A Boy Worth Choosing (The Worthy Series Book 2) Read online

  ***

  “He gave you what?!?” Grady asks, standing over me dumbfounded.

  I push the two hundred pound bar up, exhaling as I feel the burn in my biceps.

  “Man, that’s....” he stands there dumbfounded as I replace the bar on the brace above me, without his assistance.

  “Distracting? Yeah I know.” I say, eyeing him as I sit up and pull an arm across my chest to stretch it.

  “Sorry. But yeah, that’s distracting. So he thinks she’s ready then?”

  I just nod, somewhat haunted by the little black velvet box hidden and locked safely in my gym locker.

  “So when are you going to pop the question?”

  “That’s the million dollar question. I’ve had the ring a grand total of two days and I’m having the hardest time even being around Jessie.” I switch arms and feel the burn on the other side.

  “Well, from what I understand of proposing.” Oh, this should be good. “Timing is everything. It’s like when you’re hunting a deer. You have to wait until you find the right deer, which clearly you have. Then you have to prep your gun, get it in place and get the deer in your sight. You didn’t have to prep anything, of course, Jack took care of all that for you. But just make sure you have the ring with you at all times. Always be prepared…like the Boy Scouts.” I didn’t even know he knew the Boy Scouts existed!

  “Then, when you have the perfect shot.” He aims an imaginary gun towards the wall and pretends to shoot it. “You pull the trigger. That’s when you pop the question.”

  He’s been so serious though his entire explanation that I watch in awe at his ability to be able to spew such nonsensical crap without cracking up himself.

  “You’ve been watching the Outdoor Channel again, haven’t you?” I ask very seriously, just staring in awe at how ridiculous he sounds.

  “It’s very enlightening, really. Apparently you can apply hunting or fishing to just about any life lesson.”

  “Have you ever even tried hunting? Or fishing for that matter?”

  “I went fishing with my Pops once when I was like seven.”

  “Well, that must make you the expert then.” I raise my eyebrows and head into the locker room to shower and change. Grady stops me as I open my locker and grab my shower kit.

  “Listen, I know how long this has been bothering you, but just relax. You obviously still need some more time. Just take each day one at a time and you’ll know when will be the right time. Just because you have the ring, doesn’t mean you have to do it right away.”

  I take one last look at the box in my locker before I lock it back up and head toward the shower.

  “You know, Grady. I do believe that was the most applicable piece of advice you’ve given me. Like, ever.”

  “You’re welcome. I’m a good friend like that.”

  Chapter Eleven

  ~Jessie~

  The abundant April showers that southwest Missouri has been blessed with this year has brought an early batch of May flowers. The tulips along my father’s lengthy driveway radiate pretty pinks and yellows and the small group of hyacinths around the mailbox are the richest blue. The grass is a vibrant green and in need of a cut, much like my hair.

  I find myself twirling a strand of it around my finger as I try to be patient while I’m waiting for Stephen to get to his parents’ house. He has been holed up in meetings and hearings all week, leaving me feeling like I haven’t seen him in ages. We had attempted to make plans throughout the week to do dinner, but court ran late or there were necessary meetings with the client or he was stuck shuffling through documents with his entire team. I was able to catch him Thursday morning by bringing him coffee, but wasn’t able to stay long due to my own demanding list of clients for the day, so our conversation consisted of him complimenting me on how good I looked, me ignoring the fact that he looked exhausted, and him promising a date out of the city today. I know he had to stay back in the city for one last meeting this morning, but his Audi coupe was due down the road any minute now.

  I hear the low rumbling of a car coming down the road and perk up as I see a sleek black car make its way over the horizon. I don’t have to see the four silver interlocking rings on the front to know its him. My heart picks up a beat as I stand in awe, ready to see him. I start to head back in to grab my purse and let Dad know I’m headed to the Cahills, but instead of turning, he drives right past their driveway and pulls into mine. He barely puts the car in park before he jumps out, leaving the car running.

