Then, I felt him slowly lowering me down onto solid ground. I let out a sigh and tried to reach for him.
“Garrett, where are you? Stop with this silly silence game and tell me where you are right now.”
“Take off your blindfold, Em,” Garrett said, his voice sounding different.
I couldn’t tell if he was upset or if it was because he hadn’t really talked to me the whole way here.
I reached up and took off the blindfold, but I kept my eyes closed. I wasn’t sure what I was afraid of. Maybe I was nervous. Whatever it was, I stood there with my eyes closed.
“Emma…” Garrett whispered.
I snapped my eyes open. I looked down to see Garrett on one knee…on our quilt…under our tree. My eyes instantly filled with tears as I stared at him while he held a small box in his hands. I quickly looked around at everything. Small bouquets of daisies had been placed all over. Daisy petals and a few rose petals covered the quilt. I brought my hands up to my mouth and attempted to hold back the tears. I looked to the other side of the quilt, and a basket was sitting there. I was instantly taken back to the moment when we had gone on our first date—the picnic where Garrett had given me my first orgasm and when I’d fallen even more in love with him.
I looked down into his eyes, and he smiled so big and beautiful.
“Emma Rose Birk, the first time I saw you in that drugstore, I knew…I knew I would love you for the rest of my life. You captured my heart the moment your beautiful eyes met mine. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve dreamed of this moment along with all the other ones—making you completely mine, making love to you under the stars, marrying you, and living in the house my father built for my mother. I just want to make all your dreams come true, Emma. I want to love you like I’ve never loved anyone. I want to make you laugh. I never, ever want to make you cry because it would destroy me if I hurt you. I want to see your belly swell up with our children. I want to tell you every chance I get how much I love you and how beautiful you are.”
He opened the box, and I wiped the tears from my eyes and face. In a very unladylike fashion, I used the back of my right hand to wipe under my nose.
When my vision finally cleared, I let out a gasp. “Garrett…” I whispered.
“Em, I want to spend the rest of my life with you and only you. I promise to always be faithful to you and to love you and take care of you to the best of my ability. Will you do me the honor of becoming Mrs. Garrett Thomas Mathews?”
I let out a sob and fell to my knees before throwing myself into his body. “Yes! Oh my God, yes! Yes! Garrett, I love you so much.”
I held on to him as tight as I could, and he wrapped his arms around me.
Nothing would ever top this moment. Nothing.
“Thank God,” Garrett barely said.
I couldn’t help but giggle. Now, I knew why he had been so nervous for the last few days.
I pulled back, and he took my left hand in his. Before he took out the ring, he kissed the back of my hand and looked up at me. He smiled, and my heart melted on the spot.
He slipped the ring on my finger, and I got a good look at it. It was beautiful. I had to take in a deep breath as I looked at the most beautiful ring I’d ever seen in my life. It was a round cut diamond surrounded by a halo of diamond accents. Two smaller diamonds on the side led to more accent diamonds that moved down the band. The way the ring sparkled in the sun was amazing.
A sob escaped my throat as I looked up at Garrett. The moment I saw a tear moving down his face, my whole world stopped.
“It’s the most breathtaking ring I’ve ever seen,” I said as I reached up and wiped away his tear.
He slowly took in a breath of air and let it out. “My father designed it. It was my mother’s engagement ring.”
I placed my hand over my mouth and began crying harder.
Garrett pulled me into his arms. “No, Buttercup, please don’t cry. I don’t want you to cry.”
“I’m not crying because I’m sad. I’m crying because I’ve never been so happy in my life. For this to be your mother’s ring just makes it all the more special. I swear, I can feel your father with us at this very moment.”
Garrett pulled me even closer to him, and he just held me. As I kept my face buried in his chest, I was pretty sure I could hear him crying as well. Nothing needed to be said between us. It was almost as if this was a healing process for Garrett. He’d held it together for so long after his father died. I thought it was finally all coming to the surface. If this was where it needed to happen, then I would be here for him. I would always be here for him. I could feel Garrett’s body as he slowly let it all out.
