She had sort of let him off the hook as soon as he’d confided.
“It’s hard for him. His father will never accept this.”
“Like your mother will never accept me.”
Rebekah lowered her eyes. “It’s different.”
“I talked to her on the phone when you didn’t answer your cell.
She was spouting Bible verses at me.”
“Let me guess, the story of Isaac and Rebekah.” She stuffed more salad in her mouth and watched him fidget with the stem of his wineglass.
“Yeah, actually.”
“Did she tell you the reason I got cancer is because I make bad decisions, and God is punishing me?”
“She said that to you?”
She nodded and closed her eyes to hold in emotions suddenly overwhelming her.
Eric reached across the table and squeezed her hand. “She told me she promised God that you would marry Isaac. Otherwise, she seems to think more horrible shit is going to happen to you and Dave.”
Rebekah sighed. “We thought she was better.”
“Better?”
“Yeah, she had a mental breakdown when I was going through chemo. That’s one reason why I depended on Isaac so much. After my treatments, she seemed to recover. I guess the stress is getting to her again. I’ll talk to Dad about it.”
Their entrees arrived before Rebekah had finished her salad. She was grateful Eric had ordered for her. That meant they could get out of here sooner. “Are you sure you want to marry me?” she asked him.
“I’ve got a lot of baggage.”
“It makes you more interesting.”
She laughed. “If that’s what you want to call it.”
“We could do what Brian and Myrna did and skip the engagement.”
“Is that what you want?”
“I don’t know. I never thought much about getting married until a couple months ago, when Sinners started falling like dominoes. I figured I’d be the last one standing.”
“Technically, Brian is the only one who’s married. You could be the second to fall if you want.” She winked.
“Don’t you want the huge ceremony and the big dress and the pile of Crock-Pots?”
“You mean crackpots.”
“Crackpots?”
“Otherwise known as my crazy family.”
He laughed and some of the tension drained from his body.
Apparently, her mother got under his skin too. Another thing they had in common. “I’ll do whatever you want, Reb. I don’t want to make you feel like you’re missing out on anything.”
“I want to do something unusual,” she said, her heart thudding with excitement.
“Like what?”
“I don’t know yet. Let me think about it. We’ll brainstorm.
Come up with something really fun and unique.”
He grinned. “I love you, you know that?”
“Yeah, I know. That’s why you’re going to let me pretend to be Isaac’s girlfriend at a party next week.” She was picking up on Eric’s uncanny ability to change the subject without missing a beat.
“What?”
“No matter when we decide to get married, I still want the engagement ring. So don’t think you’re getting out of that,” she said, trying to keep him unbalanced. “Hurry up and eat.”
“What party, Rebekah? I thought Isaac was gay. Why would he—”
“Pretend,” she said. “It’s just a favor. Nothing more. He’s not ready to come out publicly yet.”
“But—”
“Let’s play cops and robbers when we get home. You can pretend I’m a jewel thief and handcuff me. Show me your long arm of the law until I confess to crimes I never committed.”
“Stop changing the subject.”
She laughed. “Disorienting, isn’t it? Do you have handcuffs at home, or do we need to stop by Bonds-R-Us?”
He dropped his fork and grinned. “It’s definitely time for another pit stop. Maybe we’ll pick up a deep sea diver outfit for you to wear.”
He nonchalantly took a sip of water, while he watched her closely.
She contemplated the idea, knowing he was trying to find out what she, Trey, and Isaac had really been doing in Isaac’s apartment.
After a moment, she shook her head. “I don’t think so. I don’t want to catch crabs.”
Eric laughed and sucked water down his windpipe. He was choking so hard, Rebekah stood to whack him on the back.
“Are you okay?” she asked.
He nodded, still choking. “Jeez, woman,” he gasped between coughs. “I’m the one who’s supposed to crack all the stupid jokes.”
“Sorry. I’ll try to come up with smarter jokes from now on. The stupid ones are all yours.”
“This is why we work,” he said, wiping his mouth with a napkin. “Compromise.”
“I thought it was the great sex.”
Her flippant comment elicited several stares from nearby tables.
“Well, there’s that too,” Eric said.
After dinner, they walked across the parking lot to the mall.
They found the jewelry store, but when they arrived the metal gate was down, and the lights were off.
Rebekah’s heart sank with disappointment. “Closed? How can it be closed? What time is it?”
“It’s after eight,” Eric said.
“Why is it so late?”
Eric lifted his eyebrows.
She made a sound of annoyance. “Of all the days for Isaac to come out of the closet.” She gazed into a display window with longing. Not because she really wanted a ring, but because she wanted the world to see proof that she’d given her heart to Eric.
“These are all too girly anyway,” she said, trying to make herself feel better about having to wait at least another day.
Eric chuckled and wrapped an arm around her back to direct her to the parking lot again.
“There’s probably someplace still open that’s more suitable to brand you as mine,” he whispered into her ear.
“Yeah, a tattoo parlor,” she said with an unladylike snort.
Once the idea took hold, she grew excited. “Eric!” She grabbed his forearm and stopped walking abruptly. “I want your name as my tramp stamp.” She lifted the back of her shirt and pointed to her lower back. “Right there. Your name and music notes on either side.
Maybe some little butterflies.”
“Are you serious, Reb? That’s permanent, you know.”
“I know. You don’t want me to?” She traced a tattoo on his forearm with one finger. It showed a dagger through a skull. It was a beautiful piece of art, but masculine. “Would you rather I get one that matches yours?”
“I would love my name permanently etched on your sexy little back. I could stare at it while…” He lifted her shirt and took a peek at the area in question. “Damn…” he said breathlessly and gave himself a little shake. “Yeah, okay. Let’s go.”
He scooped her into his arms, tossed her over his shoulder, and headed toward his car.
“Right now?”
“Yep. And I’m going to get your name tattooed down the length of my cock.”
“You are not!”
“Yeah, I am.”
She wondered if her name would get bigger when he was hard.
She wondered about something else. “How long does it take for a tattoo to heal?”
“Several weeks.”
“Then you won’t be able to have sex for several weeks.”
“You’re right. Forget that then. Where do you want your name?”
She thought for a moment. What was the sexiest part of Eric’s body, besides his cock? That sweet V-shape at his lower belly that disappeared into the waistband of his underwear. That’s where she wanted her name. Then when he held her back against his belly, their names would press together.
“Put me down,” she said. “Let me show you where I want it.”
He gently set her on her feet, and she lifted his T-shirt in front.