MANifesting

With one ear, I listened to Dale go on about his construction job, and how happy he was in a position that made him feel incredibly productive.

But I was also listening to Allie positively gush as Cheryl flashed her giant diamond ring. Then my sister-in-law dragged my new girlfriend into the house to show off some furniture.

“So, how are things going with Allie?” Dale asked. “This must be pretty new.”

“Very new. Things are good,” I said, making myself useful by setting out napkins.

“She seems really sweet,” Dale said. “Do you think she’s a keeper?”

I laughed at his use of our father’s old expression. “She definitely could be, but it’s far too early to tell.”

Dale shook his head. “With Cheryl, I knew from our first date that she was the one.”

“Yeah, because she told you so,” I chuckled as lightly as I could. “You’re an obedien

t husband who does what he’s told.”

He nodded, smiling widely. “That I am. And I love every minute of it.”

We’d never discussed his controlling wife before, because it was clear he was completely under her spell.

“You don’t mind working your ass off for your money, and having her spend it?” I couldn’t resist asking.

He just shrugged. “I work, and she’s going to run the house and have our kids. I think it’s a pretty fair deal.”

Nodding, I sipped my beer, not quite able to believe him. We’d been raised to be fiercely independent, and it just didn’t sit right.

Just as I wondered whether I should go in to rescue Allie, the ladies came out with a tray of fruit and cheese.

“Seriously,” Cheryl was saying, “The younger you get married, the better. Every study says that it’s healthier to have kids well before you’re thirty, and you want to be a hot mom, right?”

Allie smiled and nodded, but the second Cheryl turned away, she rolled her eyes at me. The tension that had been building in my stomach began to unclench. I couldn’t imagine anyone thinking about marriage when they hadn’t even been dating a full month.

The thing was, as I looked around the spacious backyard, enjoying food in the sunshine while Cheryl showed off some of their wedding gifts, it really was a pleasant evening. I could definitely imagine living with Allie someday, and having people over for our own big dinners. Someday.

When it was time to leave, I was surprised when Cheryl gave me a friendly hug goodbye. “I’m so happy you’re getting married soon, too,” she whispered in my ear. “She’s a truly nice girl. Lock her down immediately.”

My back teeth ground together as I forced a smile, then rushed Allie into the car. Trying to shake off the creepy, uncomfortable pressure tensing my shoulders, I asked, “Did you have a nice time?”

“Yeah,” she said, turning to show me her dreamy smile. “They have a massive house.”

“Is that the sort of thing you want someday?”

“Mmm...” Her head tilted from side to side, shaking her hair. “The space is nice, but it must have been so expensive. I don’t know. Extra space is just more to clean.”

“I like your space,” I said, entwining our fingers together on her thigh.

“Would you like to come in for tea?”

“Sure.” My foot was instantly a bit heavier on the gas, as her light laugh filled the car.

As soon as we were in her apartment, all I could think of was getting her naked. My lips wandered down her throat as I slid my hands down her back to grab her curvy round ass gently, pinning her to the kitchen wall.

There was a strange crinkle on the left side.

Allie giggled, pulling a folded brochure from her back pocket and throwing it on the counter. The shiny paper caught my eye, as I saw the logo for a jewelry store and a photo of a giant diamond ring.

Swallowing hard, I straightened up. That was the last thing I would have expected from my sweet Allie. To be looking at engagement rings already, and getting a brochure to show me? Was that supposed to be some sort of hint?