Page 25 of Meet Me at the Altar

“I’m a pescatarian,” I confessed.

“Yeah? For how long?”

“Two years. I just wanted a healthier way of eating. Got tired of meat after a while and started putting on weight, and you know that shit ain’t ever been me. So, I switched it up.”

“I tried being vegan for about a month and failed, but had more luck at vegetarian for six months,” she confided, giggling.

“Pescatarian is the way to go.”

“I might give it a go,” she stated, hedging a bit.

“I can prepare you a lot of good meals that will have you never wanting to eat red meat or any other meat again.”

“What kind of husband would you be?” she asked, staring into my eyes.

I didn’t have all the answers, but I knew what was in my heart and what I looked forward to doing for her.

“It’s funny you should ask that because I’ve been asking myself that for a while now. All the examples set around me weren’t any good. You know my father had an entire family that my mother knew nothing about. My stepfather loved my mother, but not enough to love her child unconditionally. I’ve had a few aunts and uncles who were married, and most of them were decent whenever they weren’t fighting and arguing.

“The only real role models that exemplified what marriage should look like are your parents. I grew up next door watching your dad love your mother, treasure his children, and protect his home. He was a hardworking man who sacrificed everything to make sure you all had what you needed to live a good, balanced life, and you all were happy.

“I want to do at least that and so much more, Kalli. Where you’re concerned, I know that I will be generous because my heart doesn’t know how to do anything else. Whatever you want, it’s yours, baby girl. If you choose to continue working, you’ll only work on what you’re passionate about, not because you have to make a living. Your future is secure.

“I’ll be your protector, because that’s all I have ever been with you. I protect what belongs to me, and I protected you when you were my friend, my neighbor, and my heart’s desire. How much more will I protect you when you’re my wife? You will alwayshave my undivided attention when you need me to listen to you because you always have. Remember that summer night when we were laying out in your backyard, and you decided to place your hand over our hearts?”

She laughed. “Yeah, I remember that. That summer I was thirteen, and you were fourteen going on fifteen that fall. I wanted to see if our hearts were in sync. We were always in sync with our thoughts and actions, and I knew that came from our hearts.”

“Do you remember what you said?”

“That we were soulmates, destined to be together forever.”

“Yeah. At the time, I thought you were talking about friendship. It wasn’t until years later, that I realized how deep that ran.”

“Sometimes, as much as we were in sync, Drè, I wondered if you saw my heart. I didn’t understand how you couldn’t see how I felt about you.”

“Because you never told me. You know I always take people at their word.”

“I know. I was afraid.”

“Of what?”

“Rejection. Ridicule. Losing you.”

“Never that,” I replied and brushed my lips against her forehead. I wasn’t sure what I had done to cause her to fear losing me or doubt my feelings and our friendship, but I wanted to remove all doubt. “I struggled through those years without you. In the beginning, I wanted to tuck tail and run back to Georgia every chance I got.”

“What stopped you?”

“You.”

“Me?”

“Yeah. I knew that you deserved the best, including the best version of me. I had to get myself together so that I could giveyou everything you deserve. You didn’t deserve the anger, the bitterness, the confusion, or my wild ass ways. It would have only led to heartbreak.”

“And you still broke my heart anyway.”

The thought that I had hurt her in any way caused me grief. I gripped her chin and tilted her head. Her eyes shone with tears that I wish wouldn’t have appeared. I kissed her nose, eyelids after she closed them, and then the tears on her cheeks before I kissed her deeply. She dropped her fork and wrapped her arms around me and deepened the kiss.

Kalliope was sweet, warm, and soft, and I wanted her in every way. She meant too much to me to rush things, no matter how badly I desired her.