23. Chapter Twenty-Three
Chapter twenty-three
R iding with Cai feels almost second nature now. I’m still giddy after our confessions and the multiple kisses that happened during the aurora, but there’s something calming and satisfying knowing that we have a plan. We’re on the right track, and for once, on the same page.
“You all right back there, beautiful?” He reaches back and runs his hand up my thigh to squeeze my waist.
“I’m good. I trust you.”
Cai chuckles. “I’m glad. Still, I’m taking it slow. Lots of reckless drivers out tonight.”
“Yeah, nobody needs another accident. That said, I want you to know that despite the setbacks, I’ve never been happier. I can honestly say that I’m past the worst part of grieving, and I’m not even sorry it happened now. It brought you back into my life, and I can never regret or hate anything that did that for me.”
I hear him swallow over the comms. “I hate that it happened to you. I know there will be times that you get frustrated and a little sad, but I’ll be here for all of that. I do need to ask though, are you…I mean, my job is a little dangerous. Are you okay with that?”
“Ha, a little? A warehouse almost fell on your head, Cai.”
“I think you know what I meant, Whits. Is my work going to be a problem for us?”
“I do know what you meant, and I understand. I’d never ask you to give up what you love for me. I know what it’s like to lose something like that. I know it’s dangerous, but I also know you are careful and smart. More than that, I know God is in control. I can’t say I’ll never be scared, but I’ll support you, too.”
“I lo...uh…I like to know you think that,” he says, stuttering through the first part. My heart leaps because I know, I know what he was going to say but chickened out. It’s okay. We have time, and he doesn’t have to say it right now. I see it in his eyes when he stares down at me, in the way he relentlessly pursued me even when I wasn’t sure how I felt, and in the gentle yet insistent way he shows me he’s here, willing to be my support system no matter what.
When we reach my house, he lets me off the bike first and follows me to the door. For the first time in months, I’m excited for the unknown. I can’t wait to see what comes next for us, but I know that no matter what it is, we’re in this for the long term. It took us a long time, one horrible accident, and a few miscommunications to get here, but we’re finally here.
I unlock my door, ready to invite him in for a while, when I catch him mouthing something to himself. He’s laser-focused on his feet, fidgeting with his helmet. He licks his lips and clears his throat before looking back up at me with wide eyes, his handsome face filled with worry.
“Why do you look so nervous?” I ask, barely able to control the giddiness that surges up from my stomach when he looks at me. Did we really kiss? Is this even real? Are my wildest dreams coming true after all these years?
Cai steps forward and brushes the hair from my face before palming my cheeks. “I am nervous, but I’m going to do this anyway. Back then I was never brave enough to ask you this question, but it’s killing me not to ask you now.”
“Yes?” I whisper. “What is it?” The man has stolen my breath. I’m in so, so deep.
“I’d be honored if you’d be my girlfriend. Will you, Whits?”
I giggle. “I thought that was a given after the kissing and talk of the future, but yes, I’d be just as honored to be your girlfriend even though that was a dorky way of asking me.”
“Dorky?” he shouts playfully. “Dorky? I admit I’ve had feelings for you for literal years and you call me dorky?” He picks me up and hauls me over his shoulder to carry me into my house. I relax and let him take me. It makes no sense to fight him, since he is literally trained to carry people out of fires. I doubt any wiggling or pushing on my part will free me from his embrace, not that I want to be freed. I don’t, not at all.
“It was very high school of you, honestly,” I tease.
Cai throws me on my sofa and cages me in with his arms on either side of me. “Well, I started practicing back then. Maybe I should have reworded my question a little since so much time has passed.”
I run my hands up his arms and clasp them behind his neck. “It did echo a certain teenage hope, I admit, but I can’t see how you could have changed it much. Incidentally, if you had asked me back then the same way you just did, I would have said yes.”
“Good to know, but I do think I could have improved on it.” He lowers himself and kisses my forehead.
“How so?” I run my hands through his hair and his eyes darken.
“Will you marry me, Whits?”
I freeze, my fingers tangled in his dirty-blonde locks. “Are…are you serious?”
“I am.” His jaw flexes and his teeth clench, but he maintains eye contact with me. I absorb this moment, let it burn into my memory forever. This is the moment I see my whole future ahead of me, and it all begins and ends with this man. My future husband.
“I will,” I whisper seconds before his lips claim mine. This kiss is as sweet and tender as the others, and when he pulls back he lifts me into a sitting position.
“I love you. I was going to say that on the ride home, but I held back because I wanted to say it to your face. I didn’t want you to hear it over some crackling comms radio. I love you, Whits, and I want to marry you.”
I press my palms to his cheeks and kiss him again.
“I love you, too, Cai. And I already said yes.” I smile and pinch his cheek.
“I know. I was giving you a chance to back out, just in case,” he teases and pulls me closer.
“Not a chance. I’ve been waiting literal years for you to kiss me. No way I’m playing take-backs. You’re stuck with me forever, which means you’re stuck with Jax too.”
Cai chuckles and settles back into my fluffy sofa he hates. “It’s a price I’m willing to pay for forever with you. Besides, I hear his wife is pretty great.”
“Oh, good answer, future husband.” I lean in and kiss him again, excited for what comes next.