Sanctuary

Two weeks later, I was prepping for my rapist’s trial and so close to seeing his face again. I don’t know where I’d be without Alex at this point who is truly the reason, aside from my amazing friends, why I haven’t fallen to pieces yet. They had me buy proper clothes to wear in court, seeing as I didn’t have many sophisticated outfits in my closet, so did Alex, but not nearly as many as I did. The only positive thing was being able to see him in extra nice clothing which I rarely see him in, but I absolutely love it.

“How are you?” Alex asked.

It was a Tuesday that I had called off and actually the next day because it was the beginning of his trial. We were sitting at home after being at the courthouse, talking about how tomorrow was gonna go.

“Ok, I guess. I see him tomorrow, again and you get to see his ugly fucking face for the first time. I know looks don’t matter in this case because of what he did, but boy, he has absolutely nothing on you.”

He laughed.

“Well, that’s good to know.” he said, kissing my cheek and pulling me toward him.

I smiled and laid my head on his shoulder. All I wanted to do today was to relax as much as I could because I knew how tomorrow was going to be.

“You wanna watch something?” he asked.

“Yeah. Doesn’t matter what.”

“You sure?”

“Yeah.”

Two hours later, I was laying in bed with Alex when I heard my phone vibrate; it was Miranda.

[i]Hey hun. You in the mood to talk?[/i]

I was unsure; I was half asleep and not wanting to get out of my comfy place.

[i]Sure. Call or text?[/i]

[i]Up to you.[/i]

I sighed. I should just call right? She is my best friend after all and tomorrow is a big day. I unraveled from Alex and left the room so I wouldn't disturb my fiancee, then called my bestie.

"Hey, Miranda. What's up?"

"Not much. Just got home. How are you?"

"Okay, all things considered. Alex's been keeping me grounded. Tomorrow's the start of the trial, after all."

"You know, I've always liked that guy of yours."

I laughed and thought of that marriage talk between us girls a few weeks ago.

"This is random, but it's something I've been meaning to ask about."

"What is it?"

"Did you and the others know that Alex was going to propose that day you brought marriage up?"

"We actually did. He asked us if it was alright if he asked for your hand in marriage. We told him that it was more than alright."

I melted.

"When was this?"

"A week before my birthday."

In place of my mom, who I knew he would've asked if things were good between us, he asked my friends who practically my sisters, if he could propose. I was feeling all sorts of emotions, all good emotions, of course.

"Well, isn't he all classy and chivalrous?" she said.

"I need to find me one of those."

I laughed again.

"You will. Trust me. He just hasn't come along yet."

"Well, I'm going to let you go, hun. I'm starving. My stomach won't shut up. I'll see you tomorrow. Love you."

"Love you, too."

-click-

"So, who's this other person you love? Should I be jealous?" Alex asked, smiling.

He came walking into the living room.

"Of course not. It's Miranda."

He nodded.

"I woke up and you weren't there. It made me sad." he said with that puppy dog face I love so much.

He was so fucking adorable.

"Aww..." I said before I kissed him.

"Feel better?"

"Much. Thank you." he said kissing me back afterward.

"Wanna eat something?" I asked, walking into the kitchen.

"Food sounds good."

I shook my head.

"Anything in particular?" I asked again.

He shrugged and looked in the fridge while I looked in the cabinets.

[i]Chef Boyardee Pizza Kit. Bingo.[/i]

"Figured it out."

"What?”

I showed him.

"Perfect."

After we made the dough, we let it sit on the warm oven to let it rise while Alex and I went to watch tv.

“Hey, I need to tell you something I asked Miranda.”

“What is it?”

“Well, that morning after the sleepover I had with the girls, she asked me if we had talked about marriage.”

He raised his eyebrows.

“What did you say?”

“I said no, but that it had crossed my mind. No one’s ever cared for me and loved me the way that he has, so that I truly know he’s the one, but that it was a crazy time to talk about it.”
I blushed and he smiled and kissed me.

“That brings us to me asking if she and the girls knew anything about proposing. She told me that you asked them a week before her birthday if it was alright for you to marry me and they had said it was more than alright.”

It was now his turn to blush.

“I didn’t feel right asking you until I had their approval. Asking your mom was out of the question, so I went right ahead and asked them.”

“They clearly love you, obviously not in the way I do, so that makes me love you and them even more.”

I crawled into his lap and we began kissing; he pulled me further into him as we continued to makeout.

“I love you, too.” he said after a few minutes of us kissing.

He laid down and I laid on top of him, burying myself and not wanting to move. I was content yet tired, but things just seemed right and I felt if I moved, everything would fall apart and that’s the last thing I wanted. I just wanted Alex and to not deal with what tomorrow would bring, but I knew it’d be the beginning of the end of a terrible event in my crazy life.

Notes