I crane my neck and appraise the wall behind him. “It does look great.”
“See? Now go away. Have breakfast, and I’ll be down in a bit.”
“Fine. But only because I’m hungry.”
He smirks with satisfaction and shoos me away.
It isn’t until an hour later that he joins me downstairs, freshly showered and in sweats. I’m busy on the floor untangling tree lights to put them back in the box. We opted for a tiny fake tree. I’m nearly done after five minutes. Carter joins me on the floor to help.
“You’re not upset about missing New Year’s?”
I roll a shoulder back. “Nah. In the end, the biggest day this year will be when he or she decides to come into the world… Plus, it’s a new moon next week. We’re fine.”
“Alright. If you say so.” We succeed with the string of lights, and he places it in the storage box. “I finished the wall, and next week, I’ll put the car seats in the car.”
Instantly, I gush contentment. “Can’t believe that in six to eight weeks this girl or boy will show up.”
“Unless you go over. My mom went over with Oliver and me.”
“But my mom had me early. So, who knows.”
He lies on his side and props his elbow up. His brown eyes glint with a little sparkle. “In a few weeks, I’ll be named mayor too.”
I raise a brow at him. “Someone is a little cocky.”
Carter has a cunning grin that turns me on. “I think we know where it’s going to go. I bought everyone at Foxy Rox coffees last time I was there.”
“Bribery, huh?”
It earns me a wink. I notice the way he’s watching his fingers circle on the rug in front of him, keeping himself occupied. His throat bobs in a way that seems he’s gearing himself up. “Rosie.” His voice is nuanced, and his eyes flick up to meet mine. “We still haven’t really talked about what you said the other day.”
I could throw out a funny retort right now, but I’m aware of the significance of his question.
“You mean the wife part?” My voice is very delicate.
“Yeah. That.”
Licking my lips, I debate what to say. “Is there something to talk about?”
His finger begins to draw a circle on my wrist. “I’m just wondering where your head is at. The past month has been busy, but we only seem to get better.” He’s desperately searching for me to say what he hopes I will.
“That’s true. We haven’t really mentioned it again.” Probably because I’ve been so wrapped in how great thingsaregoing.
He trails his long finger from my wrist down to my empty ring finger where he stops. “Just know that before I become mayor or we have a baby, I’m saving the rings for none of those reasons to ask you to be my wife again. The rings are waiting for you because you’re supposed to have them again.”
My heart jumps from the yearning in his voice, with the full sincerity of what his heart wants.
Still, my eyes turn into saucers. “Is this a proposal?”
He smirks to himself. “It can be if you want it to be. It’s more ensuring you have clarity on what I’m envisioning. You don’t need to ask questions because I’m laying it all on the table, yours for the taking.”
It is tempting to fly into his arms and say yes.
But that tiny part of me still wants to be certain that we won’t hurt one another all because we got lost in a surprise fate has thrown at us.
Still, I bring my hand to his cheek and rub my finger by the corner of his mouth. “Keep holding on to the rings.”
That’s a promise I can make, and it’s true.