  I meet him half way up the front walk where he picks me up and spins me, hugging me tight.

  “Oh, I’ve missed you,” he tells me as he comes to a stop, setting me down and planting a healthy kiss on my lips. He pulls back just enough for me to see his smile and shimmering green eyes, making me fall for him all over again. “You ready?” he asks, lacing our fingers together.

  “Don’t you need to check in with your parents first?”

  He eyeballs me, knowing I had to have been watching the road for him.

  “Nah. I already told Mom I’d be home late. Let’s go.”

  I run back in the house to grab my purse off the entry table and yell a bye to my dad before running back out and jumping into a sporty black car like a teenage girl on the run.

  We ride with the windows down, letting the wind blow through my hair. I watch him navigate the back roads like a pro. With his shoulders relaxed and a satisfied smile on his face, he reaches over and grabs my hand, kissing each of my knuckles.

  “How was your drive down?” he asks me, pulling me out of my mesmerized state.

  “It was fine. What about yours? How did your meeting go this morning?”

  “Drive was boring without my traveling buddy.” He winks at me and I feel my tummy rumble. “Meeting went fine. The last of the hearings is Monday, and I think we actually have a chance. We finally found the documentation the CEO…” He keeps talking, and I keep listening, sort of.

  I’m totally lost as I watch him. He places my hand on his thigh as he uses that hand to talk. I watch him wave it back and forth like he’s directing a symphony. His face lights up as he explains something about a buried document and how they have spent the last couple of nights trying to locate it and how relieved everyone was to find it last night. He then loses me when he starts using legal jargon, but I watch in awe anyway. I love it when he goes into bigwig lawyer mode.

  “Do you even understand anything I just said?” He smirks at me as he pulls into the Mexican restaurant.

  “I understand that you’re almost done, which means I won’t have to eat alone every night this week.”

  He laughs heartily at me as he climbs out and comes around to open my door for me. He plants a sweet kiss on my lips as I step out of his car and takes my hand, leading me in.

  ***

  “What would you like to do now?” Stephen asks, taking my hand guiding me out of the restaurant. The bell over the door dings as I step out into the cool night. I wait to let Stephen hold the door open for another couple to exit the restaurant. My heart warms as I watch his natural kindness.

  “How about,” I say, stopping as we turn toward his car to run face to face into a someone I wasn’t expecting to see.

  “Jessie!” Jake’s face pales as he takes me in. Then his eyes dart to the hand I’m holding, which incidentally starts squeezing mine tight. Too tight. “Stephen.”

  “Jake.” A muscle in Stephen’s jaw pops. Where there once would have been friendliness and familiarity, there is now a chasm filled with deceit and betrayal.

  Movement behind Jake distracts me, and I suddenly realize the gang has reunited…in a totally awkward way.

  “Hi, Maddy,” I say, noticing with some surprise, my voice is even. I don’t know when I forgave the two of them but I don’t feel the sharp pain I thought I would have at seeing them. In fact, I find myself holding back a laugh.

  Maddy steps out from behind Jake, revealing a very large, round belly. That laugh escapes
and I hear Stephen mutter some profanity I didn’t know he knew as he starts to pull me away. I pull back though.

  “So, looks like congratulations are in order.” There’s a hint of sarcasm in my voice, but I don’t mean to be malicious. Jake winces as if he’s expecting me to unleash on him. Instead, I’m pretty sure I surprise everyone when I pull Maddy into a hug.

  “Seriously. Congratulations,” I tell her, noticing the shock and awe on both Stephen’s and Jake’s faces. I pull back and find that Maddy’s eyes are watering. “Are you happy?” I ask her privately.

  “I am,” she whispers, dabbing at her eyes.

  “Then I’m happy for you too.” I smile at her before turning back to Jake. “Congratulations. You must be very excited.”

  He pulls Maddy to his side and smiles down at her. “I am.”

