'Standing By' (Book 1)

Twenty-Eight

MITCH

I woke up early and rolled over to lay on Scott's chest before I showered. He was still asleep but I didn't care. I wanted to feel his heartbeat against my ear as I lay in his warmth. "Mitchie."

"Yes, Scotty?"

"Why are you awake so early?"

"I don't know. I couldn't go back to sleep. I wanted to lay here for a minute though."

"I see."

I got off his chest and propped myself up with my elbow, looking at Scott. "What?"

"Nothing. I just like looking at you."

"Aw. I love you, husband." That will never get old.

"I love you too, husband." I started to get up and Scott grabbed my arm.

"Can I shower with you?"

"You don't have to ask anymore, silly. We're husbands. I expect it."

"Awesome!" He kissed me softly and then jumped up off the bed, went to the bathroom and stripped naked.

I waited a little bit to take off my clothes. Scott went to get in the shower and stopped. "What're you doing?"

"Waiting for you to get in so I can."

"Why don't you take off your clothes?"

"I can wait."

"Mitch..."

"Fine." I started to take off my shirt, and felt uncomfortable with Scott staring at me. "Can you not stare at me? Please."

"Mitch. I don't understand."

"You don't understand what?"

"Why the hell you do this?"

"Do what?"

"You get self-conscious and insecure around me when you're not fully clothed. It bothers me cuz I feel like you don't think I truly love you."

"I don't understand how you can!"

"Then why would I propose to you?! Why would I marry you if I didn't love you, Mitch?!"

"I-I don't know."

"Exactly! Will you just believe me?? I love you more than anything. Can't you see that?!"

"I do."

"Yeah." He got in the shower and I put my shirt back on all the way and walked out. I grabbed my keys and drove to Kirstie's.

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I got to Kirstie's and knocked on the door. I heard light footsteps, "Coming!"

I stood there waiting for her to unlock the door.

"Hi Mitchie. What's up?"

"Scott and I are, having issues."

"First fight as a married couple, huh?"

"More like first fight ever."

"Ever? What was it about? Oh, sorry. Come in." She told me when she realized I was standing out in the hall still. I went to her living room and sat down on her couch. She sat next to me.

"Scott gets mad at me when I get insecure around him. Today, we went to get in the shower and I didn't wanna take my clothes off in front of him." I held my head down. I felt like crying but I didn't really want to.

"Mitch, I think you need to explain to Scott that you can't help how you feel. If you feel insecure around him, then that's how you feel."

"He doesn't see it like that. He says I don't think he truly loves me."

"Do you?"

"Huh?"

"Do you believe he truly loves you? Or..."

"I don't know. I know he loves me, otherwise he wouldn't have done that big proposal, or married me. It's just that I don't love myself, so I cant expect anyone else to love me. Ya know?"

"I get it. But, maybe you should learn to love yourself. There's absolutely no reason why you should be the slightest bit insecure, but if that's how you feel then okay."

"I just don't wanna go back to the apartment and have to tell him all that. He'll be mad at me."

"No he won't. Scott loves you more than anything, Mitchie, and he'll understand that that's just how you feel. Now, go and talk to your husband."

"I will." I left Kirstie's apartment and drove back to mine.

Scott was sitting on the couch.

When I walked in the living room he looked up at me with tears streaming down his face. He stood up and hugged me tight.