See Her (Turn it Up #1)

Chapter 24

24

MAYZIE

“ Q uit looking at that map,” Jack teases with a smirk from the driver’s seat, making his dimple pop.

I give an eye roll, setting my phone down and pulling at a maverick strand of hair that blows in my face from the window I have cracked to let in the country breeze.

“How are we supposed to find a place to go then?”

“Who cares?” He shrugs, and glances over at me from behind his aviators. “That’s the point of today – no directions, no agendas. If it ends up just being a really long relaxing drive, so be it.”

The last week and a half or so has been so hectic for Jack with the song recording, filming the video, and his shifts at the bar. He called me last night from work with the idea of getting away for a day. No plans or specific destination; just drive and visit any random town we come upon. Apparently his dad used to do it with his mom, and he vouched that it’s both relaxing and fun.

So far, we’re loving being on the road on this mild September day, with the sun shining through the windshield as if it’s presenting the open road just for us. The motorcycle would have been great but a little cold, and with the truck, we were able to bring the dogs who are enjoying taking turns sticking their noses out the back window of the covered flatbed .

After just about an hour and a half of driving, we exit off the interstate and follow the signs to a town called Applebrook, pretty much just because I thought it had a cute name. We drive through the main drag, which doesn't take long as this town is tiny, but so charming. There are little cafes, antique shops, and an old fashioned ice cream parlor. The street has plenty of trees in between, and I also notice a few buildings like a town hall and a church that are extremely old, but well taken care of. I love when old buildings are kept around, giving a town an historic feel, along with some character. We find a place under the trees near the end of the street to park the truck, leaving each dog a bone and lowering the windows.

We spend about an hour strolling and checking out antique stores, gift shops, and having an outdoor lunch at a corner bistro.

When Jack makes small talk with our waiter, he asks if there are any parts of town we should see that we missed, and he suggests a park at the end of the street that has wooded trails and a hilltop with a view of the town.

We thank him when we leave, heading down the sidewalk towards the truck. Once we get Trooper and Penny out, we walk in the direction the waiter told us, the dogs pulling us along, grateful for the exercise. Our server wasn't lying; it's a beautiful park. We reach it within five minutes of walking and let ourselves in through an old gate, unleashing the dogs to let them gallivant around as we explore the trails. There are beautiful trees all around, and we even come across a tiny wooden bridge built over a stream. We make sure to take pictures here and there, because this day is turning out to be so memorable. It's not like we're doing much besides enjoying each other and our surroundings, but it seems so special and intimate, like one of those days we'll always reminisce on.

We keep walking, switching from talking about everything, to comfortable silence, to talking again, until the trees open up to the field the waiter was talking about. It's pretty wide and full of tall grass, and sure enough, there’s a hill, although it isn't huge. We dec ide to walk up to the top, just to see what the view really is like. It's easy enough to trek as there isn’t much of an incline. The dogs beat us to the top, of course, their energy having no end in sight. They continue to sniff, explore, and chase each other as we reach the top. From there, we can't really see the town or even the tops of the trees, but if we look straight out from where we walked, there is more field, with more tall grass and a few red and blue wildflowers sprinkled in. In the afternoon sun, the grass glows a hazy yellow that I think makes it look pretty and peaceful, the slight breeze up here blowing the blades around like waves.

Jack removes his sunglasses to store them in his jacket pocket as I find a stick and throw it to one side of the hill for the dogs to chase, a laugh bubbling out of me when they go tearing after it together like maniacs. I laugh even harder when they both come plodding back up the hill, each chomping on an end of it. I turn to Jack to see if his reaction is as amused as mine, and find him staring at me, his thumbs hooked in the pockets of his black jeans, seemingly taking no notice of our canines.

“What?” I give a light giggle.

Jack gives a small smile as he shrugs a shoulder, something sentimental casting over his dark blues. “I’m just…” he lets out a breath that’s audibly shaky, like there’s something heavy underneath. “I’m just so fucking in love with you in this moment.”

The sentiment in his eyes seems to rock me even more than his sweet words.

“Just in this moment?” I tease as I step a little closer to him.

“Every moment of every day,” he clarifies, helping me close the distance before grumbling “Smartass,” down at me. His face still holds so much pensiveness I’m not used to seeing there, and my inner radar is picking up a muted frequency.

“I’m in love with you too, you know.” I smile lazily up at him, resting my hands on his waist.

“Yeah,” he confirms back down at me, his hands coming up to rest on my arms.

“So why do you look scared?” My smile falls .

“I guess I am a little scared,” he admits, busying his hands with smoothing my hair off my face that the breeze has blown around.

“Why?” The word comes out squeakier than I mean it to. I thought we were past this.

“I was thinking…” he starts, “how much I loved waking up with you after that first night we spent together, and how amazing it was to come home to you after going to New York. In fact, it’s all I can seem to think about now, and I’m wondering how you feel about it. Do you ever think about spending every night and every morning with me?”

Oh my God… is this going where I think it is?

“Yeah,” I try telling him honestly, but it comes out on a weak breath. “What… are you saying you want to live together?” I try to relax the scrunched space between my brows. I’d love to live with Jack, it’s just so soon.

"No. I want to marry you, Maze."

And then he says that.

A huge gasp comes up my throat. My heart starts pounding in my ears as I try to get a grip and figure out if he really just said that. The air is quickly leaving my lungs, and I can't find any words.

"Jack..." is all I can manage, and then he drops down to one knee. Okay, so he really did just say that. My hands cover my mouth as I look up at the sky, my new focus being trying not to pass out. Is this really happening, or am I dreaming? I must be dreaming. Ohmygoshohmygoshohmygosh ...

