Paige hurried out of the classroom hoping to avoid her best friend, Dylan
McInnes. She reached her car without seeing him. She had nothing against
Dylan. She loved him to death....and that was the problem. She loved him not
just as a friend, but more, much more. Unfortunately, Dylan didn’t seem to
return the feelings. She just couldn’t take much more of this buddy buddy stuff
going on between her and Dylan.
“Hey, Paige! What’s your hurry?” Called a male voice from across the car.
“I just need to get home.” She answered shortly.
“Hey, honey, what’s the matter?” Dylan asked coming over to lean on her open
window.
“It’s nothing I wish to discuss out in public, Dylan.”
“Fine, how about dinner?” He asked.
“Are you asking me for a date?” She answered turning chocolate brown eyes
to his green ones.
“I don’t know. Do best friends have dates?”
“Well, if you don’t know, then I guess we don’t.” Paige answered turning on
her car. Dylan stepped back and watched as Paige pulled away.
That evening, Paige sat on the couch watching television. She had a soda
and a bowl of popcorn. Her gray cat, Murphy, lay purring on her lap.
As she reached for a handful of popcorn, the doorbell rang. She sighed and
gently pushed Murphy on to the floor. He looked up at her with a sorrowful look
on his sweet, kitty face.
“Sorry, Murph. Gotta answer the door.” She said to the dethroned cat.
Paige opened the door and found herself face to face with Dylan. He was
dressed in a tuxedo and had a huge bunch of beautiful red roses. Paige smiled
and stood aside to let him into the apartment.
“I came hoping that you could forgive for my stupidity.”
“Stupidity?” Paige answered motioning him to sit down. before he did, he
handed her the roses and kissed her on the cheek. His lips lingered for a
moment almost as if they would move to her lips.
“Yes, I went home this afternoon and called my mom. I asked her some
questions and she gave me some answers.” Dylan shifted in his chair.
“Questions and answers, Dylan?” Paige asked quietly.
“You’re not going to make this easy, are you, Paige?” He asked looking at
her with a questioning look.
“I just don’t know what you mean.” She answered keeping her eyes lowered.
“Paige, I have come to the realization that I am deeply in love with you. I
have loved you since we were kids. Being your best friend was the most I had
ever hoped for from you.” Paige was stunned at his words.
“I never knew, Dylan.” Paige answered softly. She stood to her feet and
walked to the front window. She turned and looked out of it for a few minutes
before turning back around.
“I love you too, Dylan.”
Dylan stood to his feet and came over to where she stood. He pulled her
into his arms and kissed her deeply and passionately. Paige melted. Since she
was a teenager she had wanted to feel his arms around her as a lover.
Dylan swung her up in his arms and headed for the bedroom. As he placed her
on the bed, Paige looked up at him with a gentle smile.
“No, Dylan.” She whispered.
“No?” He answered searching her face. “I know you want this as much as I
do.”
“Yes, I do, my love, but we just started this relationship. I don’t want to
jump into making love just because it’s convenient or what everyone else does.
I want our relationship to grow and develop slowly and fully. One day, when I
am ready, I’ll let you know.” Paige said gently caressing his face with gentle
fingers. “I am a virgin, Dylan, and I intend to stay that way until I am
totally and completely committed to you and us.”
“I love and respect you for that, Paige. I guess I will look forward to
making love to you on our wedding night.” Dylan answered leaning down to nibble
her neck.
“Thank you for your honesty, darling.” Dylan stepped back and held out his
hand. Paige took it and he pulled her to his feet. He kissed her and they
walked back to the living room. They sat down on the couch next to each other.
Paige picked up the popcorn bowl and they settled in for the evening. “Is this
your friend, Paige?”
Paige looked over and saw Murphy standing on the arm of the couch staring
speculatively at Dylan. “Yes, this is my other love, Murphy. I‘ve had him
since he was a kitten.”
It was the day of Paige’s college graduation. After the graduation, Dylan
had planned a very romantic evening for the two of them. They would go to
dinner at a fancy restaurant, then he would ask her to marry him.
Paige was excited about graduating. She went over to Dylan’s apartment a
few minutes earlier than she was to be there. She went to knock on the door ,
but saw that it was slightly open. She gently pushed the door open and stepped
inside.
She heard voices from the back of the apartment and went to investigate.
She stopped ion front of the room from where the voices were coming. The door
was ajar and she peeked through. The sight that was before her stunned her and
she pushed open the door. There stood Dylan, her Dylan, kissing another woman
full on the mouth. She gasped in shock and turned. She ran down the hall and
out of the apartment with tears running down her cheeks.
Dylan tried to disentangle himself from the woman’s arms so that he could
stop Paige. He ran to the front door and saw that Paige had already driven
away. He turned with green eyes flashing angrily.
“Why did you have to come here, Deirdre? I broke up with you years ago and
you still insist on hounding me. How dare you kiss me without asking. I don’t
know what I ever saw in you. Now, leave my home before I call the police.”
