“You always did.” He supports my claim.
He sets the bag on the counter, and I feel we can keep it casual and just eat at the island. Oliver sneaks in to kiss my cheek. Virtuous but just as deadly as if he’d twisted my tongue with his.
“One more thing. Check the other bag.”
I see that the two bags are different colors. The brown bag doesn’t seem familiar or at least not of any place I know. I’m curious, and I get a peek at the contents but my brows furrow in confusion as I pull out a hammer.
“What’s this?”
“A hammer.” He stands behind me, knitting his arms around me to hold me flush to his body.
“I can see that.” My lips thin, but I want to smile.
“When you get the keys for the preschool you need to do a lot of renovations. You should be the one to knock the first brick down. I remember how much you love those home shows.”
I’m beaming, as it’s sweet. “You are full of surprises.”
“I just want to make sure you have everything you dream of.”
I turn in his embrace and chain my arms around his neck. “My husband, don’t you know?”
“Know what?” He stares at my mouth then travels back to my eyes, and his gaze gleams with desire and strong conviction for the way he feels for me.
“A preschool is nice, but all I need is you to have everything I dreamed come true.”
He licks his lips as his cheeks rise from his signature smirk. “We share the same sentiment.”
We meet halfway for a kiss that keeps us on earth because we won’t let go of one another but has every sensitive spot within me floating.
The sound of a chime draws our attention to the wind chimes from the road trip that Oliver kept. One for him and one for me.
“It seems our dreams arrived with the wind.” The back of his knuckles lightly rub against my cheek.
I sputter a laugh. “That was cheesy, but I’ll let it go.”
“Fine, the chime is sending the message that this time next year, if we feel like it, maybe we should do a vow renewal or something. A real wedding kind of thing.” He said it so matter of fact and that makes it better because it’s not a big production.
My chin juts out from the unexpected. “Really?”
He shrugs as though it’s nothing to do something to make me happy. “Yeah. I believe you probably have a list ofallthe details for a wedding with Oliver since you had a crush on me for so long. Maybe you even doodled little hearts next to my name too.”
I playfully shove his shoulder. “Funny. And why do you keep asking me major questions in your kitchen?”
“Because things tumble out of my mouth around you.”
“Do I make you nervous?”
“Not at all. It’s just your effect on me. But answer before the food gets cold.”
I quirk my lips up and pretend to think over his question. “Hmm… yes.” My face erupts into absolute elation.
“Oh good, my wife listens to her husband,” he deadpans before grinning ear to ear and kissing me.
I wasn’t lying when I told him that everything I dreamed is only complete if he is part of it, and I have that all now. But a semi-wedding? Well, that’s just the icing on the cake.
EPILOGUE: OLIVER
ONE YEAR LATER
