Chapter 40
This was … “No. Definitely not.”
Instead of stopping at his Range Rover, Luke hit the remote alarm on the Ford Bronco in the parking spot next to his. Ruby Red with a white top, I didn’t deny what this was, and I would kill Jamie for putting the idea in his head.
“You don’t want to take your new Bronco to show your family?” he asked like I’d already accepted the keys.
“I can’t. You can’t.”
“You can, and I already did.”
“But.”
Luke took the bag from my nerveless fingers and put it on the back seat with his. “We’re gonna be late. Just drive it, and we can argue about it on the way.”
“Are you sure?” I asked as I took the keys. “What if you need to auction this off to buy groceries?”
He laughed and shook his head.
A part of me wanted to ask how much his net worth had dropped with his parents taking away their money, but most of me didn’t care.
To me, there was a lot more to wealth than dollars, because I’d been wealthy all my life.
Now, I was rich. Luke was the most precious and priceless thing in my world, and amazing, and mine, all mine.
What worried me was his generous heart putting him in a financial bind.
We settled in the front seats while I ooed and awed over the sleek interior.
“Asher.” Luke cupped my cheek. “I wouldn’t have done this if I couldn’t afford it. Okay?”
“But if you’re not super rich, will you have to give back the cape?” I stared, straight-faced, until I couldn’t hold it in any longer and laughed.
“Too cute, Asher. But yeah, even without the cape, I’m actually really good at what I do. I’m not worried about losing the Dorset family money, and I’m still very much a millionaire and plenty capable of buying you things like this.”
I smirked. “Boastful much?”
“Brat.” He kissed my nose. “Let’s get going.”
On the trip down—which, holy shit, the Bronco rocked—he told me what exactly he’d given up with his decision to leave his old life behind.
I kept my shocked comments to myself and let him get it all out.
The cars, properties with vacation homes, and artwork he’d no longer have access to.
He seemed slightly more … sad wasn’t the right word, but maybe bitter over the car collection since he’d been the one who cared the most about it.
His excitement rebounded, though, as he detailed his vision for rebuilding the collection. Luke talked about his plans of moving into the country, or at least some acreage where he could start over, a place more to his tastes than what his parents had wanted for him.
His stuffy apartment, no matter how roomy, didn’t seem like him at all, so the news of wanting to move wasn’t shocking. I didn’t weigh in, just listened and hoped he’d want me to move with him.
Before long, I pulled to a stop on the driveway outside the house I grew up in. The deeper this thing with Luke became, the less this felt like my home. It would always be a place I could return to, but home was now the person beside me.
Ben came out with a curious lean, but when he saw me, he rushed forward.
“Good Lord, look at that,” he praised the Bronco. “We didn’t know who had pulled up.” He smiled for Luke and accepted my hug. “Let’s get on inside before Nathan sees this, or you’ll never get in there before the younger ones hit the hay.”
We followed him inside with our bags, ready to stay for a few days. I’d had several long talks with Momma since Luke’s grand gesture. Afraid she’d have been mad at him for his part in my decision to end us, she’d surprised me with her eternal wisdom and insight.
That man was gonna make it right. Never had a doubt, she’d said.
“Hello, sweeties,” Momma sang as we stepped through, then added, “Both of you. Get in here.”
My family was such a stark contrast to Luke’s.
Even though his brother and sister didn’t care about their brother’s sexuality or classless boyfriend, they were still raised in a much different household.
Reserved. Their hugs were short and to the point, where my family held on, had mini conversations while wrapped together, and danced a bit with laughter as our music.
There was constant noise and jokes and so much joy. I snuck glances at Luke the entire time we were there. He was so at home here, and I fell in love with him even more.
“When can I expect grandbabies,” Momma said as she bumped into my shoulder.
“Jesus, Momma. Let me get married first, and then we’ll talk.” She lifted an eyebrow because of course, marriage wasn’t a prerequisite to babies in this household.
Luke and I had come together so unconventionally. Him with his hidden sexuality, and me pretending to be something I wasn’t. I kinda wanted our next chapters to follow more traditionally. Not everything would—we were us, after all—but some things we could plan for.
Momma wrapped her arm around me as we watched Luke help Elias with a new LEGO set.
“He’s a keeper, then? You made your choice?”
I nodded. “Yes, ma’am. I’m keepin’ him.”
“Savannah sent me the pictures she took at that fancy ball. You looked so handsome, both of you.”
I tapped my head to hers and sighed. “I was glad you could be there, even if we didn’t talk. Luke was so dashin’ and swept me off my feet, so I swept him off his.”
She slapped my shoulder. “I don’t need all the details, only the one that says you’re happy.”
