“Tell me about it.” She grabs my wrist and squeezes it, but she doesn’t pull away as if she knew this is what I needed to feel grounded.
I’m overanalyzing a touch, but the way she’s staring at me steadies me.
“Right here?” I look around. We’re in the middle of the aisle, but anyone could walk by.
“Yeah, but no pressure. Just know that I’m here.” She smiles and on cue the fireworks go off.
“Every July, Adrian, Dad, and I would watch the draft and we’d imagine ourselves being there. Though sometimes it was hard for me because it seemed impossible, but Adrian was very optimistic. We, uh…” I smother a chuckle at the memories. “We’d talk about all the things we’d do once we started making millions. Like marrying models and buying a penthouse. We’d talk about all the nice furniture we’d buy and many other things.” A weight of sadness grips my bones, the words leaving my mouth as rough as sandpaper. She squeezes my wrist again and rubs her thumb in gentle circles on my skin. I drag my trembling teeth along my quivering bottom lip. “I know it sounds stupid, but we were kids and we thought it’d be cool. We knew when we accomplished those things, it’d be ourwe made it. Being here with you made me think about that moment.”
Her eyes are soft and understanding. “Really?”
I rub the nape of my neck. “Yeah.”
“You realize I’m no model and we don’t live in a penthouse?”
My priorities have changed. I don’t want any of those things. I want you. I need you,I want to say but my tongue feels heavy, stuck to the roof of my mouth.
“Your house is the nicest place I’ve ever lived in, so it’s pretty much the same thing. And I’m living with the prettiest girl I’ve ever seen.”
Her house doesn’t have the typical beach house interior. The furniture, appliances, and everything else is very modern and sleek. It sometimes feels surreal that I get to live in a house like hers. And don’t get me started on my bedroom and bathroom.
She drags her teeth along her bottom plush lip as a pink tint colors her cheeks. “Hold on to those memories and make them a reality. Marry two models and buy the penthouse.”
“My priorities have changed,” I manage to say. “I don’t want that.”
“What do you want then?” Her gaze holds mine and her hand tightens around me.
You.“Let’s make a deal.”
Her lips quirk. “Okay?”
“If we’re not married by the time we’re thirty, we’ll get married. And we’ll have four babies like we talked about.”
Josie blinks, taken aback. “You want to marry me? Why?” she asks like the thought seems unfathomable, something she’s not entirely processing.
“Because I see a life with you,” I say because I don’t want to lie. I don’t want to pretend like I haven’t thought about it. “Because you make sense. Because you make me happy and I hope I make you happy.”
A quiet hum fills the space between us. Her silence feels everlasting, unnerving me.
“You make me happy.” She voices shyly, twisting her ring. “And you have a lot of great qualities I’d be dumb to turn down.”
I chuckle softly, acting nonchalant about her response and not the way my brain is jumping with happiness. “I do, don’t I?”
“But I don’t. You might want to rethink your deal.”
I quickly shake my head. “There’s nothing to think about. Josefine, I like you as you are. You’re smart and a smart-ass.” She glares but smiles a little bigger at that. “You’re resilient. Strong. A fighter.You. You have a lot of great qualities. Don’t ever let anyone believe you don’t because you do.” I pause,reallyimagining Josie being my wife. Mine forever.Whoa. “And I also like taking care of you. I like doing things for you, so we’re good. But just so you know, once we’re married, you can’t divorce me, Jos. I’m serious.”
Her entire face softens and glows. “It’s your funeral.”
“So do we have a deal?” I pull my hand back and extend it.
Josie places her hand in mine, shaking it. “Are you serious about the babies?”
“As long as you want them, yes.” My heart skips a beat.
“Okay, deal.”
“Okay, deal,” I echo, feeling ten times lighter.
