EPILOGUE
FOUR MONTHS LATER POPPY
I slip out of my clothes, tiptoeing toward the door to the bathroom that Parker left cracked open. Inside, thick steam has fogged the mirrors and shower glass door. I can barely discern the outline of his body but I can see enough. His back is to me, water running down over his head. I’m confident he didn’t hear me come in.
He turns as the shower door clicks open, a smile spreading over his mouth.
“I didn’t know you were joining me,” he says.
“Well, I don’t have to,” I tease, stepping backward.
“Oh no you don’t,” he says, reaching out to pull me under the water. “Get in here.”
I smooth my hair back out of the way as he kisses me possessively with his hand on the back of my neck. I like it when he does that.
He looks at me longingly, like he wants to tell me he loves me. I’ve come to recognize the look since he said it the first time on our fifth date. Don’t worry, I said it back. I should probably mention that the first four dates were mixed with lots of outings with Aiden, which we didn’t count as dates, and some group hangouts with our friends, plus he came over for dinner with my parents a couple of times. But it was four official dates.
“I love you,” he says.
“I love you, too,” I say, just before pressing my lips to his collarbone.
His hands wrap around, cupping my ass as one of my fingertips trail down past his belly button.
“How long before you need to leave to pick up Aiden?” He asks.
“Long enough,” I say.
“Good,” he says, sliding one hand back around between my legs. “And I was thinking…”
“Yes,” I say, half moaning from his touch.
“Maybe you guys could move in with me?” He asks.
My eyes shoot open. “Are you serious?”
“I spent all last week cleaning out one of the bedrooms for Aiden,” he says. “And the other one can be a home office, if you want.”
I told him recently that I wanted to find a way to start working from home a few days a week because I’m not always needed inside the shop and it would give me time to work on a couple of certifications I want to get. My degree is in accounting so I’m thinking I should put that to good use finally and become a CPA. The lady in town that does practically everyone’s tax returns is close to retiring and I would basically have the entire market.
I stammer for a moment, trying to get a response out.
“If it’s too soon, just say the word,” he says. “I’m sorry if I-”
“Yes,” I say. “My answer is yes.”
“Really?” He says. “You can talk to Aiden about it first if you need to.”
“Aiden already asked me when we were going to live together.” I confess.
Parker’s smile widens, his eyebrows rising on his forehead.
“So we’re doing it? We’re moving in together?” He asks, as if he needs to confirm it one more time.
“Parker, we’re moving in together,” I say.
He smashes his mouth against mine, kissing me in a frenzy as he wraps his arms around me. I hug him tightly, my body melting into his as the moment turns from joyous to something a little more sensuous.
I take his cock into my hand, stroking it slowly as he groans against my ear.
He doesn’t know I found an engagement ring stashed in his drawer while I was looking for a pair of socks to borrow. He also doesn’t know I started dog-earing the pages of a bridal magazine shortly thereafter.
Who knows when it will happen exactly. He’s tried very hard to remember he’s has the privilege of loving me much longer than I’ve loved him. Sometimes I think about what I missed out on, what could have been between us. But I’m quick to remember our conversation at the carnival all those months ago. And there’s something incredibly sweet about the way he loves me, the way it’s deep-seeded and unyielding. I don’t know if it would be the same without our past.
“I can’t get enough of you,” he whispers against my ear. “I’m never going to be able to get enough of you.”
“Good,” I say, voice ragged.
“Can I keep you forever?” He asks.
“Forever and ever.”
THE END