| ~ Chapter Thirty-Seven ~ |
| Jeff and Matt were jumping their bikes in the front yard, until Matt saw the girls sitting in chairs on the porch. He drove over to them and turned his bike off. �You ladies decide to watch us?� �No, actually, I wanted to steal you for a little while.� Lexi said. �For what?� Matt asked. �Because I want to spend a little bit of alone time with my boyfriend. Now get off that bike and come with me.� Lexi said matter-of-factly. Matt got off his bike and started to follow Lexi inside, and he said, �Yes Ma�am.� Jeff noticed Matt and Lexi entering the house, so he drove over to Ryann and asked, �What are they up to?� �I don�t know honey, Lexi wanted some alone time with Matt.� Jeff turned off his bike and climbed off from it. �Want to go for a ride up to the pond on the four-wheeler?� �Sure.� Ryann said. Jeff walked his bike over to the side of the house, and got on the four-wheeler. He started it, and motioned for Ryann to come join him. She walked over and got on the back, and Jeff drove up to the pond. Ryann walked out onto the dock, and sat at the end. Jeff sat right behind her and wrapped his arms around her. �I love coming out here with you Ryann.� �I like being out here with you too Jeff. It gives us a chance to talk.� �Well, what is it that you would like to talk about?� �Us, and getting married.� �You haven�t changed your mind, have you?� Jeff asked, looking a little worried. �No, don�t be silly. Of course I want to marry you. I want to be with you forever. Have you thought about how we should get married?� �Personally, I prefer small weddings, but if that isn�t what you want, then we can have a big one. It�s up to you sweetheart.� �Well, that�s the thing. I always dreamed of a huge wedding with all the flowers and people, and bridesmaids and such. But not anymore.� �What changed your mind?� �This is supposed to be our special day, and I don�t want anyone to screw it up. So I say we have a small wedding, just close family and a few friends. And I say we don�t invite anyone until a few days before.� �Why?� �I don�t want Chris to show up. I f he knows when we are going to get married, then he will be there. And I don�t want that.� �Neither do I Ryann. But we can�t keep running from him. We need to stop him from harassing you.� �Jeff, please do this one thing for me. We can do a big wedding after I have the baby, but let�s get married now, and have a small wedding. We can do it right in the back yard. I just love you so much, and I want to make sure that nothing and nobody gets in my way of becoming your wife.� �If that�s what you want, then we will do it.� �I hope you don�t think that I am trying to rush you Jeff.� �I don�t. I just hate to see you live in fear of Chris like you do.� �Everything is going to be ok, once we are married Jeff, I promise.� �I believe you. So when do you want to do it?� �I don�t know.� �You don�t want Chris to find out, right?� �Right.� �So let�s do it next weekend.� �Next weekend?� �That will give you enough time to tell your family and for them to come. My family is already here.� �But I don�t have a dress.� �We are on vacation Ry, you have a whole week to go shopping. You and Lexi can drive up to Raleigh for a day or something.� �Are you sure?� �Yes, I am sure that I want you to be my wife.� �Ok. So who is going to be your best man?� �Well Matt, of course.� �Ok, Lexi is going to be my maid of honor, and we don�t need anyone else. So who do we want to come?� �My dad, of course.� �And my parents, John, Carey, and Jessica.� �What about our friends?� �We can invite a few, but I am not going to invite anybody from back home. Word can spread too easily in that town.� �Ok, if that�s what you want.� �Jeff, thank you so much for doing this for me. I will be forever grateful.� �Honey, I want to marry you, and it doesn�t matter if we have a thousand guests, or it�s just the two of us. All that matters is that we are together.� Jeff leaned in and kissed Ryann. �I love you.� �I love you too Jeff.� The two of them sat out at the dock for a while, planning their quickie wedding. It started getting dark, so they headed back to the house. When they got there, they noticed that Lexi�s Passport was gone. They went inside and found a note from Matt. Hey Guys � Lexi and I decided to go out for dinner and then go see a movie. We'll probably be back late, so don�t wait up. We�ll see the two of you tomorrow. - Matt �They went out, I guess.� Jeff said as he set the note back down on the kitchen table. �Well, what do you want to do?� Ryann asked. �I don�t know. How about we go down to Aberdeen and rent some movies or something. We can spend the night in.� �That sounds good. Let me grab my bag.� Ryann picked up her purse and her keys, and she and Jeff headed out the door. Jeff decided he wanted to drive, but they took Ryann�s Rav4. They drove to Aberdeen and stopped at Hollywood Video to pick up a couple of movies, and then drove back to Cameron. Jeff had popped some popcorn and Ryann grabbed the two of them drinks. Jeff had just started the movie when the phone rang. Jeff grabbed the cordless and answered it. �Hello?� �Hi Jeff. Is Ryann there?� the female voice asked. �Yes, just a second.� Jeff replied, and handed the phone to Ryann. �It�s for you.� Ryann took the phone and said �Hello?� �Hey Ryann.� The girl said. �How are you doing?� �Good. Who is this?� �It�s Jenni.� �Oh, how are you?� �Good. What are you doing home? I thought you were staying in Vermont until Sunday?� �Jeff and I ran into Chris again, and I just couldn�t take it anymore. So we left.� �That sucks. I didn�t even get to say goodbye.� �I�m sorry, we just sort of left at the last minute.� �So I hear congratulations are in order.� �For what?� �Jeff proposed to you! That is so awesome Ryann.� �That�s not all Jenni.� �What else is there?� �I am pregnant.� �Oh my god! That�s awesome Ryann.� �Thanks.� �So when are the two of you getting hitched?� Although she didn�t want to, Ryann lied to her friend. �Probably not until after I have the baby.� �And what about wrestling?� �I can�t wrestle, so I will probably spend time here while Jeff is on the road. I�m not sure. But hey, Jeff and I just started a movie, so can I call you tomorrow?� �Sure, just make sure that you do, ok.� �I will Jenni. Later.� �Later Ry.� Ryann turned the phone off and set it on the coffee table. She leaned into Jeff and started to watch the movie. After an hour into the movie, Ryann was fast asleep. Jeff was still wide-awake, so he grabbed the blanket off the back of the couch and covered his fianc�e. When the movie was over, Jeff got up and turned the television off and carried Ryann to bed. He changed and climbed in with her. He pulled her into his arms and went to sleep. |
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