Dakota got up and put one hand on each of her hips to balance her. “Yes, you are. I’m not going to have you here and constantly be worrying about you.”
She shook her head. “My mom’s not going to agree with this, and neither is yours.”
He just looked down. “My parents agree that it’s the right thing to do.”
But she had him. “But my mom doesn’t.”
He looked at her and shook his head. “No, but it doesn’t matter either. You’re going to be my wife, and that means she won’t have a say once we’re married.”
“But I do.” That was the most comprehensive thought she could come up with.
She heard the front door open behind her, and Dakota looked over her shoulder then behind him. “Why don’t we all go for a ride?”
Considering the two of them seemed to be the entertainment, the other three agreed easily. They were getting in the car when his mom called out, “Tell your sister it’s time to go.”
Hannah was already in the back with Savannah, and with him distracted, she got in the back too, which almost never happened. She heard him say, “She’s going with us. I’ll bring her home later.”
He pulled out, and Cally knew he was angry, but so was she at this point. “What else hasn’t he told me?” she demanded from Hannah.
Hannah looked up to her brother, not sure if she should say anything. Yeah, she got this game.
“Tell me or I’m going to back out right now. No wedding or fancy dresses or anything.”
Hannah looked to Cally, and then her brother, and then back to Cally before admitting, “When we were all talking, he thought it would be best if you stayed with us until you get your own place on the base.”
Cally knew there was more. “And?”
“When our parents didn’t agree with him, he said that he was going to do this and put in for a transfer. Then he explained why he wanted you out of there, and my parents agree that he was right,” Hannah confessed quietly.
Cally just sat back and shook her head. So there was more to this; there was a reason why he was rushing all of this. She just had no clue why. She was so stunned she didn’t know what else to say. “Anything else?”
“We weren’t supposed to tell you until after the wedding. He didn’t want your parents finding out.” Hannah looked ready to run from her brother.
“Why does he want me out of my parent’s house?” she prodded.
Dakota tried to stop her from telling the truth. “Don’t you dare.”
They weren’t in the car ten minutes when he parked and got out. Not sure what else to do, she got out with everyone else and realized they were in town. She didn’t know what to do or why they were there, so she just started walking up the ramp to the boardwalk. She didn’t know why she went down the left side, but she did. She knew they were following her, because this wasn’t over.
At the end of the boardwalk, there were only a few people here and there. Cally sat up on the rail next to the bench. She couldn’t believe what Dakota’s sister had just admitted, but she could believe he had done this behind her back. She could even see him planning all this out to the very last detail. What he had said and done over the past few days was all starting to make sense. She just didn’t get why he would do it, and the only word she could manage without yelling was “Why?”
He stood in front of her and put a hand on either side of her, effectively trapping her. “You really don’t see what happens to you is so wrong. I’ve heard what they say to you, and you just take it. You are always either working or taking care of your baby sister and the only time you go out is when Savannah and I drag you out. And you never complain about anything. You let everyone plan everything for you. I still don’t believe you picked out that dress.”
She looked up at him. “It’s the perfect dress.”
He scoffed. “I’m sure it is. But do you see why I’m doing all of this?”
She just nodded as she looked down, trying to figure this out. She really had no idea why he was doing any of this, because none of this made any sense at all; but for some reason, he seemed to think it was important. To her, it was just her life, a life that she was used to, and she really didn’t care what happened. But to him, it seemed important that she be something more than what she was, and still, she just didn’t get it.
“I know this is a lot to deal with now, but I hope you can see why I’m doing all of this.” She looked up at him, willing him to see the fear she had bottled up. “I promise, you won’t regret this.”
She looked over to Jay and Savannah on the bench. Jay shrugged it off. “If I could get her out of there, I would.”
She didn’t know what to think. He believed all this would rescue her from something. “If things were different, would you still want to get married?” The answer to this meant everything to her, and yet, she had no idea how he would answer.
He put his hand under her chin and made her look at him. “Yes, I would still marry you. We might do things a little slower, but yes, I would have still wanted you to be my wife.”
For some reason, everything fell into place; the rushing around, the shock and speed with which he was moving, and even the reasons why. She loved him for admitting the truth, even if the reason he was doing this still made no sense to her. She looked in his eyes and saw the fear and questions there.
All she could say was, “Okay.” And then she saw his sister looking nervous. “But you can’t blame or punish her for telling me.”
He looked back at Hannah and then to Cally. “Fine.”
Then she smiled and added, “And you have to take me to work now.”
He moaned. “No, I have to leave tomorrow.”
“And I have to work today, so I can save up for that car your sister wants me to take her to school in.” She laughed.
He leaned in and kissed her before relenting, “Fine.”
Cally just jumped down when his arms went around her, and he pulled her into another long, deep, world-shattering kiss. Why was she so helpless when he did this? And why was it that the only thing she wanted was for him to keep going? She wanted him in a way that made no sense to her, and she loved it!
She had to push out with both hands on his chest just to say, “I’m going to be late.”
He reluctantly gave up but held her hand as they started back to the car. They were just about to the ramp when she saw a few friends from school. One was looking dead at her, and she knew she had to get out of there before he decided to come over and start something with her and Dakota. Seth’s friends could get a little pushy and defensive of their own. And after what happened the other night, she knew trouble was coming hard and fast when school started again.
They were getting in the car when she looked back to see him standing a few feet away. She didn’t hesitate as she jumped in and they pulled out. When all this got around school, she was going to have some issues for sure. Then she looked back at Hannah and realized she was going to be in the same school as Cally was, and when she found out the truth, there was going to be so much trouble.
Dakota was going back tomorrow, and the odds that Cally would see her before he left were going to be slim. She had to do something before all of this blew up in her face. So she turned around in the seat and said, “The three of us need to get together this week and hang out and do some planning.” She just hoped this would work.
“Why?” Dakota asked suspiciously.
She looked at him with her best “you wouldn’t get it” look. “We have to plan things out, and if we’re going to sneak around and move and