This is our longest dry spell to date.
We cannot andwill notmake a habit of it.
My boyfriend’s inevitable return comes with the unexpected surprise of our drinks in old-fashioned latte cups rather than the to-go style we’re accustomed to, yet instead of acknowledging them, I choose to do what Grams suggested yesterday. “I’m sorry, Thayne.”
He carefully slides our drinks onto the table. “For?”
“For not telling M sooner.” His fingers tug the chair over so that we’re face to face rather than side by side. “For not expressing why waiting really mattered to me. For disregarding what it meant to you. For not asking why it meant so much. For even considering for a second about lying in regard to the best person that’s ever come into my life to the one of the people who I love the most. For-”
“Stop,” slowly drawls the man in front of me. “You don’t need to be apologizin’ either.”
“I do.”
“You don’t.” Jukes stretches his hand across the space to capture mine. “I mean, it’s nice and I apreesh, but after listenin’ to Bronny talk to Dubs about school and lacrosse and his buds, I realized that you and M are like me and my baby bro. Seein’ him have a life not in my shadow is amazin’, but I didn’t realizejus’ how hard it was to have. Hockey players we don’t…we don’t always realize how much of themselves the people we love really give up forusto live the life we dream of. Were you bein’ selfish wantin’ to keep what we have all to yourself? Yeah. Was I selfish for wantin’ to show it off?Yeah.” Another bashful, almost boyish smile slides into place. “I think bein’ selfish is jus’ one of those things that happen when you’re in love, Gillybean. We jus’ gotta treat it like any other skill we wanna strengthen. We gotta work at it.Train.” My knuckles are lifted to his lips for a kiss. “I should probably start with bein’ a little less impulsive.”
“God, no,” escapes alongside a lean forward. “I love that about you and how you bring that out in me and have taught me to trust my own instincts whether it’s about food or music or not hiring someone simply because their resume looks good on paper while my gut is telling me they won’t be a good fit for my team.”
Jukes flashes a crooked grin.
“I don’t want you to change that. I just…really…need you…to sometimes…stop…andhearthe voice you helped me find the courage to have.”
“I’ll do my best to do that, if you will try a little harder totell mewhat is you need me to really hear.”
“Deal.”
“Sign, seal, and deliver it then,” he salaciously teases prior to possessively cupping my face with both his palms. The tips of his fingers anchor themselves into the edges of my neck, to re-mark me with his touch, to reiterate the same unyielding tenacity his tongue is now diving into my mouth to deliver. Moaning and groaning and moaning again are attached to me grabbing a fistful of his sweatshirt, but unfortunately, he abruptly pulls back. Chortles. “As much as I wanna hear you keep doin’ that for me, Slayer, there’s something else I want more.”
Confusion widens my hooded stare. “What’s that?”
He gently guides the mug to be closer to me, revealing a question mark made out of the silky, thick microfoam used to make the designs on top.
“Grams told me to do what is it I feel like I’ve been waitin’ forever to do ‘cause we really don’t know how much time we’ve got left on the clock, so…” Jukes carefully pulls an engagement ring around the saucer to the front of the cup resulting in my hands flying upwards to catch my gasp. “I told you when we first met, I would marry you.Youthought I was kiddin’. Simply flirtin’. But I knew. Iknewyou were meant to be mine ‘til the end of time. And I knew I was gonna have to put in the work ‘cause Gramps always said the things in life worth havin’ are the ones you do that for.” Thayne gingerly peels my left hand away from my face. “And I hope youknowI’ll never stop puttin’ in the work for you, Gillybean. That I alwayswannaput in the work.” His thumb caresses the space waiting for the jewelry. “I have waited my entire life to ask you this question.” Scooting the chair back to drop down to one knee is effortlessly done. “Will you let me be your man…now and forever?”
Between the classic Richard Marx reference and the round, yellow diamond ring – a reminder of his favorite flavor of jellybean – there’s no denying this is truly ahimdesigned proposal.
One he put thought into.
Further proves his point about always putting in the effort for me.
Us.
How could I say no?
Why would ever I say no?
I’ve spent my whole life dulling my voice for others, so now that I’ve got it?
I’m damn sure gonna use it.
“Yes,” leaves me in almost air prompting me to repeat the word much louder and more urgent and more enthusiastically. “Yes!” Winding my arms around his neck precedes me saying it one last time. “Yes, Thayne Groff.” Our lips feather together as I speak the language he loves most by offering him a song in my answer.“I will be your woman. Always and forever.”
Epilogue
About two months later…
Thayne
“I miss you” sex is pretty hot.