“I am, Momma.” I nodded at Luke. “I’m gonna marry him.”
She laughed. “Tell me why.”
“Can anyone say why? He makes me happy. He lets me be happy. He doesn’t judge, and he’s thoughtful. He makes my heart race, and when I can feel his racin’ too, we do something about it.”
“Wooo, Lord a’mercy. Those are good reasons. Are you both goin’ the same place? Do you want to get there together?”
“I think so?” I laughed. “He’s driven, Momma.
You should’ve seen how strong he was in front of his parents.
They took from him, like the monsters they are, and he was all Braveheart about it.
‘You won’t take my freedom.’” I tried for the right impression, then laughed.
“He has plans and dreams, and he’ll make them come true. ”
“Will he help you with your dreams?” Momma asked.
I nodded. “No doubt in my mind, he will.”
She hugged me then and sniffled. “I dunno how I did such a good job, but I’m so proud of the man you’ve become.”
Those words caught me in the feels. I teared up and smiled. “Love you, Momma.” I kissed her cheek, then joined Luke and Elias on the floor with the LEGOs.
We stayed up late, and I made plans to sell Stacia my car for dirt cheap. Momma and Ben wouldn’t let me give it to her. I understood why, but felt like a hypocrite since I’d been given a brand-new Bronco.
“If it’ll make you feel better, I’ll make you work for it,” Luke said with a wink.
Our visit was too short, but we were able to spend a day with Jamie and Michael before we left. Then we returned home. His home, but ours, really.
The last of my spring break was spent twisted in the sheets, kissing long into the night, as if sleep could wait until vacation was over. And end it did. The home life we’d created before the break resumed, neither of us asking so many questions of each other; we just knew this was a done deal.
One night in late April, I was a few days from the end of the semester and nervous cooking.
Momma called it that. She’d said when her hands were busy, her mind followed, and I needed a break from final exams. I’d cooked for an army.
With five younger siblings and two busy parents, I didn’t know how to not make big meals.
“Do you want kids?” Luke asked.
I sat down the wooden spoon I’d been slowly stirring the marinara with and faced him.
“Um,” was all I could think to say. Did I?
Yes, but for some reason, I’d thought maybe he didn’t.
His home had been so different from my own.
Cold, unfeeling, more prison-like than any house should be.
What if he never wanted to have kids, thinking he’d be a bad parent because he’d never had great examples to learn from?
“Tell me truly,” he said.
“Yeah.” I nodded and dropped my chin. “I want them.” And I did. I didn’t know any other way and didn’t want to learn. Family meant love and laughter to me. And like Momma said, I had plenty in me to give.
His feet shuffled into view, and then his fingertips lifted my head, eyes darting between mine. “Why did that sound so sad?”
Luke loved dancing. He’d never known that about himself since he’d never given over to his desires until me.
Since our debut at the Sweetheart Rose Ball, he grabbed me and swayed to the tune inside his head practically daily.
I loved it. I loved the reminder of that night, but I also loved to feel his body against mine, moving in any direction.
He did that now.
I circled his neck, and he kept his hands kneading into my lower back as he danced me across the kitchen floor. No matter what I’d been feeling, these moments made me smile.
“I don’t want you to think it’s a deal breaker.
I want kids, but if you don’t …” I trailed off.
The things we disagreed on were few and far between.
Momma had always said if the sex was good and the money was good, everything else would work itself out.
How true that was? We never had any major issues, but sometimes we made big deals out of nothing as foreplay for some epic makeup sex.
This topic wasn’t like those, though. This wasn’t about the proper way to fold a bathroom towel so it fit better on the shelf or which way the toilet paper should hang. This might actually be a true big deal.
“I want kids, Asher,” Luke whispered on my lips. “I thought maybe you didn’t, being from a big family.”
“What?” I stepped out of his hold. “Of course I do. I want little feet running in the halls and dirty hands grabbing my clothes. I want screaming kids to shush and laughter to join in on.” I hugged my middle.
“I want to shower kids with so much love they will never doubt they always, always have a home.”
Luke cupped my cheeks and kissed me. “Me too. And I want to share that with you.”
He was so earnest, so deep in my blood, I couldn’t stop myself from wanting it all. “Luke.”
“Asher?”
I licked my lips because this shit was scary. “I don’t … I’m not prepared … Do you—” I caught his hands in mine and kissed his knuckles. “Will you marry me?”
Luke lifted his brows and blinked.
“We can wait. I mean, I’m only nineteen, and I’m in school. I just, I don’t want you to think I’m not serious,” I blubbered.
