According to his memory

Chapter 24

CJ Flint

"I'm back!" PrimRose's voice rings through the house and Mike hops up from his place beside me so he can help bring in groceries. I wander into the kitchen to help put away the bag that they are bringing in.

"Oh, let me do that." PrimRose takes away the gallon of milk from my hand. "You're not supposed to carry heavy things." she warns. I stick to putting away the stuff in the pantry and not any drink related groceries.

I look back at the time to see that it is already almost nine o'clock. "We better get to bed. " I say grabbing Mike's hand in mine. "Thank you, you've been the greatest help to us." I thank PrimRose sincerely before going to bed. 

"We're going to bed early." Mike comments suspiciously. "I'm just as excited for round two as you are but I don't really feel comfortable making you scream my name while my mom is in the guest bedroom down the hall."

"We are going to bed early because I want to go Black Friday shopping tomorrow. " I smile at him as his smirk falls from his face.

"Oh." 

"But I'm glad you're excited for round two." I hit his cheek lightly before crawling under the warm covers. I plug in my phone an set it on the bedside table after I set an alarm for four thirty the next morning. Then I feel Mike's arms loop around my waits and pull me to him, it hurts a little but the warmth makes me stay as I fall asleep.

I wake up to the blaring alarm coming from my phone and turn it off. 

"Wakey, wakey." I say in a hushed tone before kissing Mike's cheek.

"Why so early?" He whines.

"We have to get there early or we'll miss out." I explain while throwing on a white blouse and leggings paired with long black boots. Mike follows suit and pulls on one of his newly clean t-shirts and a pair of washed out jeans with his bash boots. 

We step out into the cool morning air before heading to the mall where many cars were already claiming spots. Mike snatched up a spot really close to the front so we were able to get into the store quickly.  It is a full day of shopping at all the different stores and standing in huge lines. Mike even picks out a crib that we can put up in the guest bedroom. 

"Here, come with me." Mike grips my hand with a boyish smile across his face. 

"What are we doing?" I laugh as he drags me through the crowd. 

"I'm getting you a ring." Mike blurts.

"What? Mike you don't have to do that, I know it makes you uncomfortable enough that we are going to get married." I try to stop him from making a mistake. I didn't want him bring bad memories to the front of his mind. 

"CJ, I want to. You aren't just some fling to me. For heaven's sake you're even carrying my child that you didn't even think twice about keeping." Mike stops in front of Jared's and pulls me close to him, a hand where our child is growing contently. "Let me do this for you."

"Mike, I don't know.." I trail off still thinking this is a bad idea.

"Fine, then do it for me. Do it for my mom." Mike stares at me directly into my eyes. "It would make her ecstatic and it would let me show you off to all those unlucky fellas who can't have you."

"OK, fine." I say and he pecks me on my lips before walking into the store.

"Hello, what can I help you with today?" A young man asked from behind the counter.

"We need a ring." Mike giddily said looking down at all the sparkling jewels in the glass container. 

"You sweeping this guy off his feet?" The guy asked me.

"Why yes indeed." I smile.

"Let me know if you ever get rid of him, I'd like a turn." He looks MIke up and down while biting his lips together.

"Jeremy! Get away from these nice people." A woman swatted Jeremy away and apologized for his behavior.

"Can we see that one?" Mike asks pointing to a simple silver band with a small gem being held onto it.

"That's so pretty." I gasp. I have never been one to want things over the top and this little ring was perfectly to my taste. 

"We'll take it." Mike tells the woman but keeps his attention on me, watching my reactions.

Then glass shatters the counter in front of us. Mike grabs my shoulder and takes me to the floor. There are screams that echo off the walls of the store and gunshots are earsplitting though the tall halls of the mall. I look up through the rain of glass to see a group of men grabbing bags from innocent civilians. If they try to hold on, they are shot. Then a man runs in a few counters away from we are laying.

"I love you." I whisper while gripping Mike's shirt tightly.

"I love you. everything is going to be fine, Vodka. I promise." Mike whispers in my ear but I can feel a tear fall on my neck and I know I'm not crying.