Marx Girl

“Bridget…” He sighs.

“Please…”

“Fine,” he snaps.

I smile broadly. “I just happen to know a great travel agent.”

He grabs my behind. “Who is also a pain in my ass.”

19

BEN

We walk down the street in New York and Bridget takes my hand in hers and then raises her eyebrow. This is her new thing, to try and hold my hand in public and see how long I can take it. It’s a struggle.

We arrived in New York yesterday afternoon, and then went out on the town last night. We ate, we drank, and we laughed. I haven’t had so much fun with a woman before—ever.

But, today is a different story. Bridget has taken me to every tourist attraction known to man.

I’m trying my best, I really am, and I know she’s trying to cheer me up, but I can’t stand it.

I can’t stand being here without Meika.

Happy Birthday, sis.

Everything that I look at reminds me that she is never going to see it.

That she never got to experience it.

We make our way up the elevator to The Empire State Building and I watch the doors as we wait for them to open.

I often wonder why it was her that was taken and not me. She was so good.

And me… I’m not. I never have been.

How is it fair that I get to live and she doesn’t?

I grip my beautiful Bridget’s hand that bit tighter.

How she loves me, I will never know. She smiles up at me lovingly and my breath catches. She is the most perfect thing that has ever come into my life. Just being with her and having her look at me the way she does is all I I need. I lean down and kiss her softly.

“Thank you,” I whisper.

“For what?”

“For doing all this.” I gesture at our surroundings.

“Anything for my man.” She smiles up at me.

The elevator arrives and we get in and rise to the top. We eventually walk out onto the viewing platform. The lump in my throat becomes unbearable and, as if sensing it, Bridget grips my hand that bit tighter.

We look around and Bridget goes up to a lady who is beside us. “Excuse me, can you take a photo of the two of us, please?”

“Of course.” The kind lady smiles.

God… I fucking hate this.

We pose for the shots, and then Bridget says, “Can you put it on movie now, please, and film us for a moment.”

Huh?

I glance at Bridget.

Her eyes glow up at me and I smile.

“Ben.” She pauses, as if nervous. “I want to give you something else to celebrate on your birthday from here on in.”

I smile down at her “What would that be, Miss Bridget?”

“An anniversary.” She kisses me softly. “Marry me.”

I frown. What the hell? I stare at her, shocked.

What? Is she joking?

That is the last thing that I ever expected to come out of her mouth.

“Ben?” she asks, her voice filled with hope.

I raise my eyebrows in question. Is she for real?

“I’m serious, Ben. Will you marry me?”

I look up at the lady filming with wide eyes, and she shrugs, just as surprised as I am.

“Ben!” Bridget snaps.

“You’re fucking crazy,” I whisper.

“It’s a yes or no answer, Ben.”

I kiss her softly and the people around us all cheer.

“Answer me, goddamn it,” she snaps.

“Bridget…” I pause. “I wanted to ask you,” I whisper

“Yeah, well. You’re too slow. You snooze, you lose, Statham.” She smiles against my lips as she wraps her arms around me.

Oh, God, I love this woman.

“Answer me before I take it back,” she whispers

I wrap her in my arms. “Oh, God, you kill me.” I laugh.

“Today?” She smiles up at me.

I frown down at her. What the hell? “No. Not today, Bridget,” I whisper.

“It has to be today, in a registry office. I want to give myself to you for your birthday.” Her eyes search mine. “Both our families will be with us in spirit.”

I stare at her as the ground moves beneath me and I lose focus. I drop my head to her shoulder. She would actually give up having her family at our wedding because I don’t have mine.

This is too much.

I don’t deserve for her to love me.

Emotion starts to close my chest up.

“We can have another wedding later for our friends.” She smiles softly. “And we don’t even have to tell anyone about this one if you don’t want to.”

My eyes meet hers. “You’re actually serious?” I whisper.

“Ben…” She smiles softly. “This is about us. I want to start our new life together today. No more fights, no more secrets, and no more bullshit. Just you and me. We love each other enough, right? And I know it’s early, but I’m never going to love someone as much as I love you.” She bounces on the spot in excitement, and my heart free-falls from my chest.