“I miss him so much, Em. I wish he were here, so I could tell him how much I love him, how proud I am of the things he built for my mother and me…for us. He would have loved you so much, Em.”
He began crying again, and I held on to him as tightly as I could. If I could crawl into his body right now, I would. I didn’t say anything. I remembered my father had told me that sometimes, words were not needed to comfort those who had lost so much. Instead, the loving touch of someone who cared would be all the comfort needed.
After a few minutes, Garrett released his hug on me and pulled back. I frantically began kissing his face as if I could kiss away hurt.
He placed his hands on the sides of my face and brought my lips to his. “You’re mine, Emma.” He pulled away and looked into my eyes.
“Yes, I’m yours, Garrett. Please…” I said, knowing he would know I needed to feel his body become one with mine.
“Buttercup…here or home?” he asked me as he searched my face.
As much as I wanted to make love to him right this very second, I wanted him to take me back to our future house.
“Home,” I whispered.
He quickly stood and helped me up before lifting me and carrying me back over to the truck. “Emma, I’m taking you home and making love to you.”
As Garrett opened the door to the truck, I looked back at our quilt and smiled. “Garrett, don’t forget our quilt.”
He placed me on the seat and kissed my forehead. “Never.”
He ran back over and grabbed the basket and the quilt. Then, he reached for one bouquet of daisies. He walked back to the truck, and the smile I saw on his face was one I would never forget. Garrett Thomas Mathews would be forever mine. He handed me the flowers and put the basket in the back of the truck.
He quickly folded up the quilt and gave it to me. “This quilt, I do believe, is our good-luck charm.”
I laughed. “I thought it was our sex quilt.”
Garrett shrugged. “It’s both.”
I’m never, ever getting rid of this quilt.
I walked into the house, carrying Emma in my arms. The next time I did this, she would be my bride. I wanted to run up the steps two at a time, so I could get inside her faster. I kicked open the bedroom door and then shut it with my foot. I didn’t think Billy or Margie would be here anytime soon, but it was better to be safe than sorry.
I walked up to the bed and dropped Emma on it, causing her to let out a laugh.
“Undress yourself, Em,” I said in a seductive voice.
Emma’s smile faded, and she quickly began taking off her clothes. I smiled slightly, knowing that I probably had the sweetest, kindest fiancée in the world, but she sure had a side of her in the bedroom I loved. She was completely nude in less than a minute. She slowly lay back on the bed and began rubbing her legs together. My dick was harder than a rock, and I couldn’t wait to be so far inside her while she screamed out my name.
“Your turn, Mr. Mathews,” she purred.
I stripped out of my clothes faster than I thought I ever had. I reached into my pocket, pulled out three condoms, and threw them onto the bed.
Emma looked at them and laughed. “Feeling lucky tonight?”
I silently prayed I could keep up with Emma as I nodded my head. I slowly lowered my body down and on top of Emm
a. I covered her body in kisses as she let out sweet moan after sweet moan. I loved making her feel good, and hearing her call out my name was one of my favorite things ever. As I kissed her nipple, I moved my hand down and began touching her. She bucked her hips and whimpered as I pushed two fingers inside her. She was always so ready for me. I moved and began teasing her with my tip.
“Garrett…I can’t wait until we are married, and we have nothing between us. I just want to feel you inside me. Please, just once,” Emma said as she wrapped her legs around me.
I closed my eyes and did the one thing I knew I shouldn’t do. I pushed myself into Emma. She arched her back and let out a moan that shot through my whole body.
“Oh…God…” I didn’t move at all. I tried to take in how it felt to be inside her with nothing separating us.
“Garrett…move…please move.”
I shook my head. “I can’t, Em. If I move, I won’t want to stop. This is a dangerous game we’re playing.”
I looked into her eyes, and I knew I would never put our future at risk for just a moment of pleasure. Pure fucking pleasure.
