Page 289 of Devil’s Disciples

“Because, I want to talk to you about some shit, privately. And, privately means privately.”

“It’ll remain between us,” Tito assured me.

While I watched Andy and Abby wander through Goose’s lushly landscaped yard talking, I turned to face Tito. He was a walking dictionary, had received a scholarship to MIT – which he declined – and a genius.

Beyond that, he had a good head on his shoulders.

“I’m going to ask you something,” I explained. “But I don’t want the statistical answer, or the Google response. I can Google shit. I want your opinion, because I respect you.”

“Okay.”

“Abby and I have been seeing each other for two months, basically. We’ve both admitted that we’re in love with each other. I can’t imagine living a day without her, and I want her to fully understand how much she means to me. How soon is too soon to get married?”

“The national average time to date prior to marriage is about three years,” he said.

“Damn it, Tito. I said I wanted to know--”

“But,” he interrupted, raising his hand between us. “I don’t think three years is required to realize you’re in love with that one woman who makes a difference in your life that only she can make.”

“So, you think it’s not too early? Not to get married,” I said. “But to propose marriage.”

“To get engaged?” he asked.

“Yeah. Engaged.”

“An engagement is the promise of marriage. Personally, I don’t see the problem with doing that as soon as you’re certain that the woman in question is that woman. Postponing that marriage to allow a lengthy engagement is probably a good idea. It would allow the two parties to learn each other’s faults and weaknesses, and to build on the relationship. Then, when they’re married, there’s very little that might go wrong.”

“Gives time to plan it and make sure everyone can attend and stuff, too,” I added.

He smiled. “Absolutely.”

I narrowed my gaze. “What?”

“Are you going to ask her?”

“That’s none of your business,” I said.

“You already revealed your cards, Ghost. Personally, I think it’s quite charming. To take a guy like you, who has struggled with relationships for one reason or another, and form him into a loving caring--”

“Stop,” I insisted. “I don’t want to hear it.”

“Hear what?”

“All that wishy-washy shit. I love her. She loves me. I can’t imagine life without her. That’s the beginning and the end of it. Nobody formed me into anything. I finally found the girl that makes a difference in my life, and in my way of looking at love. It’s that simple.”

He shrugged. “Okay.”

“Now, keep you little mouth shut,” I said. “Let’s go mingle.”

He gestured toward the deck. “After you.”

We joined the rest of the men on the deck while the women sat by the fountain that Goose built in the center of the yard. While they discussed decorating ideas, clothing, and makeup, we talked about camshafts, horsepower, and blowjobs.

“She can’t fit much more than the tip in her mouth,” I said. “That’s it.”

“It’s not a blowjob, then,” Cash said. “It’s a rim job.”

Baker burst into laughter. “A rim job is when a woman licks your butthole, genius.”