Hurriedly, the woman left. Dylan grabbed up his keys and headed over to Paige’s
apartment.
He rang the doorbell and was surprised to see a tall dark-haired, young man
standing before him.
“May I help you?” He asked.
“I would like to see Paige, please.” Dylan stated firmly.
“May I tell her who’s wanting to see her?”
“Yes, her boyfriend.”
“Ah, you must be Dylan. I’m Alec. I’m Paige’s older brother. Paige
doesn’t want to see you right now. She is very upset.” Alec paused for a
moment, then spoke. “May I ask what happened that upset her so?”
“You wouldn’t understand.” Dylan sighed turning to leave.
“Hold on, man. I’m married and have three kids. Paige can sometimes be
overly dramatic. Maybe I can help. Come on in and we can talk. Paige is in her
room and not about to come out.” Alec stepped aside so that Dylan could enter
the room. Alec motioned for Dylan to sit and then sat down himself.
Dylan proceeded to explain his side of the story. Alec never interrupted,
but listened intently. At the end of Dylan’s monologue, Alec sat silent for a
moment.
“I see where you’re coming from, Dylan. That was definitely a bad situation
that you got yourself into. It’s not really your fault though. Go on in and
talk to Paige.”
“Are you sure I should?”
“If you don’t do something now, it won’t be able to be fixed.” Slowly,
Dylan got to his feet and walked down the hall to Paige’s room. he gently
knocked on the door. When there was no answer, Dylan opened the door and
stepped inside.
Paige was laying on her bed asleep. She was curled in a ball with Murphy
purring in her arms. Murphy looked up when Dylan entered and meowed gently. He
extricated himself from Paige’s arms and jumped down to rub against Dylan’s
legs. Dylan bent over and scratched the gray cat behind the ears.
“He really likes you, you know.” Dylan looked up at the sound of the soft
voice of his sweetheart. “I am very sorry, Dylan, that I reacted so strongly
before finding out what the situation was.”
“I’m sorry you had to witness such a sight. You see, Paige, that woman was
not in my home by invitation. I love you and only you. She forced herself on
me. Please forgive me.” Dylan explained kneeling down beside her bed.
“Oh, Dylan, of course I forgive you!” Paige whispered sitting up. Dylan
buried his face in her lap. “I love you, Dylan, with all of my heart.”
“Paige, will you marry me?” Dylan asked looking up into her sweet face.
“Dylan?” Paige was stunned. She had not expected this so soon.
“I was going to ask you later tonight, but I want your answer now. I want
you engaged to me before some other guy comes along and tries to claim your
heart.” He answered clasping her hand in his.
“Oh, Dylan! I will marry you!” Paige answered with joy welling up in her
breast.
Dylan sat up next to her on the bed. He pulled a small, velvet box from his
pocket. He opened it and turned it so that Paige could see the ring. She
gasped in amazement. The ring was stunning. It was a round diamond, about half
a carat, with a small round aquamarine gemstone on each side of it. She held
out her hand and Dylan took it in his and kissed her fingers. He pulled the
ring out of the box and slipped it on her the ring finger of her left hand. He
then kissed the finger his ring was on. He looked up at her and leaned
forward. His gentle kiss settled on warm lips that were waiting for his touch.
The kiss deepened and Dylan pulled Paige into his arms. Paige pulled back
slightly back and looked deep into his green eyes.
“Make love to me, Dylan.” She whispered.
“I want to, my precious, but I want our wedding night to be special.” Dylan
answered. His voice warm and tender. “You do understand, don’t you?”
“Yes.” Paige answered with a gentle smile. “I love you, Dylan.”
“.......You may now kiss the bride.”
Dylan turned to Paige in her lovely, satin, wedding gown and lifted the veil
from over her face. He smiled at her then put his arms around her and kissed
her lovingly. Before he let her go, he whispered in her ear. “That is just a
promise of what is to come tonight.?” He stepped back with a grin and the
preacher introduced them as Mr. and Mrs. Dylan McInnes.
The wedding reception was held at a nearby country club. There was dancing,
laughter and fun. The happy couple were toasted over and over. They even had a
honeymoon dance where everyon had a chance to dance with either the bride or
groom for a price. It was nothing that was set, but it was a gift from the
heart to the couple.
Finally, the evening ended and it was time to leave. Everyone gathered
outside and waited for Paige and Dylan to emerge from the ballroom. When they
came out, they stopped at the door and Dylan thanked everyone for coming. They
started walking down between the two rows of friends and family. They climbed
into the limousine and were soon on their way to their hotel.
They quickly checked in and were on their way up to their honeymoon suite.
At the door, the bellboy set the suitcases inside the door. Dylan handed him a
nice tip and excused him. Dylan turned to Paige and swung her up into his
arms. He carried her through the doorway and set her down inside. He turned
her to him and began kissing her deeply and passionately. They finally made it
to the bedroom and undressed each other.
Dylan picked Paige up and placed her on the bed. He lay down next to her
and they consummated their marriage with love, passion and bright hope for the
future.
