Chapter 21
It had been a week since Colton’s last threat, but the torn photo and scrawled note still lingered in the back of Avi’s mind.
Despite that, though, quiet had settled over the farm, and with it had come a sense of peace.
Things seemed like they were moving forward for the herd, and while he was certain they hadn’t seen the last of Colton, there was always the hope that he had simply taken off for greener pastures and they’d never see him again.
That afternoon, Crew and Zara had gone with him and Fallon to the safari park to meet with her mom, Sunny, and her mate Seneca.
They’d had lunch in the employee cafeteria, and then the four of them had said goodbye to Fallon’s family and headed home.
Sunny had sent along a market bag of gifts for them that included a jar of bacon jam, a bag of cookie-flavored popcorn, and a stuffed jaguar from the gift shop.
They’d had a great time at the park, even though they hadn’t left the employee cafeteria, but the important thing was that they’d made it there and back to the farm safely.
When they’d been back in the house, he and Fallon headed to the suite to finish cleaning out the main room.
“You know what? That was just what I needed. A balm to my soul,” she said as she peeked inside one of the few remaining boxes in the room and lifted out what looked like old plastic containers.
“I’m glad we were able to do it. I enjoyed getting to know Seneca a little better.”
“He’s your brother-in-law. I mean, Sunny isn’t really my sister because my mom didn’t officially adopt her, but she’s the sister of my heart and that makes Seneca family too.”
“I love that. It’s how I feel about the guys in the herd. None of us are really related except Dexter and Khyle, but they’re family all the same.”
She smiled sweetly, then said, “This box is junk. These were probably used by the people who owned the house before to make preserves or for food storage. The lids are all warped and the containers are discolored.”
Avi moved over and looked inside. “Ew.”
“Yeah, like why wouldn’t they just toss them out in the first place?”
“Some people are hoarders. We found a lot of stuff in the attic space when we moved in and cleaned it out, but instead of going through the boxes and throwing stuff out right then, we just shoved everything in the empty rooms on the first floor and closed the doors. I guess we’re no better than they are. ”
“We did find a great set of cast-iron skillets, though. They’ll make the cornbread taste even yummier. Oh, speaking of cornbread, I definitely want to make some for dinner tonight.”
He cleared his throat. “We’ve got plans for dinner.”
She blinked at him in surprise. “We do?”
“Yep. I know you said you were feeling a little cooped up and wanted to run in your jaguar shift, but I also realized we were just staying in the farmhouse, just working and cleaning, and not doing anything fun for ourselves. So I’ve planned a date.”
He rocked back on his heels.
“You did? That’s so sweet.”
“It’ll be super romantic.”
“I bet. You’re really good at that kind of thing.”
His stallion let out a happy snort in his head, prancing like a show pony. “I’d do anything to make you smile, Fallon. You’re the most important person in the world to me.”
“You are to me too.”
They moved the box to the hall for items to go to the trash heap and recycling center. There was another pile for things to be dropped off at a local thrift store.
It was symbolic to clean out the rooms. Like they were making room for the future. A fresh start, with paint and carpet.
Someone knocked on the open door, and Avi saw Khyle with a tape measure. “I came to measure for fixtures. We’re going to order for Grey and Tatum’s bathroom so we’ll do one big order.”
“Sounds good,” Avi said.
He went with Khyle into the bathroom and wrote down the room’s measurements, including where the fixtures were plumbed.
“We can order baby-proofing stuff too,” Khyle said.
“The home improvement website has a whole slew of that kind of thing, from baby gates to cabinet locks, and even toilet locks. Which I wonder how hard they are to open, because what if you have to piss in the middle of the night but the toilet is locked?”
Avi laughed. “I don’t know, man. I guess you gotta work fast in that scenario.”
“By the way,” Khyle said, hooking the tape measure onto his belt and taking the notepad and pencil from Avi, “I wanted to ask if you guys would like a built-in bookshelf in the nursery.”
Fallon stood from where she’d been digging through a box. “A bookshelf?”
“Yeah, it’s nice because they don’t take up floor space. I could do a two or three-shelf unit with light wood.”
Fallon was smiling so big that Avi knew she was a fan of the idea.
“That would be awesome, thanks. Let’s go look in the nursery and see where it might go.”
They spent time with him in the bedroom, measuring and planning.
Before he left, he said, “I can’t wait until Tris and I have a kid of our own. We’re both ready to start a family.”
“It’s the best feeling in the world,” Avi said.
* * *
“Well, I need a sweater,” Fallon said as she pulled a cardigan off the hanger. “Right? I mean, you have boots on.”
