Page 38 of Forever Fallen

“If we are going to tackle this…” Ryan began quietly, sipping on a hot cocoa that he made while Sophie did the dishes instead. “Then we need to focus on building a friendship and a relationship on trust.”

“Agreed.”

“No more pretending in front of my friends…”

“Really?”

“No,” he shook his head in the darkness. “I’d like to get to know the real you – and for you to know me. If we are always wearing a mask, then neither of us really knows the other person. It never felt right lying to my friends anyhow.”

“I’m glad we are going to be ourselves.”

“Do you have any rules for me?” Ryan asked.

“No yelling,” she reminded him. “It’s okay to get mad, but if I am going to be your partner and wife – then don’t attack the one person who’s supposed to be on the same team.”

“One thousand percent agree with that statement.”

“No hitting.”

“Never, Soph… did you think I would…?”

“No!” she squeaked quickly. “Just making sure, full transparency and all…”

“Did your parents…” he began, and she cut him off quickly.

“Yes.”

That single word hung in the air stagnantly between them.

“Never, Sophie. I swear it,” he replied, reaching across the rocking chairs, and taking her hand. “Cocoa, tea, or coffee every night that we are together? We can finish each day relaxed and in-tune as a couple of friends.”

“I would like that,” she smiled, taking a sip of her drink.

“And while we may sleep in separate beds,” Ryan said tightly, his voice hesitant. “I would insist that we kiss each other goodnight and good morning. I will be gone most of the time we are married – but when I am here? I would like an honest relationship with someone I admire and respect.”

“Agreed…” she smiled, looking sideways at him. “That’s really sweet.”

“Full fidelity, too. No cheating. We have to both be committed or there is no reason to try to make it the five years.”

“I wholeheartedly agree with that!” she confirmed approvingly. “You can’t cheat on me, and I would never…”

“I would never either,” he blurted out, looking offended.

“Then it sounds like we’ll be in a dedicated and committed relationship,” she said gently, trying to smooth his ruffled feathers, “… No matter how strangely things started between us.”

“Anything else?” he asked. “I’m sure we’ll want to add stuff along the way, but this is a good base to start with.”

“Laughter,” Sophie said suddenly. “I want things to be good between us and we need to make each other laugh and smile – especially when the other is struggling.”

Ryan looked at her proudly.

“Agreed. I like that rule a lot… and we’ll keep any boo-hooing to a minimum or the other person gets an extra kiss.”

“Hey! I’ve never seen you cry,” she blurted out, knowing that was directed at her, chuckling. She’d done quite a bit of crying over the last few days, and having your world fall apart wasn’t exactly the best start to any new beginning… much less a marriage.

“And never will in front of you,” he bragged easily, looking away towards the street and taking a sip of his cocoa. “Do you agree?”

“If you want a sobbing, sloppy, wet kiss… sure. But if there is crying? The kiss has to be done within a three-minute time period, so you get the full experience of that emotional moment.”

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