Just then, Rocky’s voice interrupted our laughter as it came over the speaker, “Home coming up in about ten minutes.”
I couldn’t help it, my laughter slowly evaporated as my back stiffened a bit.
