Chapter 19
Aspen
“Mom, I have plans. I can’t come this year for Jordan and Elliot’s birthdays.”
“Plans? I thought you’d make the effort after missing Christmas.”
It was the middle of January, and I still hadn’t told my parents about Dale. I wasn’t ashamed or nervous or anything like that; it was pure selfishness. I didn’t want to share him yet. He was my new thing, all mine. I wanted him to myself for now.
If I told, my entire family would start hounding me with a million questions.
“I’ll send nice gifts.”
Jordan and Elliot were my older brothers. Their birthdays were two days apart in January and my mom and dad always threw a big, shared party for them. It was tradition.
“It’s the same time every year,” Mom said. “Why did you make plans?”
“The plans sort of just happened.”
“I can hear it in your voice. It’s something good? Work-related?”
“It’s good, Mom. That’s all.”
“What aren’t you telling me?”
“Nothing. It’s nothing. I just—I’m busy.”
“Why aren’t you telling me?”
“There is no ‘why’.” I cleared my throat. “I have a life you know.”
Over the phone, her gasp sounded like she was choking. “You’ve met someone! Karl! Karl! Our Aspen has met someone!”
I shut my eyes and threw my head back onto a throw pillow on my couch. I needed to let her go now. I couldn’t take more. Plus, I wanted to call Dale. He was working late but promised he’d be home to take my call in his bed by nine.
We were still on the weekends-only schedule. It wasn’t enough for either of us. Things were going to have to change. But though we both complained, the change part had not been broached in conversation.
“Tell me his name,” Mom demanded.
“Later. I’m getting a call I have to take. Bye.”
Quickly, I ended the call and tapped the screen to call Dale. He answered immediately, camera on. There he was, topless in his bed, the covers just barely covering his nipples.
I turned my camera on.
“Hi there,” he greeted.
Everything was right with my world now that I could see him and hear him. It would have been better if I could feel and smell him as well, but life and work intruded.
I grinned, letting out a slow breath.
“What’s that about?” he asked.
“My mom. I just got off the phone with her. She’s trying to get me to go to a big party next week.”
“I hope I’m not stopping you. You can go if you want.”
“That’s just it. I don’t want to go. I want all my spare time to be spent with you. It’s like having a bank account and you only have so much money. Every cent is allocated toward your addiction. In this case it’s you, of course. I don’t want a penny of that to go anywhere else. Including my mom.”
He let out a huff of amusement. “You’re so good with metaphors.”
“It was a simile, actually.”
He laughed even harder.
“I haven’t told my family about you yet.”
His smile disappeared. “That’s okay,” he said softly.
“It’s not what you’re thinking. They’re shifters. Reindeer shifters. It’s a thing. I mean, with reindeer families; they’re a lot. Intrusive is the word. I’m not ready for that. I don’t want to share you yet even though I want to shout to the world that you’re the best boyfriend ever. Ever.”
“What a speech. That’s a lot on your shoulders, baby.”
I loved when he called me that. “Thank you for understanding.”
“Of course I understand. At least you don’t have to worry about family on my side. We catch up once a year with Christmas cards. That’s it. No pressure.”
I sat up. It sounded sad. My family was warm and loving. Happy. I didn’t begrudge that. I’d been lucky; I’d had a great childhood.
“You’ll meet mine for sure. And they will love you. I’m delaying because I’m selfish. I don’t want to go to a party on my night off. I want to spend it with you and only you. I’m a bad person, aren’t I?”
“Not from my viewpoint. I want you to want me all to yourself. But do you think missing that party is a good idea? I’m just asking because your family sounds great and I am all for that sort of thing.”
His words were supportive but also made me feel a little guilty. “They’ll understand. Once I tell them about you. Mom has already guessed that I met someone. She’d want that for me.”
“Okay, then, you and me. Another weekend of unmade beds and delivery food.”
“Sounds fantastic.”
We talked as we did every night until we both fell asleep, the phone line open.
The weekend came and was over too quickly. Sunday morning when we woke up, we made love and then I clung hard to Dale’s chest.
“I love our Sunday make out sessions, but then I hate Sunday,” I complained.
He rubbed my back. “I know.”
“Because I don’t want you to leave.” I mumbled into his neck.
“I know.”
He was so patient. Kind. But he always forced me to take the lead. So, I did.
“Things have to change.”
“What things?”
I moved my head up and kissed his chin. “Us.”
He raised an eyebrow. He really was going to make me be the one to do this.
“Us,” I repeated, firmer. “Our schedules for being together.”
“What do you suggest?”
I smacked him lightly on the shoulder. “Do I have to spell it out?”
“Um, I don’t know. Are we thinking the same thing?”
“I hope so.” I smacked him again. “Damn it, I’m saying I want you to move in. Here.” I cleared my throat when he didn’t immediately respond. “With me.”
He glanced about the room. “Hmm, I do love this bedroom.” He slid his hand along the top of the comforter. “And this bed.”
“Stop it. You know I’ve been wanting this. Now you’re just pretending you haven’t already made your decision.”
He gripped me, lifting my upper body over him so I was on top of his chest. Our lips met. He spoke against my mouth. “There’s no decision to make.”
He kissed me again, harder. Then said, breathing fast, “I mean, if it means we will be together every night instead of just weekends, what more can I say?”
I nipped at his lower lip. “You can say yes, you tease.”
He grinned. “Yes. I’ll start packing tonight.”
We worked out the logistics over breakfast. Dale would get a rental company to rent out his condo and be moved in by the weekend.
“Too fast?” he asked.
“Not at all. I’m impressed.”
“I can rent it furnished. That’ll leave my clothes and other personal items to pack. It may take a couple trips in my car.”
“I have a car, too. I’ll help.”
“If work allows. You’re the lawyer. You have far worse hours than I do.”
“I also have paralegals as assistants. You know that part very well.”
“Yep. Leave the grunt work to us paralegals. I take work home too often. But it also lets me log in more pay hours.”
“You won’t need more money if we live together. You’ll get rent from your condo and you won’t have to pay rent here. My salary covers all of that.”
Dale frowned. “I would insist on paying half.”
I mimicked his frown right back at him. “Why?”
“Because isn’t that what’s done?”
“Between mates?” I laughed. “We’re bonded, my love. We’re together on everything.” I leaned back. “Unless you don’t want to.”
“No. I want to. So you mean we’re treating this like—like a marriage?”
“Exactly.”
His eyes lit up. “We need rings. Hey, let’s go ring shopping. I want to propose to you with a real ring.”
“I think I just proposed to you without one.”
“I don’t care. I want matching rings with you.”
“Whatever you want,” I said, feeling ecstatic.
“You know what this means, though.”
“Huh?”
“You’re going to have to tell your family about us now.”
“Oh, that. Yeah.”
“Won’t they be happy?” Dale asked.
“Excruciatingly so. I’m afraid they’ll love you so much they’ll steal you from me.”
“Even though I’m human?”
“Sorry to tell you my family doesn’t discriminate.”
He leaned over the table all the way until his face was in mine and kissed me.
“No one can ever steal me away from you.”
We kept grinning through our next kiss.