Juicy Rebound (IceCats 1)

Marry me?

Why would he want to marry me?

“They probably think I’m weak.”

“They don’t,” he insists, coming close but not touching me. “They love you, and they know I love you. They were coming at me like I was rushing into this. I told them maybe I am, but my future doesn’t exist unless you’re in it.” He reaches out, taking my hand in his. He laces our fingers, but I don’t look at him. “I had only good intentions when it came to Ryan. I fucked up when it came to my parents, and I’ll own that. But with Ryan, those motives were pure. I wanted him to know that you were important to me.”

“I didn’t want anyone to know. I don’t want them to ruin this.”

He brings my hand up to his lips, kissing the back of my knuckles. “No one can ruin this but us, Am.” I meet his gaze, and his remorse is visible. “Stop worrying about what other people think. Yeah, you’ve had some bad luck, but it’s not like that with me. No matter what anyone says, I’ll only care what you think and say.”

I swallow hard as our gazes stay locked. “Why are you so good?”

He quirks his lips. “Because I have someone to be good for.”

I shake my head. “It’s so hard to stay mad at you.”

He leans in, snaking his arm around my waist and bringing me in close. “Because you love me, and you know I wouldn’t do anything to hurt you.”

I lean my forehead into his nose, but his words of marriage are still playing over and over again in my head. “I guess all that could be right.”

“It is,” he whispers before kissing my forehead. “I’m sorry I told my parents about Drew, but I’m not sorry I told Ryan about us.”

I close my eyes as I slide my hands around his chest to hold him. “They won’t tell anyone?”

“No one,” he promises, and I let out a sigh.

“Did you tell them that nonsense about wanting to marry me?”

He grins against my forehead. “It’s not nonsense.”

I pull back, looking up at him. “Chandler, we haven’t been together that long.”

“And yet, I knew the day I pulled you out of the truck and danced with you on the side of the road.”

My eyes get misty as I shake my head. “I’m not ready for that.”

He nods, his eyes, so dark and light at the same time, burn down into mine as he cups my cheek. “When you are, know I am.”

I don’t know why I’m hit with such a wave of emotion as I gaze up into his eyes. “How can you be so confident? We’ve had failed marriages, and we’ve made mistakes—”

“Because I love you. That alone is all that matters.”

Before I can say anything or even sigh, he captures my mouth with his. He wraps his arms around me, holding me close as mine wrap around him. I’m lost in his kiss, and all I can think about is how much differently this would have gone if he were Drew. The moment I raised my voice, he would have walked away…or hit me.

Chandler didn’t leave. Even when he yelled, he reminded me he loved me.

I have no clue what the hell I’m doing, but I don’t want to do anything ever again unless it involves him.

It’s well past one as I tiptoe through the house, hoping not to wake my mom or Chandler. Ryan and Sofia left around eleven after a wonderful dinner and drinks. I was worried my mom would still be upset with me about going home with Chandler for Thanksgiving, but once everyone was seated around the table, she was all smiles. Everyone got along, and it was great. The conversations were smooth, not forced. Mom was excited to hear about the gym and how wonderful things are between Chandler and me. It was as if time apart wasn’t anything to Ryan and Chandler. They are still the best of friends. Sofia and I fell into chatting like old times, and I didn’t feel out of place or judged.

I’ve never felt more loved in my life.

The only thing missing was my dad.

I head through the kitchen to my dad’s office. No one really comes in here much anymore, and it’s become the home of all our family photo albums. Mom likes to sit in his chair, light a cigar, and look through the albums, feeling like she is with my dad. I’ve caught her doing just that plenty of times.

I kind of want to get something tonight to take home with me. When I push the door open, the musty cigar smell hits me tenfold. I shut the door behind me as I walk inside. The desk is cluttered, just how my dad left it. There is a large box of cigars, a gift from my uncle when we learned my dad was dying for sure. My uncle told my dad he couldn’t die until he finished them.