He chuckled. “Depends on whether you’re in this for the long haul. I’ll manage the territory until you decide what to do with it, regardless.”
I frowned, not loving his word choice. “Wait. Are you not in it for the long haul?”
A gentle tug on my hair and a reproving look. “I’m in this forever, flower girl.”
My eyes narrowed. “Then why’d you say that?”
He snorted. “Because just a few short months ago, you were doing everything you could to haul ass from me.”
I didn’t say anything for a long moment. “To be fair, you were freaking me out.”
He dipped his head in acknowledgment. “I’m aware.”
“Something has changed?”
“Not at all.”
I crossed my arms and glared. “Then why are you asking me if I’m in it for the long haul?”
Caelan laughed. “Evie, if you wanted to get married right now, I’d skid this vehicle into the court parking lot and drag you inside. I’m here for you as long as you want me to be.” He pulled off the side of the road and stopped. Turning to me, he gently gripped my chin in his hand. “Stop overthinking.”
He was right. I was overthinking. “You haven’t asked me to marry you in months,” I grumbled.
“Do you want me to start again?” His eyes glimmered with amusement.
“No,” I grumbled. “But maybe ask me once. Later.”
Caelan’s eyebrows flicked up. “Oh?”
I nodded.
“When the time is right.”
I nodded again.
A thoughtful look crossed his face. “Alright then. When the time is right.” He pulled the vehicle back onto the road. “Then I suppose your answer is 100% yes, you’re in it for the long haul.”
“I’m going to punch you,” I growled.
Caelan’s laugh filled the air and settled the knots twisting in my stomach. “We’ll work everything out when we get back. In the meantime, I think we should talk about building a house.”
I blinked. “Here?”
“Mmm hmm. We’ll need to visit periodically to keep up appearances and dissuade others from encroaching.”
“Like Ethan.”
He nodded. “And we should start soon. I’ll handle Ethan.”
“A house,” I mused. “How much land?”
Caelan chuckled. “As much as you want, darling.”
He was really good at being a boyfriend. Or whatever we were. Boyfriend didn’t feel like the right term to describe what he was to me.
I wound my fingers in his. “Can we design it ourselves?”
“I’ll never tell you no, Evie.”