  I wrap my arm around Stephen’s waist, feeling the heat of his mood rolling off his rigid back. His arm wraps around my shoulder a little too stiffly and I lean into him, letting him know he has nothing to be so upset about.

  “Soooo… You two?” Maddy asks, wagging a finger between us.

  I smile up at Stephen, who is still shooting daggers at Jake. I push my hip into him, forcing him to break eye contact with Jake and look at me. He gives me a curious look, but smiles back.

  “Yes. We’re together,” he says a little too possessively.

  “That’s great, man. Really,” Jake says, watching me.

  “Well, we were just heading out. You guys have a great night.” I say, seeing Stephen needs to get away from Jake before lasers start shooting out of his eyes or something.

  “It was really good to see you,” Maddy says, reaching for another hug. I let her pull me in and I feel in my heart that it is good to see her. I needed this and I think she did too.

  “You too. Congrats again.”

  She smiles as she steps back toward Jake’s reach. Stephen stands immobile on the sidewalk, mixed emotions on his face as he watches Jake and Maddy enter the restaurant. After they have both made their way in, I turn back to him and wrap both arms around his waist, laying my head on his chest, and hold him tightly until I feel him relax. He finally looks down at me, with complete wonder.

  “Are you okay?” he asks quietly.

  “Yeah, actually, I’m great. I think I really needed to see them.” He looks at me curiously. “I didn’t feel anything.”

  “I did.” He sneers.

  “Oh, I couldn’t tell.” I joke. “But you shouldn’t have.”

  “Why? They hurt you. They betrayed you. Hell, Jess, they betrayed both of us.”

  “I know, but… It doesn’t hurt anymore. I thought it would.” I grab the front of his shirt and pull myself closer against him. “But YOU made that go away. You make me so happy that I can forget everything else. Jake. Caleb. I don’t even remember what they did because you eclipse everything. YOU are my world now and nothing else matters.” I say. Now that I’ve actually had an encounter with both Jake and Maddy, I feel the words I’ve just reiterated. There truly is no room in my world for them anymore, just Stephen.

  Peace flows over me as his chest relaxes too. His arms tighten around me and pull me even closer so there is no room between us. His soft lips meet mine with a hunger that is almost embarrassing for being in public. I let him build for a moment but pull back giggling when I realize he’s not going to.

  “Are you okay?” I ask, remembering Mr. Frigid.

  “I am now. You are truly amazing. You know that?”

  “So I’m told.” I wink as I sashay around him and climb into his car.

  ***

  “These pork chops are delicious, Jessie. I must get your recipe,” Mrs. Cahill dotes from across the table.

  “Of course. Thank you,” I say as I rest a hand on Stephen’s bouncing leg.

  He has been antsy all morning, making it incredibly hard for me to focus during Dad’s sermon. Then he drove like a madman to get me home in time to get everything ready for lunch, and nearly dropped the whole baking dish of pork chops before he could even put them in the oven for me. I had to make up a small grocery list of things I really didn’t need to give him something to do. Part of me is concerned that his nerves have something to do with seeing Jake and Maddy last night, but every time I ask him if he is okay, he gives me this ridiculously goofy grin and tells me he’s great.

  “So Stephen, how is the litigation on the Bridgewater case coming?” Mr. Cahill asks, momentarily distracting Stephen and his bouncing leg.

  I try to show interest in the conversation, but I’m more worried about what has Stephen so worried. I replay the whole scene from last night, trying to figure out if something went wrong.

  After we left the restaurant we took a walk downtown, talking about what we would like to do over the summer and places we could visit. We kissed under the bright moon just before midnight as he dropped me off on the back porch. He was already at the church with his parents when Dad and I arrived a little before seven this morning. He was humming when I found him restocking pens in all the classrooms. Humming? He never hums, well except after forbidden kissing at Christmas parties and leaving me alone and in a hot mess.

  “Something wrong with the vegetables?” Dad asks, pulling me out of my trance. I realize he’s not necessarily talking to just me though when his gaze goes to Stephen.

