Page 24 of To Win a Rebel

“Nothing, it just seems like an interesting costume choice for the two of you.”

“And what did you think we’d go as?” Nate asked.

“I don’t know, but seeing as I saw you eyeing that ring you purchased, I thought it could be as an engaged couple. It will freak out a lot of the single woman and married ones to know the notorious Nate Sinclair is finally settling down.”

He glared over at his friend. “You were not supposed to see that.”

“You’ve gone and bought an engagement ring?” Randy asked.

Nate wiped his hands on a cloth and looked toward his friend. “You don’t think I should?”

“I never said that. I know you have feelings for Molly. Trust me, I knew this day was coming, but when are you going to ask her?”

“You’re not going to talk me out of it?” Nate asked.

Randy held his hands out. “I’d talk you out of having kids right away. Being married to Bethany is a dream come true. I love my wife. I love her more than anything in the world, butsometimes I hate sharing her—even with my own kids—and trust me, that is a hard truth to admit. I love my kids and I love my wife. Being married is fucking awesome.”

Nate couldn’t help but laugh. “You can thank you and Bethany for making me believe Molly and I could make it.” He’d seen how happy his best friends had been together, and knew that was exactly what he wanted as well.

He’d loved Molly a long time.

“I’ve loved her for a long time, man. I’ve watched her go on dates with other men, and the only fucking reason I went out on those nights was to find her. I tried to keep an eye on her, because I didn’t think I fucking deserved her.” And knowing she’d been a virgin, while he’d screwed around, had been a hard pill to swallow.

“I get it, I do. It’s what I thought about with Bethany, before she got pregnant. I knew she could do better than me. But, this is what you’ve got to think about. Yeah, your woman could find a good lawyer, settle down, have a couple of kids … or a cop, or any one of these jobs that brought in more money, or a badge, or whatever the fuck it is, right?”

“Are you going somewhere with this?”

“Yeah, I am, because I had to do this myself. Will they make her smile? Will they pass a florist or even a garage and see a bunch of roses or tulips or daisies and think about that woman you love with all your heart? Will they remember the anniversary, or know they hate carrots chopped in circles, and don’t ask, just know that my woman can’t stand a carrot in a circle. She can deal with any other shape, but not a circle. Will they rub her feet when she has been on them all day, chasing after your kids? Will she be happy with anyone else but you? I looked at Bethany and I knew she could have any guy she wanted, that she didn’t need to settle for me, but I also knew there was no one else in this world that was going to make heras happy as I made her. That is when I knew, no matter what, I would be by Bethany’s side through thick and thin. Trust me. We’ve had some bad times, but many more good times.”

“Molly’s the one.”

“I know,” Randy said. “I’ve never seen you as happy as you are now.”

And with that, his friend patted him on the shoulder and then moved onto the next car, waiting for him to assess it. Randy always insisted on him assessing all the work. That way, it stopped customers from being awkward. They had experienced customers who refused to move their cars until he’d done a once-over. Nate didn’t mind, but it did add to the workload. Randy was just as qualified as him, but his friend didn’t seem to mind being checked over.

“When are you going to ask her?” Randy asked.

“I don’t know. Halloween night? I think that would be special, and then every year, we would get to dress up in matching costumes or something like that. Did you know Molly has never been to a Halloween party?” Nate shook his head. He wanted to make the night enjoyable, special.

“Yeah, I can see that. Your anniversary on Halloween night sounds like an easy date to remember as well.”

Nate paused and glanced at his friend.

Randy burst out laughing. “You didn’t even realize that, did you?”

“No, I didn’t.”

“Keep this up, and work all the dates around an important holiday, and you, my friend, will be the best husband in the world.”

“And if I don’t?”

“Do what I do. Get a diary and write that shit down every year. One of my kids either makes me one or buys me one, so every year on Christmas morning, while Bethany is cooking andI’m watching the kids, I transfer all the dates.”

“Wow,” Nate said.

“Makes me the perfect husband.”

“Yeah, and all you got to do is remember to check your diary.”