“Baby. Oh, baby, shh.” Luke pressed a soft kiss to my lips and hugged me to his chest.
“I just, I know you’re it for me. I’ve been to plenty of weddin’s, and I know things don’t always work out, but sometimes they do.
” I lifted my head off his shoulder to stare into his dark blue eyes.
“Momma has always called me an old soul, but I think I’m just a settled soul. I know what I want, and I want you.”
“You know you have me, married or not, right?”
I nodded. “You don’t want to get married.”
Luke brushed my cheek with the back of his hand, then backed away and bent down on one knee.
“Oh fuck,” I breathed.
From his pocket, he pulled free a shiny black band with a line of mottled gold and green running through the center.
“Asher, before you, I never knew what living meant. Before you, I never understood happiness or contentment. In the seven months since we’ve met, I’ve known a peace I’d never imagined possible.
You’ve given me the world with your smiles.
You’ve given me my dreams with every breath you take.
All I can give you in return is me, if you’ll have me. ”
My chin shivered from the shaky breaths fighting for ground with lungs as seized as time itself. “You did that so much better than me.”
“Marry me, Asher. It doesn’t matter when. I can wait, or we can do it tomorrow. I want you in my life for—”
“Yes! Jesus, fuck, yes! Just shut up before you kill me. Yes, yes, Luke!”
He jumped to his feet, and I jumped into his arms.
To some, it might’ve been too fast. To some, it might seem stupid. To some …
Eh, fuck that. We were getting married, y’all!
Sunday 9:16 AM
Announcement. Announcement! Is everyone around?
Ty
When are we not around? Is this about Ashke? Season 2? Is this the trailer? Is it gay porn?
Jack
I think Ty wants to come out and isn’t sure how to do it.
Percy
Wait. Ty’s not queer?
Cal
Lol.
Ty
Believe it or not, I’m the only one in this chat who’s had sex with a woman.
Nick
/wave
Ty
And Nick.
What about Michael? He might have.
Jack
You or Jamie would know best about that one.
Ty
You all are ruining my point!
Tate
Hey guys!
Wren
Technically you can still be queer and have had sex with a woman, so try again, Ty.
Percy
Can you even be 100% sure you’re straight if you’ve never had sex with a man?
Ty
Well, think about that, Percy. Can you be sure you’re gay without having sex with a woman?
Percy
Point taken. Also, I kinda like you putting me in my place, Daddy.
Tate
Lol. Jesus, Percy.
Wren
Ha! That was perfect.
Michael/Jamie
Cal? Jack? How red is Ty’s face?
Jack
Tomato.
Cal
He might even be hard.
Jack
You are NOT checking.
Ty
Thank fuck. Keep your horny BF away from me, Jack.
Pot calling the kettle horny as fuck, Ty. You were the one who brought up gay porn.
Ty
Fuck you all.
Ty has left the conversation.
Y’all distracted me. Get him back in here.
Jack invited Ty to the conversation.
Ty
What?!
Asher invited Luke to the conversation.
Percy
/gasp
Tate
Finally! Hi, Luke.
Nick
Sup, man. When’s the wedding, lol?
Jack
Hello, Luke. Cal says hello too but his hands are busy.
Ty
The fuck, Jack? We have company.
Wren
Sup, Luke.
Luke
Hello, everyone. It’s great to be invited into this. I think. Asher has shared so many interesting conversations. Hopefully I’ll add value as well.
Percy
He sounds like a grown up.
He is a grown up, and he can read your messages.
Percy
Right. Well, Ty, you’ve got Daddy competition.
Ty
Slut!
Percy
Jealous!
Nick
Called out, Ty. Can’t even side with you on this one.
Ty
Traitor!
Luke
I’m sorry. I don’t understand the context.
Oh, Asher just told me. I’m not technically Daddy material. At least, not as implied.
Ty
Guess you’re stuck with me, Percy.
Nick
I literally heard Ty’s sigh of relief from 1200 miles away.
Wren
Okay, for real, are you coming out Ty?
Ty
…
Tate
That’s not a no.
Jack
Also, we never got the word from Michael.
Michael/Jamie
Word.
Percy
Ugh. Give the phone back to Jamie. You’re no fun, Michael.
Michael/Jamie
You just don’t get my humor. Jamie laughs for me all the time.
I’ve actually seen it happen. It’s like finding a unicorn in the forest.
Percy
Aww. I bet Jamie is adorable when he smiles.
Michael/Jamie
Like a little fallen angel.
Ty
??? okay who has the phone now? I can’t read tone!
Wren
Maybe they lost it and someone’s been fucking with us.
Percy
Nope, that was Michael. And I’ve got an idea for the next season of Group Chat …