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“No. I’ve talked to her, and she’s fine. I’m more proud of her than anything.”
“Your parents?”
“Not really. Mama’s good and I haven’t heard from Daddy. I tried to call his office like he asked me to, and he had them take a message.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be. I figured this was how it would play out. Can’t miss what you never had. I never had a relationship with him.”
“Then what is it?”
She rolled over, and even in the darkness, I could feel her eyes on me. “Us.”
She’d been kind enough not to bring it up since our argument, but I guess she was over being kind.
“Come with me,” I blurted.
“Come with you?”
“Yeah. They’re sending me to Arizona. It’s not a franchise this time. The company is actually building a huge resort there. I’ll be there for at least a year, maybe longer, and I want you to come with me.”
“Come with you?” she repeated.
“Yeah. I think that’s the best solution. You can still do your videos and rent out the other side of this place and manage it from there. Your sisters can keep watch over it.”
She sat up. A second or two later, the bedside lamp popped on. When she turned to look at me, there was apprehension on her face. “So you want me to move to Arizona with you?”
“Yeah, baby.”
“As your girlfriend?”
I chuckled. “Yes, isn’t that what you are?”
She sighed. “You want me to leave my home and my family while it’s all in disarray and move to Arizona as your girlfriend? What If we break up? What then? I just hop on a plane and come home? Go on with my life?”
I sat up. This was definitely not the reaction I expected. “That’s not going to happen. We won’t break up.”
“You can guarantee that?”
“Yes!”
She stood and crossed her arms over her chest, causing her night shirt to bunch up under her breasts. “I love you, but I’m not doing that.”
I hopped up and stood on my side of the bed. “What?!”
“I’m not moving to Arizona as your girlfriend!”
“Angie, what—” I stopped myself, realizing what was going on. “Ang, you wanna get married? Is that it?”
She dropped her eyes. “I want security. There’s no security in being your girlfriend, Ryan.”
“Baby, I don’t think I’m ready for that. This is my first real relationship. I’m not saying I’ll never propose, but I can’t right now.”
She rubbed her hands up and down her arms. “I’m not trying to pressure you into anything you don’t wanna do, but I’m thirty, Ryan, and this is my third serious relationship. I spent years as someone’s girlfriend—six with one man, five with another—and each time, I was left alone with nothing to show for it. I can’t keep doing the same stupid stuff and ending up alone. You might not be ready, but I am. I’m more than ready.”
I stepped around the bed. “So if I don’t propose, that’s it? We’re over?”
“No! No, I love you Ryan. That hasn’t changed. You’re it for me. I guess we’ll just have to do the long-distance thing for a while.”
