How I Met Sheri Pt. 06: Going on Vacation

"Think 'bout his childhood, and how everything was outta his control." Eve began.

I did what Eve said, and I realized she was right. For the first ten years of my life, I had no say in anything. My only goal was to try not to make my parents mad at me, I was constantly walking on eggshells.

"Ok." Sheri said, as she reached for my hand.

"The vast majority of children who's been abused, they'll have an obsession with neatness, and makin' sure everything is in a certain place." Eve said.

"My bedroom was always spotless." I said. Even when I lived with my grandparents, they never had to tell me to clean my room. In fact, I would clean the entire house along with my grandma. I still smile when I think of those memories of her, and I cleaning.

"'Cause it's somethin' YOU had control over, so when someone messes with that part of the world, you take it as a personal insult." Eve said, and I couldn't agree more.

When I seen my closet, and Sheri laughing at me. It wasn't that I was mad at her, it was more like she really hurt my feelings.

I was upset with Sheri at the time, but I was over it in a few hours, and didn't take it personal. I knew she wasn't being malicious, she's not that type of person.

"I really am sorry." Sheri said, with a tear in her eyes.

"Don't be, it was a good prank." I tell her honestly.

"See what I'm livin' with? That's why I'm considered the normal one." Rachel said.

"Um...BOOKSTORE!" Sheri said, which made us all laugh.

On the plane last night, Rachel had a few drinks, and showed everyone what happened that morning at the bookstore. That wasn't the only movie that premiered. Our friends came to the conclusion that not only did Rachel instigate the sex in the gym, but she was also the aggressor.

"I'd love to spend the week living with you guys." Eve the scientist said.

"You just wanna root around in my boys head." Marcus told her.

Eve's told me a few times that she'd love to 'delve into my psyche', and of course there's no way I want that to happen. Even though we do joke around about it, I truly believe Eve is being sincere.

I just prefer to deal with my skeletons the old fashion way. Smoke a lot of weed, and use my trauma as fuel when my back's up against the wall.

"I'd pay HIM to lay on my couch." Eve joked.

"Not afraid to be alone with me?" I asked.

"I still feel bad 'bout that." Eve said apologetically.

I wave her off, there's no reason for Eve to apologize for her feelings.

When Marcus introduced us, Eve was very friendly, and polite with me. She would later admit the she was scared of me, Dave has said the same thing. It wasn't until they got to know me, that they realized I'm not a threat to them or anyone. Unless you're on my shit list, then I'll be out to hurt you.

"Still can't believe that." Rachel laughed.

"It's his persona, he can be kinda intimidating." Eve tried to explain.

"But you're not scared anymore?" Sheri asked.

"Oh god no, he's a gentle soul." Eve told her.

I'm glad to hear that, I don't want people afraid of me. I've been hearing similar things all my life. At some point I might start taking it personal.

Sheri looked at me closely, like she was studying for a test. Christie came back to sit with us, Rachel filled her in on what we were talking about.

"I just don't see it." Sheri said to me.

"Are you expecting a monster to jump out at you?" I laughed.

"You know what I think REALLY messed you up?" Christie said to me.

"There's so many things to choose from." I joked, and spoke the truth.

"That damn Priest at you grandmas funeral." Christie said, and I remember that moment very vividly.

"You think?" I laughed.

"I'm sitting with him, and his grandpa, the priest comes over to say a prayer over him, and puts his hand on Jay's shoulder..." Christie started to tell them.

"Keep in mind, I was a lil' fucked up back then." I tried to explain.

"Oh, he was a very angry kid." Christie said.

"Well that's understandable." Eve said.

"Jay looks at him dead in the eyes, and says 'get your fuckin' hand off me', I Damn near pissed myself from laughing." Christie said.

"Jay, why'd you say that?" Sheri said in a disappointing tone.

"When I was takin' my first communion, and the confessional, I tried to tell him what happened, but..." I trailed off.

I did try to tell the priest, but my parents got into his ear first. I told him my parents were hurting me, but he said it was my fault for not being a better son. Right away he said I was being a 'disappointment to God for not honoring my parents'. In a way, he also shares some of blame of what they did to me.

"He wouldn't listen?" Eve asked, I just nodded my head.

"Babe, I'm so sorry." Sheri said, as they both held my hands.

"He was my grandpa's brother, and probably burning in Hell."

"Did the priest say anything?" Rachel asked.

"He told me I have a 'dark soul to you my son, and I'll pray for you'." I laughed to myself.