Avi looked down at his boots. “What does me having boots on have to do with you needing a sweater?”
“If we were staying in the house for our date, you would have regular shoes on, like those dark blue skateboard shoes you love. Boots means we’re walking outside and now that the sun has set, it’s chilly.”
“Good point,” he said. “Yes, we’re going out to the barn. I did turn on a space heater, though, so it’s warm in there.”
He also had another plan that would involve walking, but he’d tell her about that later.
She slipped her arms into the cardigan and beamed at him. “I’m so excited for our date.”
“Me too.”
They left the farmhouse and walked to the barn where the apartment was. He’d set up the main area of the barn with a table and chairs and turned on the string lights that were hanging all around.
At one of the seats was a small box tied with a ribbon.
They took their seats and Fallon said, “You got me a gift?”
“Yes. Just a little something I saw that made me think of you.”
She opened the box and pulled out two stretchy beaded bracelets. One had pink and white beads with three letter beads spelling MTB, and the other had blue and white beads with letter beads that spelled BOTW.
“I love them! I’ve seen these on social media, they’re so cute! But what do the letters mean?”
“Mom-to-be and baby on the way.”
“Oh,” she said. “This is so sweet.” She slipped them on and then got up, coming around the small table to kiss and hug him. “You’re the sweetest soulmate a girl could ask for.”
“When we know whether we’re having a boy or a girl, I can order more bracelets for you.”
“I’d love that.”
He loved making her smile. It was one of his favorite things.
He got up and pulled a rolling tray table over with several covered dishes. “I asked your mom before we left the park what your favorite meal was when you were growing up.”
She hummed in surprise. “You did?”
“Yeah. So what is it? I’m curious if I got it right.”
“Honey ham and mac and cheese.”
He lifted the lids, revealing two plates with thick slices of honey ham and big scoops of four-cheese mac and cheese.
“Oh!” Her eyes lit up. “No way!”
He reached under the main tray and pulled out a small cast-iron skillet and set it in the center of the table.
“Cornbread? Okay, now this is hands down my favorite meal on the planet. With my favorite guy. Thank you so much for this, I feel…so very loved.”
“You are, sweetheart. From the depths of my heart.”
* * *
After they’d eaten their fill of sweet ham, cheesy pasta, and thick cornbread, they went for a walk, hand in hand.
“It’s not too chilly for you?” he asked.
“Not at all. The cardigan is just right.”
“Good.”
“I’ve had the best time tonight.”
“Me too. We should make a date night every week.”
“Absolutely. Making time for each other is so important.”
They reached the small lake on their property and he led her out onto the dock. They stood near the end of it, arms around each other, staring out at the calm water and listening to the sounds of nature around them.
He slowly released her and went down on one knee, pulling a ring from his pocket.
For a moment, his eyes stung with tears and his heart was in his throat.
Holy crap, he loved her.
Breathing through the emotion so he could speak, he held the ring up to her and said, “Fallon, I’ve been thinking for the last few days what I wanted to say to you at this moment, and it’s been hard to put it into words.
You’re the best thing that ever happened to me.
You make my stallion supremely happy, and I’d do anything for one of your smiles.
I don’t just know that you love me, I can feel it.
It’s like we’ve known each other for years, but everything is still so new and exciting.
I don’t know what our future holds, but I know that as long as we’re together, we can get through anything.
You and me, hell or high water, no matter what.
I can’t think of anyone else I’d rather go through life with than you, my sweet soulmate, the other half of my heart.
“Will you marry me?”
She stared down at him, highlighted by the moon and stars, her mouth parted slightly.
“Avi?”
“Yeah, baby?”
“Yes! Yes, I’ll marry you.”
He slipped the ring on her trembling finger and stood, drawing her close and kissing her.
The whole world dropped away like it did any time he kissed her, where it felt like it was just them. Her kiss held a hint of happy tears, and when it ended, he brushed the tears from her cheeks and told her in a promise-filled whisper that he loved her more than anything or anyone.
“I love you too.”
“We’ve got everything we need right here. You, me, our sweet baby on the way, the herd and the park shifters, your mom and best friend.”
“We’re really blessed. And I’m so happy.”
“Me too.” He wiggled his brows. “Care to celebrate, future Mrs. Fallon Sinclair?”
“I love how that sounds,” she said. “And absolutely. Take me home and take me to bed, sexy. We’ve got a date with a few orgasms.”
“A few?” He took her hand and led her off the dock.
“To start.”
“I love the way you think.”
* * *
Thank You for Reading Avi!