“Just a few times…please.”
I slowly pulled out and pushed myself back into her. “Oh God…”
She made the sweetest sounds.
This time I pushed as far into her as I could possibly get.
“Garrett! Oh God…”
I shook my head and pulled all the way out of her. Cursing the entire time, I quickly reached for the condom and ripped it open. I was about to put it on when Emma sat up.
“Shh…I think someone is in the house,” she said.
I was breathing like I’d just run a damn marathon, for Christ’s sakes. “It’s just Billy and Marg. Don’t worry. They won’t—”
“Garrett? Emma?”
“David?” Emma and I both said at the same time.
Emma busted out laughing and covered her mouth.
“Are y’all upstairs?”
“No. Fucking. Way.” I pulled the covers out from underneath Emma and made her get under them. I looked around, and for some reason, I couldn’t find my damn clothes anywhere. I saw a towel folded up on the chair, so I jumped up and quickly wrapped it around me. I picked up Emma’s suitcase and threw it on top of the bed.
“Ouch!” Emma said.
“Be quiet!”
Just then, I heard the doorknob turning on my bedroom door. “He’s not opening the door,” I whispered.
I quickly ran to the door, but David swung it open, and I ran right into him.
“Garrett?”
“David? Um…Dad? Ah, shit. I don’t really know what to call you right now.”
David looked around the room. “Where is Emma?”
“She’s, um…um…I don’t know. With Margie? I was just getting ready to take a bath, and I…I, um—Jesus, David…do you not know how to knock?”
Billy was walking up the stairs, and he must have heard me because he started laughing. “Dad has a theory, Garrett. Tell him your theory, Dad.”
David smiled and nodded his head. “An unlocked door is an open invitation.”
I nodded my head. “I’ll be sure to remember that, sir. Uh…what are you doing here? Aren’t you supposed to be heading into Austin with Mom?”
“Yes, but she forgot one of her suitcases, so I told her we would come back for it. I heard someone upstairs, so I thought I would see who was here. I thought the guys were camping out downstairs?”
I looked over David’s shoulder, and that bastard best friend of mine was laughing his ass off.
“We are, but my clothes and stuff are up here. Well, let me help you with that suitcase, so y’all can be on your way.” I ushered David out of my room and down the stairs to my mother’s room.
“There it is,” I said as I picked up the suitcase. I handed it to him, and we made our way to the door.
Peggy and Margie busted in through the front door and ran upstairs. Billy came walking down the stairs, and he had the biggest shit-eating grin on his face.
“Now, boys, no parties, no getting crazy, and for the love of God, try to keep your snakes in your pants, please,” David said. He turned and walked out of the house.
When I turned and looked at Billy, I was pretty sure his expression matched mine. Then, all I could hear was screaming.
Billy smiled. “Sounds like they found Emma.”
I rolled my eyes and started making my way back up to my bedroom. I turned and pointed to Billy. “No one takes the master bedroom downstairs.”
Billy made a motion like he was going to throw up. “Agreed.”
I walked into my room, only to have Peggy whistle and tell me to take it off. I gave her a dirty look. I glanced down at the towel and then back up. My eyes caught Emma’s. She looked so happy. She was still under the covers, but she had on one of my T-shirts. Just seeing her in my shirt caused my dick to start getting hard again.
“It’s beautiful. Oh my God, it fits your finger perfectly. You know what that means, don’t you?” Margie asked.
Em shook her head. “No. What does it mean?”
“Oh, Emma Rose, it’s good luck. It means you’re a fit for life.” Margie looked at me and made a face because I was practically naked with only a towel wrapped around my waist. Then, she turned back to Emma. “Nothing will ever come between the two of you.”
“Except for our dad.” Billy let out another laugh and leaned against the doorjamb.
“Okay…y’all have seen it, and you’ve screamed.” I looked at Billy. “You’ve had your laughs. Now, can I get back to my girl, please?”
Peggy stood up. “When the cat’s away, the mice will play.”
