Chapter 1
'Do you, Servando, take Alexandra to be your lawfully wedded wife, to love and cherish, for better or for worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health, 'till death shall you part?
I do.
And do you, Alexandra, take Servando to be your lawfully wedded husband, to love and cherish, for better or for worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health, 'till death shall you part?
I do.
The rings, please. Servando, as you place the ring on Alexandra's finger, please repeat after me:
I give you this ring to wear as a symbol of my abiding love, my eternal faith, and my undying devotion. It is an outward reminder of our inner unity.
[Servando repeats]
Alexandra, as you place the ring on Servando's finger, please repeat after me:
I give you this ring as a symbol of my abiding love, my eternal faith, and my undying devotion. It is an outward reminder of our inner unity.
[Alex repeats]
By the power vested in me by the state of California, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may now kiss the bride.'
---
I smiled at the memory. Our honeymoon was now over, as we spent 2 weeks in Hawaii, and we had just sat down in our seats on the airplane back to our apartment in Portland.
Although Servando and I had a wonderful time, I found myself missing our, well, my, 2 dogs, Neptune and Peanut. Neptune was an adorable black German Shepard, and Peanut was sweet Corgi.
I say "my dogs" because although Servando got me Neptune for Christmas, he didn't really want a dog, let alone 2. I found Peanut while I was on my morning run. He was sitting alone without a leash or collar near our apartment. I took him to the vet and, after learning that he had been abandoned for a month, I quickly persuaded Servando to let me adopt him.
Even though he let me, Servando isn't a big fan of dogs. He has a cat, a big white fluffball named Angel, and she hates me. Everytime I get near her, she hisses at me and runs off to Serv. I don't mind, though. I've got Peanut and Neptune.
"Whatcha thinkin' about, honey?" A voice interrupted my thoughts.
I turned from the window seat to see Servando looking at me over his magazine.
"Oh, nothing," I replied. I smiled at him and grabbed his hand, then proceeded to gaze out the window.
"I love you," Servando grinned. I looked back at him and replied, "I love you, too."
"Here, go ahead and take a nap, it'll be about 2 hours till we land."
"Ok, thanks, I replied.
I rested my head against his shoulder and drifted off into a much needed slumber.
---
"Wake up, Lex, we landed," Servando whispered. I woke up and quickly realized that he was right, and that we were the last ones on the plane. I bolted up.
"Servando, we have to get off!"
"Lex, calm down, they already know we're on here," Servando chuckled. "I wanted to let you sleep for as long as you could," he added.
I stared at him.
"What?" He asked.
In response I kissed him sweetly on the lips.
"That was sweet of you,"I replied.
We got off the plane and headed to the baggage claim.
"I'm gonna use the restroom, Ill be right back," Servando said. He pecked my cheek and made his way through the crowd. I watched him until he was out of sight. Once he was, I spotted our bags and carried them over to a bench. I pulled out my phone and saw that I had been added to a group chat with my teammates.
Kel- Heyy how was Hawaii? Didya go skinny dipping? ;)
I rolled my eyes. Classic Kelley.
Tobs- How was it? Are you back yet? And wow Kelley
JJ- How was Hawaii?
Kel- You're just jealous, toby
Chens- hush children. Are you back yet?
I chuckled to myself and quickly responded.
Baby Horse- hey guys the plane just landed. No kelley I did not ;)
Tobs- How was it?
Chens- Oh btw Alex I dropped your dogs off already
Baby Horse- ok thanks Lauren
Since Lauren was retired, she had volunteered to feed my dogs. Abby, who was retired as well, said that she would dog sit them, but there was no way she was touching the food.
Arod- Hi Alex!
Moe- You're back!
Baby Horse- it's was fun
Baby Horse- Oh sorry I missed the game last week...... actually I'm not........
Pinoe- ouch!
Syd the kid- hush pinoe how's you and Serv?
Baby Horse- Were good :)
Baby Horse- I see him coming back so I'm gonna go now
Baby Horse- Bye guys see ya later
Tobs- Bye Lex
I put my phone away and stood up when Servando came over.
"Thanks for getting the bags," he smiled.
"No problem," I replied.
He grabbed his bag with one hand and my hand with his other. He led my out the door and towards the car.
---
We pulled up to our apartment and stopped the car. I quickly opened the door and ran up to the front door, leaving Servando to get the bags. Oops. Well, I couldn't wait to see my dogs. I unlocked the front door and called for my dogs.
"Peanut! Neptune!" I called. Nothing.
That's weird, I thought. They always come running when the door opens.
I checked the kitchen. Nothing.
I checked the living room. Nothing.
I checked the laundry room. Nothing.
I checked the guest room. Nothing.
I even checked the bathroom and they weren't there. I didn't even see Angel. Then it struck me.
"Of course, Cheney," I muttered. I race to the end of the hall to the master bedroom.
I opened the door to see Neptune lying on the bed with Peanut by his side. On the bed frame was a banner that said, "Welcome Home!" in Laurens neat handwriting.
Neptune was the first to notice that I entered the room.
He let out a joyful bark and leaped off the bed, followed closely by Peanut.
"Hey, guys!" I smiled. "I missed you!"
Peanut jumped up my legs repeatedly until I picked him up. He wiggled in my arms happily.
Meow.
I stopped. I looked up to see Angel sitting on Servando's dresser giving me a cold stare.
"Uh, hey Angel," I muttered. I opened the door all the way and stepped out of the hall.
"Come on, you guys," I said. I walked down the hall towards the kitchen with Neptune and Peanut walking closely by my side.
The front door opened and Servando walked in with all of our bags.
"Oh sorry Serv," I blushed.
"It's ok," he responded. I knew he was a little hurt that I wanted to see my dogs instead of helping him.
"Angel's in our room," I told him, hoping that that would make him happy. It did.
"Ok ok thanks Lex!" He grinned, racing to the bedroom.
I sighed and pulled my phone out.
Alex- Thank you so much Lauren! That was so sweet!
Lauren- No problem Alex! Glad you made it back safely
Alex- thanks
Lauren- Oh I fed the dogs for you. I tried to feed the cat but she wouldn't let me near her.
Alex- thanks you so much Lauren! And as for the cat, only Servando and Abby can feed her. Idk why :)
Lauren- Oh ok well goodnight
Alex- goodnight Lauren
I walked into the living room and pointed at the dog beds.
"Go lay down," I commanded to my dogs. They obediently went to their beds and laid down.
I walked to the bedroom to see Servando already in his pajamas and laying in bed. Our bags were thrown into the corner and my pajamas we're neatly folded on my bedside table.
"Thanks Serv." I kissed his cheek and put my pajamas on.
I climbed into bed and snuggled closely to him.
"Hey Serv," I whispered.
"Yeah?" He whispered back.
"I'm gonna go out with the gals tomorrow," I told him.
"Ok."
"I love you."
"I love you too," he responded.
Little did I know that there was no truth in that.