Page 24 of Choosing a Forever
“Oh, right. What’s up?”
This next part is going to make or break whatever bond of friendship we’ve been mending. But I think it will help both of us a lot.
“I think I have a solution to your insurance problem. A way to help you so you don’t have to work so hard.”
She narrows her eyes at me, pursing her lips in a way that makes them look plump and biteable and—
Not the time, Tal.
“I’m listening…”
I take a fortifying breath, staring deeply into her mossy green eyes. “Marry me.”
Her eyes bug out of her head, and her mouth gapes open before she starts cackling. Loud, uninhibited, truelaughter that grabs the attention of the older gentlemen at the bar and makes me equal parts happy and embarrassed.
Is marrying me really this funny?
She must see the mortification on my face because her laughter stops almost immediately. “You’re… you’re serious?”
I nod.
I’ve been thinking about it since she told me about her financial issues. I’ve been wracking my brain trying to figure out a way to help her.
I started looking into my health insurance benefits and found my dependents would be totally covered. If Mack were married to me, since she’s already the primary guardian of the girls, they’d fall under the same umbrella, which means Harper’s pumps, insulin, doctors visits, and whatever else she needs would be covered. Mack wouldn’t need to work two jobs in order to afford it.
“Why?” Mack asks, crossing her arms over her chest defensively.
“Because I getreallygood health insurance benefits, and if we get married, you and your sisters would be covered.”
“Okaaaaaay. But what’s in it for you? Why would you offer such a—acommitmentto me when we haven’t even talked in ten years?”
Excellent question.
The real answer is there’s been a magnetic pull to her ever since I saw her again. I haven’t been able to stop thinking about her since the accident—before, if I’m being honest. It’s like she kickstarted my heart again, andall of the feelings I had for her as a teenager are coming back.
My religious upbringing tickles the back of my brain, whispering God put her in my path for a reason. Telling me it’s a sign because none of my other relationships have worked out. She was the first girl I ever loved, and part of me is wondering if she’s the last girl Ishouldlove. The only girl I have ever truly loved.
Another part of me wonders what would have happened if we’d stayed together all through high school. If she would have waited for me while I was on my mission, and we got married after.
Would we have kids? Would we have left the church and deconstructed together? Would I have still become a firefighter? Would I be drawing comics? Teaching?
Would we be happy?
There’s no way to know for sure, but I want to know if we could have a future togethernow.
I can’t tell her all of that, though. It would surely scare her away.
So I tell her a portion of the truth.
“My family has been on my case about being almost thirty and single. If I get married, then maybe they’ll leave me be. Plus, then I can get out of the singles ward and maybeactuallyleave the church instead of feeling like I have to stay to keep the peace.”
She scrunches her nose in the way she always has when she’s confused, and a rush of affection flows through me.
“So your mom can blame me for being a bad influence again? No thanks. I’m sure your parents would rather you marry literally anyone else.”
I grimace at that. I was hoping she’d forgotten about the things my mom said about her when we were in high school.
“It’s been thirteen years. I’m sure she’s over it.” At least, I hope she’s over it. It’d be weird if she still held a grudge with a teenage version of Mack.