Margie let out a yelp and ran into Billy’s arms. “Take me. I’m yours.”
“Ew,” Emma said as she covered her ears.
When Raymond walked up, it was Peggy’s turn to let out a squeal.
“What in the hell is going on here?” He took one look at me in the towel and Emma in the bed. “I take it, we didn’t give you enough time.”
I shook my head. “No, y’all didn’t. Now, get the hell out of my room!” I shouted as I began pushing Billy out. I slammed the door shut.
I started walking toward the bed when Billy called out, “An unlocked door is an open invitation.”
Emma started giggling as I turned around and locked my bedroom door.
When I turned back around, Emma had taken the shirt off, and she was standing at the end of the bed waiting for me with a condom in her hand. I took the towel off and let it drop to the floor. I walked as fast as I could to get to her. I slammed my body against hers and began kissing her. I picked her up and placed her back down on my bed.
“You’re gonna have to be quiet, Buttercup.”
She nodded her head and put her finger up to her lips. I slowly kissed her neck and whispered how much I loved her.
“I’m going to make love to you all night long, Em,” I said against her neck.
“Yes,” she said as she lightly trailed her fingers along my back.
I loved to feel her touch. I loved to touch her. I ran my fingertip along the side of her face, down her chest, around her nipple, down her stomach, and found my way to heaven. As I slipped my fingers inside her, I let out a low moan. I sat up and ripped open the package before sliding the condom down my shaft.
“Garrett, I need to feel you so badly. Please go slow,” Emma whispered.
I began pushing myself in. I moved in and out slowly. Emma’s hands were all over my body as I kissed her neck and chest. I picked up the pace just a little.
“Feels. So. Good,” she said.
I moved myself in a way that I knew she loved, and before I knew it, I was kissing her to muffle out the sounds of her moans of pleasure. When she finally came down, I began moving in and out gradually again.
Emma caught her breath and pulled my head closer to her. She put her lips up next to my ear. “I want you to fuck me harder.”
Oh, holy shit. After two p
umps, I was coming. “Ah…oh shit…I’m coming, Em…oh God,” I whispered.
She smiled from ear to ear. I collapsed on her, and she continued to trail her fingers up and down my back.
“I like it when you just lie here, still inside me. It feels like we are one.”
I lifted myself and smiled at her. “We are one, Em.”
“This evening couldn’t get any better,” Emma said. She leaned up and kissed me.
I was just about to agree when I heard Margie and Billy.
Emma’s eyes grew in horror as we heard Margie calling out, “Yes! Harder…go faster!”
I jumped up and covered my ears. “Mother of all things good! Oh God, my ears. I’ll never recover from that mental image…ever!” I shouted.
Emma jumped up and quickly began looking for her clothes. She soon gave up and opened one of my drawers. She threw on a pair of my sweatpants that I usually wore to football practice. She reached for a T-shirt and slipped it on. I stumbled back when she turned around.
She just looked at me. “What’s wrong? Oh God, did you hurt yourself or something?”
“Yes! Yes!” Margie called out again.
“No! No!” I yelled as I quickly got dressed. “Jesus, you look amazing in my clothes. Grab the quilt, and let’s go!”
Emma chuckled as she skipped over and grabbed the quilt. She followed me out the door.
As I walked by the bedroom where Margie and Billy were staying, I banged on the door. “Not cool, y’all. So not cool.”
I practically pulled Emma down the stairs and dragged her to the barn. After feeding the horses, we spread the quilt down in the foreman’s office.
We spent the rest of the night talking about all the plans we had for our future together.
It was the best night of my life. Nothing would ever top this night.
May 1961
Garrett spun me around on the dance floor to Elvis’s “Stuck on You.” We both laughed and enjoyed not having to go back to our dorms and study. We’d finally graduated, and we were ready to start our lives together.
He pulled me into his arms and shouted, “Tell me you love me!”
I smiled and shouted back, “I love you, Garrett Mathews!”