Chapter 63
CHAPTER SIXTY-THREE
Well, put a ripcord up my ass and get me started. WE’RE BUYING A HOUSE.
I bounce on my toes outside the title office.
We’re early, and it’s still locked. But holy fudge, Maddox and I are going to own a house together, and I can’t stop smiling.
In fact, I haven’t stopped smiling since Maddox made me that dinner.
It was so freaking thoughtful, and I know he was scared.
He didn’t stop white-knuckling his phone the entire time.
And yet…he did it anyway. He did it scared. For me.
And that makes me want to melt in a puddle of happy tears.
“Micah.” Maddox’s voice is gentle, breaking me out of my thoughts to see someone unlocking the door. Freak yeah! Let’s do this!
I pull out the check and hand it to the person. They wave me off, then direct us into a room.
For a second, my cheeks heat, and then I’m bouncing in the seat. Let’s get this over with; we have a house to get to!
Maddox squeezes my hand.
His touch brings me back down, almost. My veins are humming with energy. It’s happening! We’re so close. The hotel is all packed up, and I can see the joy in Maddox’s face in a real house. One he gets to make his own.
“Hey, how are you guys?”
I hand the check to the person who walks in, and this time, they accept it.
Maddox’s dimples pop, but I’m caught up in visions.
The signing process takes a few minutes, signing all kinds of papers, cash, no contingencies, blah, blah, blah.
All I hear is home. I had offered to let Maddox sign with me.
In fact, I prefer it so he feels like it’s his house too.
But then he turned white as a sheet. I’ve inferred that Arthur must have ruined that for him, too, and he’s afraid I’ll abandon him with the expenses.
Which I’d never do, but this isn’t about what I want; it’s about what he wants. I can always add him later.
They slide the keys across the table, and I snatch them up. I turn to place a big kiss on Maddox’s lips, then I stop myself. We’re homeowners, baby!!
I’m rewarded with a smile from Maddox. A real smile. A happy smile.
As we get outside, let me rephrase that: as soon as I pull him outside, he’s laughing.
“Can I kiss you?” I ask breathlessly.
Maddox stiffens, then he pulls me into him and presses a kiss to my lips.
Fudge, this feels so good!
Maddox shakes his head, but I see his smile as he climbs into his car. He drives out first, and I follow until I realize he’s driving slowly just to be a turd. I honk and catch his grin in the rear view, then he flashes me the finger.
A wash of relief hits me, and suddenly I want to cry. He’s being a turd because he feels safe with me. He knows I won’t hurt him.
A few tears well up and spill over.
Maddox feels safe. He saved himself while I waited with open arms.
Since feelings are a group project whenever Princess is around, I reach over to pet him. He’s snuffling in the crack of the seat for crumbles. He flicks his tail at me, as if emotions are beneath him, then crunches on something.
And then we’re home.
Home. Safe and sound.
The tears are welling up again, so I grab a struggling Princess up in my arms. “We’re home, buddy.”
If Princess could cuss me out, he totally would be right now. I scan Maddox’s car for him. I see Minky first, bouncing around and trying to nip at Maddox’s hands. As soon as Minky spots Princess and me, he comes bounding over, his big ears flopping, his mouth open.
Then Maddox is there, turning to face me. “You drive like a maniac.”
I grin, and Maddox is stifling his own grin, those freaking dimples popping out and making my knees weak.
“And you drive like a grandpa. You put on your granny panties today?”
“Granny panties?” He crosses his arms, smiling. “Maybe I want to make it home safe.”
Home.
There are those tears again. Wherever Maddox is is home, and I couldn’t be more grateful that he drives like a grandpa.
We walk up to the front door together, accompanied by Minky, who does his best to weave between our feet as we walk, and Princess, who has now resorted to actually cussing me out in a chorus of: “Meep, meep, MEEP.”
With a shaking hand, I shove the key into the lock. The door swings open, and we’re hit with the natural light and old house smell.
Suddenly, I realize something. I turn to Maddox and hand over Princess. “Hold him.”
Maddox looks confused, but I’m shoving the blue and black ball of fluff into his arms. As soon as he’s secured, I say, “Welcome home, my little M&M.” Then I lean down to grab under Maddox's knees.
For a second, Maddox lets me, until I hoist him into the air and turn to the door.
“Hey!” He wiggles, and his weight puts me off balance, and I’m forced to let him down so I don’t drop him and Princess.
Maddox fixes me with a glare. “That’s my job.”
With a flash of movement, the fluffy terrorist is in my arms, and then I’m in Maddox’s arms, bridal style, and he steps over the threshold of the house. Once inside, he plants a kiss on my lips. “Welcome home.”