Bump and Run (Wide Open #6)

Chapter Thirty-Six

Charlie

I woke up early the day of my wedding, the sounds of Jones’s soft snoring in my ear. He might not have been with me, but this was close enough. We had the rest of our lives to wake tangled together like it was just the two of us left in the world. I smiled at the thought of what Jones was like first thing in the morning. His hair rumpled, hazel eyes blinking as he took in his surroundings. The shy smile that would slowly split his face.

“Charlie?” Jones’s sleepy voice brought me back to the moment. I heard him moving in the bed, the rustling of the blanket.

I grinned even though he couldn’t see me. “Good morning, Bashful.”

“Good morning.” I could tell he was smiling just by the cheerfulness that echoed through the speaker. “We’re getting married soon.”

I hummed. “Not just soon, Jonesy, in a couple of hours. We should probably get up and get ready for our big day.”

“Shoot!” he exclaimed and then I heard what sounded like him falling. “I’m fine,” Jones insisted, and the little giggle that he released did nothing to help my morning wood.

I pictured him wrapped up in the blankets, laughing with bright, shiny eyes. “Did you hurt yourself? ”

“No, baby, I didn’t. But we should probably hang up now.”

“When I see you again, it will be so we can become husbands.”

Jones made soft noise of contentment. “Husbands.”

“Yeah, Bashful, husbands,” I purred into the phone. “I love you.”

“And I love you, too, Charlie. Forever,” Jones assured me.

We reluctantly hung up with one another with more confessions of love and how excited we were to see one another in a matter of hours. I stood under the shower, scrubbing my hair and shaving areas I had never really paid attention to before. A little manscaping, making sure that I looked and smelled good for my soon-to-be husband. Or rather, I would smell like him, since this was Jones’s house, his bodywash and shampoo.

Once I had washed and dried myself, I made sure my hair looked as best as it could. I could have done with a cut, but I didn’t have time for that now. I didn’t think that Jones would care. He seemed to like me just the way I was. I stared at myself in the mirror, my dark eyes shining with a happiness I hadn’t felt in a long time. Not since I walked out of my father’s house and left Jones behind. I didn’t see what he did when he looked at me. I always thought my face was too sharp. Too many angles. Not enough fullness. I hated the mole that Jones seemed to be obsessed with. My lips were too wide, and my chin was too long.

But Jones seemed to love everything about me. Just like I loved everything about him. His blond curls, those shiny hazel eyes, and those crooked teeth. He was beautiful, kind, and way out of my league. He chose me. He wanted me, and I would make sure to keep him for as long as he would let me.

I changed into my briefs, slacks, and a dress shirt with a buzzing in my belly. After today, I would no longer carry around the same name as my father. I would be Mr. Jones Matthews. I smiled at the thought and imagined what it would be like when I introduced my friends back in Boston to Jones.

“This is my husband, Jones.”

“Have you met my husband? This is the love of my life, Jones Matthews.”

“Everyone, this is Jones, my husband.”

I chuckled to myself, then heard my phone ding with a text notification. I expected it to be Jones, but instead, it was from Beverly. Shit.

Bev: Guess where I am?

She had included a photo of herself at Charolotte airport. Double shit.

Bev: Heard we’re having a little party tonight to celebrate our upcoming nuptials.

Charlie : Yeah, that’s not going to happen.

Bev: Duh, I know, but I have to keep the ‘rents happy.

I sent her a photo of myself in my suit and waited for her response.

Bev: Charlie, what are you doing?

Charlie: What I should have done years ago. I’m marrying Jones today. No one is going to stop us from being together .

Bev: Your father is going to have a fit when he finds out. I kind of can’t wait. Please tell me you’re going to drop this on him tonight.

Charlie : Gotta go. I’m getting married soon. Guess I’ll see you tonight. Make sure you have your phone ready to capture the moment.

