Heads

Bret locks his fingers around Charlotte's as she speaks, a form of relief and humility setting in as she accepted him as he was, even with his shortcomings.

Her mention of elopement almost makes him laugh, but as he looks her in the eye, it starts to sink in that it wasn't a joke. An act without caution, yes, but not a joke. And as the words of love are spoken, he simply stares back at her, not even knowing how to respond.

Had he just heard what he thought he had? And was she even serious?

Studying her face for a moment, he sees she is. That look in her eye.... that one of adventure was there, and she wasn't kidding. Elope? Marriage? That thought always brought on a wave of fear. After what had happened with Maria... after everything had fallen apart.... He didn't want to go through that again. He didn't want that pain again.

But... Charlotte was different than Maria. And though Bret had loved Maria, his feelings for Charlotte were different. For Maria, he'd never been willing to change. For Charlotte.... he'd do just about anything.

But marriage? Were they ready for that? Bret wasn't sure if it had been love at first sight or not... but he couldn't deny he had feelings for her, and he knew she had feelings for him too. But love? Was it really love? Or was it mere chemistry? She had just said she loved him... was it true?

Bret's eyes float back and forth between her own, the questions whirling in his mind. He searches deeply, his pulse quickening.... Charlotte had spoken the truth about what she felt. Did he feel the same?

Dropping his gaze, Bret spies a quarter on the coffee table. He reaches down to pick it up, letting it rotate in his fingers. "Heads we stay, keep things as they are, and I deal with those guys as it comes... Tails we go to Vegas."

The quarter is tossed. It flies into the air, flipping around, around, around. It hits the table, only to be covered up by Bret's hand, pressing down on top of it.

Bret holds his breath and stares at the hidden future. Finally he lifts his palm.

Heads.

He stares at it, his pulse still racing. The words from his mouth surprise even himself. He was absolutely nuts. There was no logic behind this at all. But he wasn't going to stop living. Not again.

"No."

He turns his head back to Charlotte. "I'm deciding my own fate this time. We're getting out of here tonight and going to Vegas... Because I love you too, and I want to spend the rest of my life with you."

His hand reaches out to cradle the side of her face. "I'm tired of being alone... and you're the only one that I want to be with."