Loved By Him - Tattooed Brides

“Did you get everything you needed?” I ask, coming up behind her.

“Not yet. This is just your sisters and stepmom,” she says, causing me to chuckle. I move to take the bags from her.

“Where to now?” I ask, already hating how many people are here. Shopping on Christmas Eve is crazy as hell.

“That sporting goods store over there. I checked with Friday last night after I heard Victor telling his sister he wanted a new baseball glove. He didn’t ask for it for Christmas, so I am in the clear to get it.” I love the way she cares about my family so much.

“I love you,” I tell her causing her to look up at me.

“What?”

“I love you, Madalinn. I can’t explain it, but then again I don’t think you are supposed to try and explain love.”

“I love you too, James. So much. I thought I was going crazy. I thought there was no way that you could feel that way too,” she says throwing her arms around my neck, before kissing me. I can’t wait to get her home and properly celebrate our newly declared love. God, I’ll never get enough of her kisses and I pray that they never stop.

We finish shopping and head home to begin the arduous task of wrapping all the things she bought. I just got everyone gift cards, but she takes them and adds them with her thoughtful gifts and puts both of our names on the tags.

How the hell did I get so lucky?

Chapter 6

Mads

Christmas morning with the Tilson’s was fun. I even had some presents, which I totally wasn’t expecting since I was invited at the last possible hour. The kids are still opening the last few things that are under the tree. Marjorie is refilling everyone’s coffees when Heidi hands me a small wrapped box. I set my mug down on the coffee table,

“What’s this?” I ask her.

“It was nestled in the branches of the tree and it has your name on it,” she says shrugging.

“It doesn’t say who it’s from,” I say smiling at her.

“Maybe it’s from Santa Claus,” she says laughing.

“Well that would be something,” I say flicking her bangs out of her eyes. She gives me a toothless grin, that warms my heart. Suddenly, all I can see is having Jimmy’s babies. About five of them and I’d be a happy camper. Lots of siblings for my babies so they don’t ever have to be as lonely I was.

“Open it, Madalinn. I wanna see it,” she begs so I rip open the paper with enthusiasm.

“Wait,” Jimmy shouts from the doorway between the kitchen and the living room.

“What?” Heidi asks, startled.

“That’s from me, Mads. I didn’t mean for you to open it in front of everyone, but go ahead,” he says smiling at me.

“You sure?” I ask, more than eager to know what’s in this box.

“More than.”

I tear the wrapping paper off like I did when I was a little girl. To say that I am surprised by the red velvet jewelry box is an understatement. I don’t normally wear jewelry. I kept the few the few pieces that my mom had, but I never wear them. A girl in college has no place to wear such finery, in my opinion. When I open it, I am even more surprised. My eyes pop up to his, but he’s down on one knee in front of me.

“Jimmy,” I whisper. He can’t mean this. I mean, we just met, but it feels right.

“I realize how crazy this is might seem, but I love you and I can’t see spending the rest of my life not with you,” he says.

“Jimmy,” I whisper. I can’t seem to think more than that, much less say anything else.

“Marry me, Mads. We’ll make trouble wherever go.” He takes the box from my hands. Without thinking about anything other than I want this, I nod my head.

“Yes,” I say as tears fall down my face. He slides the ring on my finger. “It fits. When did you do this?” I am in awe of this man.

“Yesterday at the mall,” he says before kissing me. His family applauds drawing me back to the present. I have never been happier than I am at this very moment.

We both stand and I hug him again. He spins me around, but suddenly thoughts of the university finding out about our illicit affair has me second guessing all the choices I’ve made in the last three days, though following my heart has been the right thing to do, I know it.

Later, in bed. I remember that we need to discuss how we are going to handle this.

“What about the university? I knew the rules going into this with you, but this? This will be hard to keep secret.” I blurt out. “I mean, I am not good with secrets, they freak me out.”