At My Wit's End

Ch. 16 The Dress.

Marshall's POV

Monday morning. 7 AM. Today was the day Carly was leaving to head back to New York, 640 miles away from me. She was still asleep, quietly snoring in my arms, wrapped up in my black down comforter. There was just an overwhelming sense of peace as we lay there together, something I hadn't really shared with another person in my entire lifetime. Except maybe with Proof when he was still here, but that was a different kind of peace, I suppose. It's funny how things can change so quickly when you meet someone, especially someone like Carly. I knew my life would never be the same the moment I had laid eyes on her. Her big beautiful smile could put the city that never sleeps to shame. Not only was she fucking gorgeous, she had this big beautiful heart that she wore on her sleeve. It was rare to find someone so incredible who really had the "whole package." Now, what made her fall in love with me? I would never be sure. Carly was so out of my league, but I wasn't going to question it.

Some of Carly's chocolate brown hair had been strewn across her face. I used my free hand to move her hair back from out of her eyes, and kissed her forehead softly. She smelled like peppermint and vanilla, and her porcelain skin was gleaming against the sunlight from the window. I wanted to lie next to her forever, but I also wanted to take my morning jog that I was so used to taking. Dealing with addiction is one of the hardest things to do, but when you have a good support system, and the will to wake up every day and be the person you needed to be, it didn't seem so unattainable. I had a great group of friends, loving and supportive daughters, and now an amazing girlfriend that wanted not only the best for us, but the best for me as well. Typically, an addict will give up one vice for another. My vice had been prescription pills, booze, and any other drugs I could get my hands on. I didn't think I had a problem, and if someone ever tried to tell me that I did, I didn't want to hear it. I wanted that person out of my face as soon as possible, because hearing those words sent me into a blind rage. How dare someone say that I had a fucking problem! Once I got clean, I traded in my pill bottles for running shoes, and that was that. I was addicted to running and getting back into shape. It took me some time to get to that healthy lifestyle and to really make it work, but once I found my groove, all was well. For the longest time, I didn't think anyone could be happy without being on drugs.

I tried my best to move very slightly without waking up Carly. I wanted her to be as comfortable as possible so that maybe she would change her mind about moving to Michigan. But as much as I wanted her here, I knew it was best not to push her about the subject, because I didn't want to freak her out. If short little visits like this was what she wanted, then that's what we were going to do. I wanted things to work between the two of us, so that meant that whatever Carly was comfortable with, I was comfortable with too. I wanted her to want to be here with me on her own terms. This relationship with Carly had probably been one of the most serious relationships I had partook in, besides Kim, only because we had went through so much shit together. Kim didn't deserve all the shit I threw at her, because she had been a wonderful mother to our girls, and I know deep down, she always wanted the best for me. I guess I had to go to that place to get to this one.

My feet quietly hit the floor and I made my way out of the bedroom and into my closet to grab a fresh t-shirt and some basketball shorts so that I could start my day. Carly stirred slightly, but stayed peacefully asleep on her side of the bed when I snuck a quick peek. After a trip to the kitchen and a protein bar, I made my way outside to run a few miles around the property. It felt so damn good to get back into my routine. The rush of adrenaline I got from running was the same rush that I got when I was with Carly. Trying to catch my breath was damn near impossible when she was around. She made me want to keep breathing as hard as I possibly could.

After my 5 miles, I walked back to the house, and inside, saw my brother and Carly sitting on the couch laughing and talking. I totally wasn't expecting Nate to make an appearance, and I hadn't even caught him coming up the driveway. I knew he was in town, but I guess it never dawned on me that he would drop by. They had hit it off just as I had hoped they would.