"What an asshole." Rachel said.

"Was you grandpa mad at you?" Sheri asked.

It bothers me that my grandpa died not knowing, that his brother could've stopped what happened to me. I don't know why, but I think about that all the time.

"Not at all, if anything he encouraged me to speak my mind like that." I said.

My grandpa was able to get me to channel all my aggression into my obsession of hockey, but I do have a tendency to lose my temper, and let my mouth run away. If someone pisses me off, they're going to hear about it.

"'Cause he was the same way." Christie told me.

If I can be half the man my grandpa was, I'd be able to die a happy person. I thought he was an amazing man, and he'll forever be my hero.

"Don't hate me ok." Sheri said, and I had a feeling what she was going to say.

"Here we go."

"Would you consider Jay an alpha?" Sheri asked Eve, that was my guess.

"Oh my god yes! Jay's an alpha's alpha." Eve answered.

"The fuck?" Marcus asked.

"I'm sorry but it's true." Eve said to him.

"Is that 'cause of his parents?" Sheri asked, and that piqued my curiosity.

I've always wondered a couple things about my personality. Why am I not a psychopath? The other being, how did I become such a great leader on the ice? I've lead teams to multiple state, and National Championships. I was also the Captain of my Junior team won the Memorial Cup.

How does a child who was constantly abused, picked on throughout school, a shy, and weird kid, accomplish all that? I know when I was playing, and focused on hockey, there was nothing that could distract me from my goals. I was able to channel all the negativity, and use it as a 'FUCK YOU' to anyone whoever hurt or doubted me.

"Yes, and no." Eve said. I felt a little exposed with the way she was looking at me.

"Keep goin'." I said. It seemed as if Eve was nervous about how I would react to this.

"Now's your chance to officially declare him crazy." Marcus laughed. He's always calling me that. In no way do I take it to heart, we're hockey players, and we're always busting each other's balls.

"You're a contradiction in so many ways..." Eve began.

"Like most insane people." Marcus interrupted her.

"Since I'm an 'alpha's alpha', in prison would he be my bitch?" I asked Eve, as I point to Marcus.

"He'd put up a fight at first, but his submissive side would win out." Eve laughed. They're both versatile when they have sex. I really don't care what they do, but as his teammate, and good friend, I'll joke about it for as long as we know each other.

"We'll see 'bout that." Marcus said.

"What kinda contradictions?" Sheri asked.

"The kinda abuse he went through, boys usually...that is IF they don't get substance abuse problems..." She said

"This count?" I asked, I showed her the joint.

"Oh heavens no, I'd rather prescribe weed, than Xanax or Valium." Eve said, she's told that many times.

"You just keep smokin' your heart out." Sheri laughed, as she took a hit.

"Anyways, guys usually go one of two ways; either they'll be very passive or they'll be the alpha's alpha." Eve said.

What Eve said, kind of made sense to me. I do feel like I'm two different people at times. There's the Jay who's the unquestioned leader in the locker, and the one that's away from the ice.

The other part of me, I just try to make everyone happy. There was the time the girls wanted to go see a play, and I really have zero interest in seeing any play. I did go along with it, and didn't complain once.

We ended up having a good time though, but I won't say anything because I don't want to make a habit of going to the theater.

"He's both though, right?" Sheri asked. She seemed to be following what Eve was saying pretty closely.

"That's why he's so fascinating, it's actually very rare." Eve said, like I was a science experiment again. Now I was starting to get a little uncomfortable with this conversation, but at the same time I do want to find out what makes me tick.

"I feel like I'm two different people at times." I said.

"Well you are a Gemini." Sheri told me.

"In a way you are, you truly are this gentle soul that you show the world, but if someone's triggers that part of your brain, you won't hesitate to put them in their place." Eve said, and that made me ask the first thing that came into my mind.

"If they triggered that part of me, would I ever hurt them?" I asked, as I point to the girls.

"JAY WHAT THE FUCK?" Rachel said with anger.

"How can you even ask that question?" Sheri asked.

"No, it's a valid question." Eve quickly told the girls.

"No it's not!" Sheri insisted.

"For him it is, you gotta understand from his point of view, he seen nothing but violence for as long as he remembers." Eve said.

I have told Eve about the abuse, and I showed her the evidence. She had tears as she looked at the pictures of me. I told her my first memory was spilling a glass of milk, where my mom beat me bloody, before she locked me in a closet for 12 hours.

"Jay would rather die, than see any harm come our way or hurt us in any way." Rachel said. Which I would in a heartbeat.