  “No, I’m just so full of those delicious pork chops,” Stephen smiles in my direction.

  Done with our plates, I stand up to clear mine and Stephen’s places. Stephen tries to hand me his plate, but his hands are so shaky that he sends his fork flying to the floor. I see my father give him a curious, yet amused look. I’m beginning to think Dad knows what is bothering Stephen, which of course, only makes me more anxious.

  “Why don’t you two go enjoy this beautiful day we’ve been blessed with,” Dad says laying a hand on Stephen’s shoulder. “We’ll take care of this mess. You kids go on.”

  Janine and Mark both nod in agreement. Before we know it, we’ve been all but kicked out of the house. I do manage to grab a camera with a nearly empty memory card before we leave.

  We load up in the Cahill’s big red farm truck and make our way out to some acreage located near the far end of the Cahill property before Stephen stops and parks the truck. I find the perfect spot of shade and pull my camera out, capturing a few rays of sun as they peek through the green leaves.

  Two birds start chasing each other, flittering from branch to branch. I do my best to catch them in frame, but I only manage to capture some really great pictures of floating pollen. As I look back over them on the screen of my camera, I feel the stubble of Stephen’s chin rest on my bare shoulder.

  “Hey you. Where are you right now?” he says, wrapping an arm around my waist. He looks up where my camera was pointed and sees the specks of pollen and dust floating through the ray of light. He pulls my hair back and away from my neck, kissing me gently. “I love the look you get when you are like this.”

  “Like what?”

  “Like you are seeing all of creation as God would see it. Like a child exploring a great big world. Your innocence to it all is so… beautiful. You’re so beautiful.”

  I turn around and lower my camera so I can see his face. With the way the light is filtering through the leaves, specks of gold glisten off his hair and the green in his eyes shine with an excitement, as if he has a secret that he’s bursting to share. I smile at the thought. I have seen him like this dozens of times growing up, he does have a secret.

  “Ok, out with it.”

  He raises an eyebrow in confusion. “Out with what?”

  “Your secret. You have that…look in your eyes; you’re about to burst. Is that why you’ve been so fidgety lately? Because you have a secret?”

  A slow smile spreads across his handsome face.

  “Stay right here.” He turns back toward the truck, leaving me totally perplexed. He takes something out of the jacket he brought with him and carefully walks back staring a
t his hands, his smile shining brighter by the second.

  Whatever he’s holding is the source of his secret, and now I’m bouncing with excitement to find out what it is. When he gets a few feet away from me, he stops and looks back up at me. He seems completely at ease, as if he’s the happiest person in the world. Compared to his recent activity this was a pleasant change, however now I’ve become the fidgety one.

  “Your father gave this to me and told me I would know when the time to present it to you would be.” He takes a step closer to me and I see a little box in his hands, and my heart starts pounding. “Jessie, you make me so entirely happy. Your contagious smile consumes my every waking moment and dances through each of my dreams. I want to wake up and see your perfect face every day for the rest of my life and I want you to be the last thing I touch each and every night.” He takes two careful steps closer, gets down on one knee before me and opens the tiny black box.

  “Jessie, my love, will you do me the incredible honor of becoming my wife?”

  The ground beneath me had started spinning sometime during his little speech, but the glimmer of the ring in his hand stills my head and anchors me to the ground. I recognize the ring as the one my Momma wore.

  My breath catches, and all of a sudden there are tears streaming down my face. I’m pretty sure it’s her voice I hear reminding me that I have to say yes. I feel my throat relax and air refill my lungs.

  “Yes,” I breathe.

  I’m flying, my heart, mind and body, as I’m holding onto the love of my life swinging me around in a circle, giggling as he squeezes me tight. He stops twirling me around, gazes longingly and lovingly into my eyes and kisses me with such yearning that it’s a miracle that we’re still standing when it ends. He pulls back from our embrace and raises one of those well groomed eyebrows.

  “Are you sure?” he asks, concern lacing his voice.