Inseparable: A New Adult Erotic Romance (24 page)

"I know what you mean," he said as she settled in next to her. Reaching out to tuck stray hair behind her ear, he smiled and took a deep breath. "We both know we're going to be together, so it seems a little silly to ask now, but would you like to get married?"

"You can't just ask me that," she exclaimed and pushed his shoulder.

"Why not," he asked, looking genuinely puzzled.

"Where's the second wife ring?" she asked, holding up her bare finger with a mock serious expression on her face. "You've got to get me a bigger rock than Sophie's if you want me to walk down that aisle with you now."

He chuckled and said, "Let's go to your mother's pawn shop. I bet they'll have a nice selection of rings down there."

Julie laughed. "You know none of that means anything to me. I've already got everything I want." She was glad he'd asked, though. It was something she'd always wondered if she would hear someday. "Just you."

"You know I feel the same way, but what about the girls? What about Jackson? What about my Mom and my company insurance and the banks and community property. Forget the sentimental reasons, there are some good practical reasons for us to do it." He was trying to use his male logic, but Julie could see right through him.

"You actually want to get married, don't you?" she whispered in wonder.

"Yeah," he chuckled in embarrassment. "Maybe."

Shaking her head, she had to laugh. "I thought it was the girl who wanted to get married and the guy had to be dragged down the aisle."

"I've always wanted to be married. I thought I was, but just the last couple of months showed me what it's really like. I know it's silly, but I want to marry you."

Outside they heard the girls squealing as they approached the apartment door. Getting up quickly to get dressed, they both walked to the front door to open it while the girls pressed the doorbell like it was a video game controller.

"Welcome back!" Jack said as they dashed inside. They had stained their shirts with fruity colors and had sticky fingers and faces. "And straight back to the bathroom, both of you little monkeys! Use soap this time!"

Sophie came in looking frazzled and Jack smirked. "How'd they do?" he asked.

"I shouldn't have given them candy so close to dinner. They wouldn't eat a thing for me, so we skipped it. I hope that's okay."

"It'll be fine," he said. "We'll take care of them." Sophie glanced at Julie and pressed her lips into a thin line.

When the girls came back, Sophie hugged them with obvious tears in her eyes. "I'll see you girls next weekend, okay? Be good for Daddy and Miss Julie."

"We call her Julie-Mom now," Jen said with a hint of anger.

"Oh," Sophie said, clearly taken aback. She wiped her eyes quickly as she stood. "I see."

Jack had stepped away and when he returned he handed Sophie a folded piece of paper. "Father Williams came back today." She looked puzzled as she opened it up, then paled suddenly. "That's your copy in case you need it in the future."

Sophie had a lost look in her eyes as she glanced between Julie and Jack. "So you're going to..."

"We're discussing it," he said. "I'll let you know."

Moving outside Sophie clutched the paper to her chest and turned to say something, but just shook her head and walked to her black suburban. As she drove off, Julie noticed a red for sale sign taped to the back window and thought, welcome to the real world, you bitch.

After closing the door, Jack and Julie listened to the girls describe all the animals they'd seen all day. By the end of the story, they were still bouncing off the walls, so Julie suggested they go to Bigger Bounce to run off some of their energy.

Julie had been back regularly after she'd resigned to see her friends and let the girls play, so when she and Jack brought the girls in, the staff all treated them like regular princesses.

After they ran off to play, Jack and Julie sat in the adult section as the noise from the air blowers and the scent of disinfectant washed over them. He held her hand, absently rubbing his thumb across its back.

"So are you going to ask me for real, or was the pillow talk all I'm going to get?" Julie asked with a mischievous grin.

Jack looked in her eyes, then glanced around to see if anyone was watching. He got out of his seat and knelt down next to her chair with a wonderfully serious expression on his face.

"I've loved you since that first day when you saved my life. You've stood by me when anyone with sense would have run and are giving me the greatest gift anyone could ever give me. Please make me the happiest man in the world and marry me before you wise up."

Despite her ruthlessly practical outlook on life, making him happy was one of her greatest joys. He wanted this so badly it shown out of his face, but before she could say yes, Jackson picked that moment to dance the Watusi on her bladder. When she shifted uncomfortably Jack looked a little panicked.

"Jackson is dancing again, so he must approve," she said with a sigh. "I would love to be your wife, but right now I have to hurry and go pee."

Jack chuckled as he helped her to her feet. "Come on, Julie-Mom, I'll walk with you."

"I love you, too, you know."

"I know," he said, bumping her gently as they walked. "But it's still nice to hear it sometimes."