I groaned before turning over on my back to see what had him so giddy. He held the box up in front of my face. Sitting up, I took it from his hands with a smile. It was a new keepsake box for him to keep track of important things. His last box was four years old, smaller, and filled to the rim with random things that meant something to my baby.
“Aww, this is so nice, baby. You love it?”
He nodded excitedly. “Yes, and the first thing I’m going to put in it is my report card.”
I pinched his cheeks and ran my fingers through his curly and wild hair. My eyes lifted to the door when Ace came in carrying a box of his own. Poppa had taken his time to carve beautiful and intricate designs on them. I saw he’d put the name Havoc on Loh’s in support of his superhero career. The way he loved my boys warmed my heart.
He sat on the edge of the bed, sharing his box with me too. His cast had finally come off, and he couldn’t wait to pick up a baseball again. He opened his box to show me Poppa had his first keepsake inside. “Ma, this is a 1948 Leaf Jackie Robinson card. It’s the card that represents Jackie Robinson overcoming the color barrier in the MLB.” I could see the joy and excitement in my baby’s voice. “Poppa said, if I hold on to it, it’ll be worth some really good money twenty years from now.”
I tapped his nose, wanting nothing more than to hug or kiss him, knowing it would make him uncomfortable. “You plan to hold on to it?”
He nodded. “Yes, and add to my collection. Some, I will sell, but I’ll keep my favorites.”
I smiled just as the door was pushed open wider. Poppa stood there, holding a gift bag and red roses in one hand and a wooden tray in the other. There was a plate of waffles, bacon, and eggs on top with the little blueberry-shaped cup I’d bought to keep my favorite blueberry-flavored syrup. I pressed my hands to my chest. The boys moved out of the way so he could place it on the bed beside me.
“Poppa, what is this?”
He leaned down and placed a kiss on my lips, silencing me. My eyes fluttered wider, and I crashed with the melting pot of love swirling in his Hershey orbs. “Open it and see.” He winked, and I was sure I turned into a pool of chocolate.
I heard the boys squealing from the corner of the room because he’d just kissed me in front of them. If there was any doubt about last night, he’d erased it with that simple gesture alone. If he wasn’t committed to this, he would never show affection like that in front of the boys.
I gulped, accepting the gift bag. He got on his knees beside the bed with a smug expression. I pulled out the tissue paper and set it on the bed. I gasped when I revealed a wooden box that was painted with orange, green, yellow, and white Hawaiian hibiscus flowers. I took it out of the gift bag to admire its gorgeous detailing. He’d really taken his time with this.
He held open his palm, and I looked down to see a gold key waiting for me. Tears flooded my lash line; I sniffled, accepting the key from him. My heart was beating a mile a minute, anticipating what I’d find inside. I lifted the lid and revealed a pile of photos, movies, and concert tickets. The tears began to fall as I began to shuffle through everything he’d included.
The collection of photos ranged from when we were children up until recently. He’d kept a keepsake from every date or adventure we’d ever had. My gaze shot to him as I realized what this meant. “I’ve been working on this box for years. I think I always knew it was you. You’re the one I love, Bubbles, and I want to spend my life with you.”
I got to the bottom of the pile and found a note. He was waiting patiently for me to read it. Pulling it open, I saw it was handwritten by Lyrix.
Will you be my girlfriend, Bubbles?
I glanced up at him with a laugh. “I would love to be your girlfriend, Poppa.”
He smiled widely then leaned forward for a kiss. Each smooch he placed on my lips created a time-space portal that transported us to a secret place where only our love dwelled. In the galaxy of his eyes, I could see all the lifetimes we chose eachother, knowing we were always meant to find each other in this one too.
“I know we’re doing things out of order because we already live together, but I want you to know that this home is as much mine as it is yours and the boys’. Never leave me, Bubbles.”
I opened my hands for him to take. A surge of joy electrocuted my senses, making me more aware of his amber cologne, . . . the shiny hairs on his chin, . . . and the softness of his marshmallow-like lips . . . I palmed his face and stared lovingly into his eyes, seeing adoration that mirrored my own.
“I’m not going anywhere. Who cares if things are out of order? As you always say, ‘shit different with us.’”
I creamed my panties when he licked his lips and nodded. “Been different, always going to be different.”
Chapter 19
Grai
“Are you really not going to tell me where we’re going?”
Lyrix bopped me on the nose then gave me a quick smooch. I thought maybe he was ready to give in, but then he smiled, and I knew he wasn’t. “Nope. Now put these on.”
He held a blindfold and a pair of bulky headphones in his hands. I raised an eyebrow, and he knew to fill me in. “Noise-cancelling headphones. Our destination is going to be announced, and I’m not ready for you to know yet.” He closed the distance between us before he finished. “And we both know how much you love surprises.”
Since I knew he was right, I simply shrugged and allowed him to get me ready. He ordered me to stay in place until he came back. He was only gone for a minute or two before I felt him take my hand in his. Any anxiety I was feeling instantly disappeared. I tried to figure out where he was leading me, but I kept coming up at a loss.
He helped me up a flight of stairs, and I could tell we’d entered something, but I couldn’t tell what. After a few strides, he guided me to the right, then down into a seat. I used my hands to feel around, and I could tell I was sitting on a bed. I felthim pop my hand and burst into laughter. I could imagine him standing in front of me with a frown, and he probably called me a cheater too.
Because we were weeks away from Christmas, I was wearing a coat that he helped me remove. My boots came off next, then I was guided to lie down. Seconds later, I felt a jerk forward and knew we were moving. I smiled because I was sure we were on a train now. I lay on my back, excited about what was next, when I felt Lyrix easing my jeans down my legs. I lifted to help him out.