"Can you stop freaking out and look at me? Look at me, baby, just breathe." Even though Jack's voice sounds like it's coming from a parallel universe, I do as he says. I draw in a big breath, pulling some much–needed air into my lungs, and look down at him. A few strands of hair are in his eyes, but I can see the passion in his stare, and it seems to center me. Barely. He puts his other knee down so that he's kneeling on both and puts his hands on my hips. "Before I met you, I was asleep. I was on autopi lot. When you smiled at me, it gave me a spark. It jump-started me, and it was like I was coming back to life, or coming out of a fog. You started building me up immediately, and you haven't stopped since. I know, more than anything, that my heart belongs to you, and so do I. There's no question. Please marry me, Mayzie. I promise you I'll always protect you, in every way, and show you every day how much I love you." I take a moment to let his words wash over me, seep into my skin, my bones, and my soul. He wants to marry me. He loves me, he wants to get married.I love him so much, and I…

I look down into his eyes and just barely squeak out, "Yes." Oh my God, my heart is in my throat.

"Yes?" he asks, searching my eyes.

"Yes,” I say with firm confidence. I want this, and I want him to know it and not have to question it. Even though I'm still kind of swaying unsteadily, I nod vigorously, looking him in the eye. “Yes.”

He stands quickly, taking my face in his hands and kissing me.It’s warm and soft, deep and long, and I never want to come up for air.When we finally break our lips from each other, I wrap my arms around his neck, just wanting to stay in this moment, drawing it out as long as possible; to take it in completely, and let it consume me.

“Mayzie?” Jack speaks in my ear.

“Yeah?” I answer dreamily from where my head rests on his shoulder.

“I want to do it now.”

Jack

I know, you all think I’m crazy right now, and maybe I am, just a little bit.I am crazy in love with her, and being with her for the re st of my life is something I can’t wait another minute to begin. When I realized that she was the first person I wanted to tell about the label, I knew she was my partner.When I was losing my mind about it and she brought me back to earth without batting an eye, I knew she was a rare soul that my life could no longer be without. I knew the first time I made love with her, like I hadn’t with anyone else before, that I belonged to her, and that there could be nobody else ever again.Before her, the only time I felt alive was when I was playing my heart out on my guitar.All the times in between, I just drifted through life.Now, with her in my life, I’m actually living.She’s a gift that I don’t deserve, but I’ll be damned if I let go of her.She’s laughter, spunk, and compassion, wrapped up in a package that I vow to try every day to deserve.I don’t want to wait; I don’t want to plan.I want it to be her and me, forever – starting right now.

Besides, she’s going crazy right alongside me because she said yes – to forever and to right now.

It took running around this sleepy town for a couple hours and making a few calls, but we’re here at the small church at the end of the main street with a marriage license. We made a stop in a vintage jewelry store and picked out a matching set of bands that we both fell in love with; white gold with an intricate design. We both loved that they had character and history to them, and we knew they were for us.

Maze also ran into a little boutique, insisting on finding something to wear other than her skinny jeans and sweater. While I couldn’t care less, I won’t argue with her wish, especially considering she’s forgoing an actual wedding for me because I’m fucking insane.

“Maze?” I rap my knuckles on the dark wood door of the small bathroom she’s in. “He’s ready for us,” I gently remind her, referring to the neatly dressed minister we met when we arrived.

“Okay, I’m coming out,” she announces. The door swings open and all the breath leaves my lungs when my girl walks out in a w hite lace dress that comes down to just above her knees. It’s simple and classic, and she’s a fucking vision.

Fuck.

All of a sudden, my short-sleeved white button down and black jeans feel like a fucking joke for this moment.

“It was the best one I could find. What do you think?” she asks sweetly, and it takes me a moment to retrieve the air to answer.

“I think I’m the luckiest man alive,” I tell her, reaching out and taking her hand to lead her up a small hallway.

We push through a heavy wooden door that opens to the small chapel lined with dark wood pews, a beautiful stained glass window that takes up the majority of the back wall, and walk up the short aisle, her hand in mine. Paul, the minister, is already waiting for us at the tiny altar that barely has any décor other than a few flower arrangements, although it looks like he and the woman that works at the desk who is serving as our witness, were thoughtful enough to light a few candles. They even let our dogs be part of our extremely private ceremony. Fortunately, they burned all their energy off at the park and are wiped out, quietly piled together under a pew.

“Mr. Krasiniski, Ms. Walker, are you ready?” Paul asks us, eyes smiling behind his wire-rimmed glasses as Bonnie, the woman witnessing for us, beams off to his left. Mayzie and I grin at each other before nodding to him. “Then I’ll have you turn and face each other.” He gestures with both hands, and Mayzie and I shift to do just that, locking eyes and being fully in this moment with each other.

Mayzie’s grey eyes glisten as she discreetly mouths I love you up at me, barely moving her lips. I mouth it back to her and squeeze her hands as Paul does a brief opening about love and commitment. He takes us through the traditional vows, and I grin like an idiot through mine. Mayzie bites her lip like she’s trying to contain her smile, and takes several deep breaths between reciting hers. Then, after pronouncing us husband and wife and giving me permission to kiss Mayzie, I don’t waste a second. I pull her to me and lower my mouth, my lips moving against hers in a kiss that couldn’t be any deeper nor softer at the same time. It’s the kiss of a lifetime, and I finish by lifting Mayzie up while letting out a loud whoop, that echoes off the stone walls.