"I know that, he's a protector." Eve said.

"So even if she rearranges my closet again, I'm not gonna snap on her?" I asked, I needed to hear it from a professional.

"Did you think 'bout smacking her that night?" Eve said.

"Ummmm..." I said.

"Asshole!" Sheri said, as she slapped my arm.

"No I never thought that." I told Eve.

"Then there's your answer, I meant it when I said you're a gentle soul." Eve said.

"Come with me!" I said. I grabbed both girls by the hands, and pulled them towards the house.moot to be left out, Bella was right on our heels.

This was the moment, I thought to myself. We went past Dave on the patio, grilling some pork chops.

We go through the kitchen, and saw Christie drinking wine, while Melissa was making a salad. That was typical, Christie is pretty useless in the kitchen, and she doesn't care.

"What's goin' on?" Melissa asked, as I hurriedly them up the stairs.

"NO CLUE!" Rachel shouted over her shoulder.

I had strange feelings washing over me. On one hand I'm nervous as hell, but I'm also at peace.

I bring them up to Sheri's old bedroom, and go into the closet where my clothes are at. Yes, the closet is organized just like I do at home, and I even brought my ruler with me.

"Why're you bein' extra weird?" Rachel asked.

I ignored Rachel's question while I got the ring boxes, and quickly went over what I wanted to say. I've been practicing for the past couple weeks.

"NOW, you're scaring me." Sheri joked.

I came out of the closet, and I feel my emotions building up in me. As soon as I looked at them, my brain went to mush. All my practicing is a forgotten memory.

I'm about to propose, and my mind went blank. I couldn't think of anything to say. I'm going to have to take a page out of Sheri's playbook, and wing it...Yeah, I'm fucked.

"Sheri Santiago, Rachel Sanchez, will...um...shit!"

I stopped talking, and wanted to kick myself in the ass. Not only did I forget what I was going to say, but I forgot to kneel down. I was standing there like an idiot.

"Babe, just take a breath, and relax." Sheri said softly.

I guess Sheri can see how nervous I was. I did what she said, I closed my eyes, and took a deep breath to relax myself.

"Sheri, Rachel, will you...I don't know if it's legal or whatever...I mean you're the lawyer so you tell me? I just know it feels right." I rambled.

I looked at them, and waited for their answer, but all I got was blank stares. They were utterly confused, and that's when I realized I didn't ask them anything.

"Jesus Christ I'm an idiot. Will you two do me the honor of marrying me? And I guess each other, now do you have to ask each other? I really don't know..." I began to ramble again.

"YES!" They both squealed, saving me form making an even bigger ass out of myself. I got off my knee, and gave them a hug, and kiss.

"Are you sure?" I asked for some unknown reason.

"Wow! You propose to us, and five seconds later, it's like your talkin' us outta it." Rachel laughed.

They joined me on the bed, I was emotionally spent. I pulled out my vape pen, and took a big hit before I passed it to them.

"How can anyone be afraid of this goofy fool?" Sheri asked.

"What's the odds of you not tellin' everyone, how much of an ass I made of myself." I asked rhetorically.

"Slim to none." Rachel laughed.

"Not to pile on, but you kinda forgot something." Sheri said, I can tell she's trying hard not to laugh.

It was my turn to be confused. I know I jumbled the proposal, but I made it to the end. I couldn't think of what I might've forgotten. I looked at Sheri for a clue, and I followed her eyes to see that I was still holding the ring boxes.

"SON OF A BITCH! This is the worst proposal, I knew I should've waited..." I said to myself, as I laid down on the bed.

"Stop stop, it was perfect." Rachel said, as she laid next to me.

"It really was, but you still haven't..." Sheri cracked up laughing.

"FUCKIN' HELL!" I said. I got off the bed to kneel down, so I can give them their rings.

For Sheri she once told me how much she liked her grandma's engagement ring. I had Ricardo send me pictures, and went to a jeweler to make something similar, with a little update to it.

"It's like my Nana's, so you do listen when I talk! I love you so much." Sheri cried, as I slipped the ring on her finger.

I had the same jeweler help me with sketches for Rachel's ring. I went with a solitaire setting that seemed to fit her personality.

"It's so pretty, I love you sweetheart." Rachel said through tears.

"You picked these out yourself?" Sheri asked, as they look at each other's rings.

"If you don't like..." I tried to say.

"No babe, that's not it." Sheri said quickly.