I silenced my phone, shoved it into my pocket, and headed into the kitchen. Then I had another thought and quickly ordered some flowers to give to Jones when I saw him later. I would pick them up on the way to the courthouse.

***

I caught sight of Jones before he saw me. Dressed in a perfectly fitted suit that framed his shoulders and a green tie, he looked stunning. His curls bounced with each step, and his smile spread across his face. He was laughing at something Ollie said to him, his eyes nearly closed as he threw his head back. Fuck, he was so perfect.

My chest felt tight. My skin was on fire. Headed my way was the man of my dreams. The boy I had fallen so easily for on the beach that first night we met, full of innocence and curiosity. Jones wanted to marry me. He loved me. And I loved him. We were going to spend the rest of our lives together.

I gripped the plastic package containing the boutonnieres I had gotten for us and watched as he finally noticed me. Jones dashed down the hallway, leaving his friend behind, the sounds of his shoes batting against the linoleum, and I swooped him up in my arms. He beamed at me before I crushed our mouths together. Who cared about a silly tradition? I was going to kiss this man every single day as long as he’d have me. He tasted like mint toothpaste and forever. A lifetime of happiness awaited us.

“Hi.” Jones blushed as he beamed up at me, nearly blinding me with his bright smile. It was enough to compete with the sun. No, it was bigger than that. I never wanted this feeling to end. The awe, the butterflies in my stomach, the want in my veins. Jones was it for me.

I cupped his jaw, dragging my thumb over the scruff he hadn’t shaved this morning.

“Hi,” I murmured, and because I could, I kissed him again.

His lips were warm and soft against mine as he melted into me. The way his tongue snaked between my lips, his breath hot against my skin, made a low growl escape my throat.

“Missed you,” Jones whispered, his lips curving up into a smile.

I chuckled. “Missed you more.” I helped him back onto his feet. “You ready to be mine forever, Bashful?”

He nodded. “And ever.”

“I need you to say the words. Are you ready to marry me today?” I asked.

His fingers suddenly tangled in the fabric of my dress shirt, and my right hand gripped his left hip.

He ducked his chin before he glanced back up at me. There was fire in his hazel eyes, a spark that suddenly blazed like an inferno. “You have no idea how ready I am, baby.”

“I love you.” I wanted to shout those words from the rooftop. I wanted to rent out one of those planes that flew over beaches with an advertisement banner and have it read: “Charlie loves Jones”. Cheesy, but I think Jones would like it.

He tucked a wayward curl behind his ear. “I love you, too.”

“That’s good because I’m going to make an honest man out of you today.” I held out the plastic container. “I got you something.”

Jones’s eyes went wide as he stared at the boutonnieres. “You did?”

“Yeah, Bashful. Here.” I popped open the plastic, handed it to him, and then removed one of the boutonnieres. His skin burned pink as I pinned it to his jacket, my fingers shaking slightly. Once it was fastened into the fabric, I gripped the back of his neck. “Perfect.”

Jones smiled and then removed the last one. He neatly pinned it to my jacket, his smile never wavering, and in that moment, I knew I was making the right decision. He reached for my hand and linked our fingers together.

“You two about ready to go get married?” Ollie gave me a quick nod, Kit standing guard at his side.

I looked down at my fiancé and couldn’t stop myself from kissing him again. “I’ve been waiting for this my entire life. I’ve never wanted anything more.”

“It’s really happening.” Jones’s voice was hardly a whisper. “You’re going to be mine, and no one can ever take you away from me. Not ever again.”

I smiled at him. “That’s right, Jonesy. Yours and yours alone. ”

“And I’m yours,” he reminded me, and his eyes outshone the sun.

I leaned down and pressed our foreheads together. “Yeah, you are.”

“Then what are we waiting for? Let’s do this!” Jones exclaimed and then giggled at his own excitement. It was contagious, and I caught the way Ollie looked at Kit, who pretended he didn’t see him.

I brought his hand up to my lips. “Let’s do this.”