“What brings you here, sexy stranger?” I nipped at his bottom lip.
“Obviously I’m here. Where else would I be today, of all days, except in a bathroom with my Allen?”
“Huh?” I was so confused.
“One year ago today, we were in a very different bathroom, doing very different things,” he ran his finger down my chest. “Unless you want to, you know, do those things here.”
“Wait, it’s our anniversary?”
“It is.”
“I didn’t even remember. I didn’t get you a present. I’m the worst boyfriend ever.”
“Far from the worst.” He kissed my lips.
I opened my mouth, kissing him deeper. The water from the shower dripped inside, and I pulled back.
“Kissing later,” I said. “I didn’t plan anything special or get you anything. I’m really shitty with dates, but you’d think I’d remember one this important.”
“You don’t need to get me anything.” He reached for the shampoo bottle and pumped some in his hand and brought it to my head. “Here, let me take care of you.”
“Why are you so good to me?”
He stopped his fingers that had been massaging my scalp. “What do you think, Allen? Because I love you.”
I twirled around so fast I nearly fell.
“Did I not make that clear? I love you, sweetheart. You said I was your home once. Well, you’re my heart.”
I hugged him close, slamming my eyes shut to avoid the shampoo dripping in them. “I love you too, Daddy. I love you too.”
I wasn’t sure why neither of us had said it before. The feelings had been there for a long time, at least on my side. It wasn’t something I was specifically holding back or anything like that. “Enough of that sentimental stuff. Let’s get your hair rinsed out before you end up with red eyes.” I stood back enough to let him rinse me.
“I was thinking,” he said, “since it’s our anniversary, maybe I could move in here, huh?”
The night was getting wilder and wilder, and I hadn’t even put on my after-work clothes yet. “You want to move in here with me?”
“Yes, but it’s not about the place. I want to live with you. And your bees are here, and I know you can move hives and all that, but it’s best if you don’t. And my bakery is not that far.”
“Are you sure?” Commuting that early in the morning wasn’t fun.
“I’ve been sure for months, but I was waiting for the right day. When I saw the calendar today and remembered how we spent it last year, what better day is there than this?”
“You know most people don’t celebrate the anniversary of when they banged in a public restroom.”
“Good thing we aren’t most people then. Because I made us a cake.”
“Cake?”
“Yep. Let’s get you cleaned up, and we can start our dinner with our dessert first.”
“Please tell me it’s chocolate.”
“It’s your favorite…devil’s food.”
I had the best Daddy ever. I already knew that, but every once in a while, it just hit me how true it was. Today was one of those days.
14