"I think what she's sayin' is; if you didn't get any help, you picked out some beautiful rings." Rachel said.

Neither ring is gaudy but any means, I know the girls wouldn't like that style. I think the rings are very classy, which suits them perfectly.

"Yeah, what she said. Christie didn't help?" Sheri asked.

"Shockingly, I did it all by myself." I said with pride. I told them about the jeweler, and the assistance he gave me.

Of course Christie knew I was going to pop the question, but I didn't show her the rings. For some reason I wanted to do it all on my own.

"Well great job Mister!" Sheri said, as she kissed my lips.

Sheri was the first to call her dad, who broke down when she told him. That brought even more emotions from the girls, and I may have shed some myself.

Rachel's parents had the same reactions. I'm going to need a Powerade so I won't get dehydrated from all the crying.

As happy as I was for them, and their families that could share in the moment, I couldn't help but feel a little sorry for myself. My grandparents would've love the girls, and wouldn't of had any problems with our relationship or that Sheri's trans. My grandparents were hippies in the 1960's, and from what I've heard, they had a pretty wild time during the summer of love.

We couldn't stayed in the bedroom all night, but we knew dinner was probably ready by now. When we walked out on the patio, we seen everyone was already eating.

"Had to fuck 'fore dinner?" Dave joked.

"Not exactly." Sheri smiled. She looked at Rachel, as the both raised their hands to show everyone the engagement rings.

The girls at the table started screaming, as they rushed to Sheri, and Rachel to give them hugs. I know a girlie moment when I see one, so I stepped to the side.

Dave, and Marcus came over to congratulate me, and that's when I realized something. This is my family, not the parents who gave me life.

"I'm so happy for you." Christie cried, as she gave me a hug.

Christie's been my best friend, roommate, sister, and confidant for 15 years. When I was in my darkest moments, she was there for me.

"If it wasn't for you, I don't know where I'd be." I said honestly.

Christie didn't say anything, she just held me tight. Christie only let me go so Eve, and Melissa could give me a hug. Eventually we sat down to eat.

"Sooo, how'd he ask." Melissa asked.

I closed my eyes, and was already blushing. I knew I was about to be embarrassed, but I didn't care. I've never been this happy, so a little ribbing will be worth it.

"Somehow he topped the stuttering story!" Sheri laughed.

Sheri, and Rachel took delight in telling our friends about the proposal. The girls around the table thought it was adorable, and the guys thought it was hysterical.

"Alpha's alpha my ass!" Marcus laughed.

"What's that 'bout?" Dave asked him.

"Eve thinks Jay's..." Marcus told him what was said earlier.

"But he is, he's just a different breed!" Dave told Marcus.

"Tell 'em 'bout the time you took him golfing." Melissa said.

"What story?" I asked.

"That time I took you to my club for the first time." Dave reminded me, and I knew what he was talking about.

"Fuckin' Dunbar." I laughed.

"I'm sorry, but if you name your kid 'Dunbar', you're just tellin' the world, 'hey, my sons a douchebag'." Rachel joked.

"I have a cousin named Dunbar." Christie said.

"And?" Rachel asked.

"You're right." Christie laughed.

"So was he." I said.

"These guys we're world class assholes, they make ambush videos." Dave told the table how, they would take pictures up girls skirts when they're on an escalator. You can tell the girls didn't consent to being photographed, but they would post them on Twitter.

"That had to piss you off." Eve said to me, when she heard about the Twitter account that Dunbar was running.

"How? Why?" I was stunned that she knew how I reacted to seeing the pictures.

"I'll tell you after." Eve smiled.

"So Jay's golfing like shit, you can tell these guys were under his skin, on the eighth hole he shanks it just 'bout in your pool." Dave told the girls.

"It was barely in the yard." I protest. It was a horrible shot, it just wasn't near the pool.

"I talk him into layin' up, 'til the two idiots came flying across the fairway shouting to us." Dave said.

"What're they shoutin'?" Eve asked.

"They were yelling, 'you should see the sluts that live here', and I was praying that Jay didn't hear it." Dave said.

"They had pictures." I said.

"Oh shit." Marcus said.

"Wait, he had pictures of us?" Sheri asked.

"Quite a few." I laughed, but I was livid at the time.

"You were topless, and Rachel had her yellow bikini on, you were rubbing oil on her ass." Dave said. He can describe every detail of their clothing on any day.

"Besides the bikini I have on now, name another color that I have." Melissa said to Dave.

"Well...you have...there's a purple bikini that looks hot on you." Dave said.