“Remind me to break out the piece de resistance first to avoid this torture that you’re putting me through,” he says. I stall my fingers just under his chest. “Check under your pillow,” he suggests.
Now he has me intrigued again.
I study him for a second because I’m not sure what I will find. My hips stay square to his, but I lean across him to reach under the pillow. In the process, my body brushes along his mouth, and he takes the opportunity to give me a little playful bite.
My fingers search under the case and instantly my body freezes.
It’s a key with my name on the keychain. Feels a little more official than the spare key that I use sometimes.
“What’s this?” I choke out.
Tyler cooly remains unaffected. “Just your very own key for when you move in.”
“Move in?”
He grips my waist and flips us so he is on top. “Yeah. We’re long game, and the next step would be living together. I know it might sometimes feel that way because we’re neighbors, but we are also not living together. Enzo has to be comfortable, of course. It’s just… not living together doesn’t feel like enough, you know?”
Every word he just said was dripping warmth and honesty. “I get it. It’s crossed my mind. I mean, when the season ends then you are off for months, and will our dynamics change or…?”
Tyler kisses the corner of my mouth, keeping our bodies close. “I mean, if I were to get traded or something, I want you and Enzo with me. If I can’t marry you yet, then live with me, it’s the next best thing. Maybe you’re not ready now, but I’m waiting when you are.”
I freeze when I repeat his sentence back in my head. “You want to marry me?” It peeps out.
“Well, obviously that’s the game plan, but we said to go slow, so I’m trying to find some middle ground.”
“And one day marry me?” I can’t let this go.
Why? I’m the queen of slow and responsible decision-making. Filling my head with this thought is neither one of those.
Tyler is unfazed. “I want you guys by my side. Living under one roof is the way to go, and then I can hide a ring in your Halloween candy or something. Not sure I’ll make it to the fall holidays. Not sure how I feel about rings stuck in Easter Eggs, either.” He’s rambling, and it’s so perfect.
“Tyler,” I whisper his name. He realizes that he needs to give me a moment to speak. “I’m happy to hear about the long-game plans.”
“You’re on board, right?”
I nod my head. “We’re going at our own pace, but all of those things are for us. I want them too,” I confirm.
Our mouths fuse together, and we kiss our breaths away. “I love you,” I breathe out before we kiss again.
“I fucking love you,” he laments before his mouth runs down my neck.
It seems I can add Valentine’s Day as a new holiday to like.
EPILOGUE: TYLER
NEXT CHRISMUKKAH
Lainey trudges groggily into her living room in her Hanukkah-themed fleece pajamas that were a gift from my aunt. It’s morning, and even though Enzo faced the reality of Santa, he is still eager to open his presents this morning and is sitting on the floor near the tree, shaking a few small boxes.
A few months ago, we found a house that will give us a little more room, plus a yard. We’ll be moving in next month after the holiday buzz calms.
Lainey plops onto the couch, and I’m quick to offer her a cup of coffee that I already made because I’ve been up for an hour for many reasons.
“We have a solid two hours before we head to Chrismukkah at Gracie and Asher’s,” she mumbles.
“And a solid one minute for you to wake up and get with the show,” I retort.
She rolls her eyes and smiles against the rim of her mug.
