Savior Complex: A Small Town Love Triangle Romance

“Oh yes you are, or we’re never getting to bed tonight.”

“Mr. Winters, is someone getting impatient?” Nina grins up at me, and I can’t help but kiss her smile.

“When it comes to you and getting you alone, always.”

We reach our table, and I tap my knife lightly against the glass. The talking around us quiets to silence, and I wrap my arm around Nina’s waist as I face our family and friends.

“My wife and I would like to thank all of you for joining us as we celebrate our love for each other. We’d like to end this night with a special toast to all of you who are here with us. This past year, Nina and I have both come to understand the importance of family, and what it really means to be a part of these connections, whether by blood or by friendship. Tonight, you all are our family, and we are so grateful for each and every one of you.” I raise my glass, as does Nina, and everyone does the same.

“Before we drink, I want to add to that,” Nina says, “tonight is a celebration of our love. But it’s the love of our parents that brought us here, and their parents before that. Tonight I’d like to add a toast that not only celebrates family, but the love that connects all of us to each other.”

“Here here!” my father calls out, and we drink.

“I have a toast,” Jordy calls out, and again everyone is quiet. Nina and I turn to Jordy, and she holds her glass in front of her.

“In our collective lifetime, I’ve learned that not everything we deem important is meant for us, and not everything that’s meant for us feels important.” She looks down at her glass, pausing before continuing. “I’ve learned that sticking to a set path is not always the right way, but forgiveness always is. Always.” She smiles at both of us. “We’ve had a hell of a year, haven’t we?” I nod, and I feel Nina nodding too. She wipes at her eyes, and I squeeze her waist. “But in the end, knowing it led me to friendship with both of you, and being able to witness your love story without any kind of resentment…” She waves her hand. “Sorry, I’m not talking about that. But you know what I mean. I’m just so happy for the both of you, and grateful to be in your lives. I love you, Nina and Brayden.”

“We love you,” Nina says in a shaky voice.

Everyone drinks again, and I look at my wife.

“If we don’t make our escape now, we might be stuck here all night.”

“I got you,” Steve says, my father sitting next to him. Nina’s dad turns to the crowd and lets out a whistle.

“Everyone say goodnight, the happy couple is leaving the ranch!” Steve yells.

“He does know we’re just going up the road, right?” Nina hisses.

“Shhh, or they might follow us.” We both wave as everyone cheers us on. We get into Nina’s car, a Lexus ES she bought brand new earlier this year when she traded in the Cadillac. Tied to it are beer cans that I recognize as the ones my crew drinks in our off hours.

“Don’t worry, boss, we’ll make sure everything is taken care of while you’re gone,” Jake says, clapping me on the shoulders. The other guys are there, and I grab them all into a group hug. “That’s what I’m afraid of,” I say, but laugh. With my dad here, there’s no way they’ll get into too much trouble. Besides, I trust these guys with my life, let alone my ranch.

“Get out of here,” Jake says, nodding at Nina who’s waiting in the passenger seat.

“I’m trying, but you keep yapping.”

I get in the car and close the door. It is blissfully quiet in the car as we drive away, save for the gravel under the wheels. I take Nina’s hand, resting it on her thigh.

“How are you feeling?” I ask. It’s the first chance we’ve had to really talk tonight.

“I’m tired, but good.” She yawns, leaning her head against the window. Her hand covers her still flat belly. I add my hand to the top of hers, caressing her soft skin, holding our child with her.

“But tired,” I say when she yawns again. We reach our home, and there’s Cherokee, waiting for us on the porch. He gallops down the steps, meeting us as we exit the car. He follows as we enter the house. I set up the coffee, changing the alarm for a few hours early since we have a flight to catch. Then I guide my tired wife up the stairs and into our room. I can tell she’s absolutely drained. I wasn’t around Jordy much in her pregnancy, something I regretted often, but couldn’t change due to circumstances. This time around, I’m studying everything and doing whatever I can to make Nina more comfortable. I’d read that the first trimester can often feel like the hardest because it takes so much energy to grow a baby.

Tonight, I help Nina undress. I unlace the corset of her dress, with all the millions of layers that are both sexy and tedious at the same time. But sex is the furthest thing from my mind as I finish removing my wife’s clothes. I help her to bed, and then when I’m undressed, I turn off the lights and wrap myself around her. She kisses me, then pats my hand.

“I’m sorry,” she apologizes, but I shush her.

“Sugar, holding you on our wedding night is both an honor and privilege. Now go to sleep so tomorrow can come quicker.”

I feel the rumble of her laugh, but soon she falls into heavy breathing. On the floor, Cherokee is lightly snoring. My hand rests on Nina’s belly while my face is nestled in her hair. It’s how we’ve slept almost every night we’ve lived together, so in a way, nothing has changed. Except, everything has changed. Nina is now my wife and the mother of my child—and I’m the luckiest man in the world.

This is the thought I keep as I drift off to sleep, starting my new life as the husband of Nina Winters.