“We should do it here,” I say abruptly. It’s a brilliant idea. Who needs fancy venues and all the other bullshit that goes with them? I don’t want to put on a show, I just want to get a ring on his finger so that if I’m not around, everyone knows that he’staken, and they’ll have me to deal with if they even think of touching him. I don’t play nice, or fair.
Kendrick finishes chewing and licks his lips. “Do what here? Make pancakes? That seems like a fire hazard.”
“What? No.” How would we even do that? We could get one of those burner stoves. I’ve seen people use them in bed, I think. YouTube has a lot of wild rabbit holes.
“You’re thinking about it.”
Well, yeah, because he mentioned it. It would be remiss of me to not at least consider the possibilities. “We’ll come back to that.” It’s worth discussing further. “I mean that we should get married here.”
“In our bedroom.”
I shoot him a look. “The apartment.”
“There isn’t room here for that kind of event. Are we gonna do it in the hallway? The lounge?”
“We can move all the dining stuff out of the way, set something up. I don’t give a fuck, Ken. I don’t need anything fancy. Hell, I don’t even wantit. I just want you.”
He trails the pads of his fingers down my cheek and then grips my chin just tight enough to send a shiver down my spine. I love when he handles me like he owns me.
“Alright,” he says quietly. “If that’s what you want.”
“Tomorrow?” I ask hopefully. Hell, fucking today would be fine. It can’t be that complicated, right?
He laughs low. “No, baby, not tomorrow. But soon, I promise.”
That’s good enough for me. “We can invite Mav, Trevor, and Abigail. And the team.”
Kendrick’s face hardens, and he sits back, like he doesn’t appreciate my guest list. Why not? He likes all those people. “Talk to me.” Something else has to be bothering him. Unless Abigail sent him a text to rile him up, which she does.
“Are we inviting Sebastian?” He says the name like it’s dirt under his boot. Seeing him getting all caveman on me is intensely satisfying, and I can’t help my smile.
“That depends,” I say, dragging it out.
“On what?”
“Are you inviting Henry?” He better fucking not be. It’s a special occasion for the two of us and the most important people in our life. The cop doesn’t make the cut. He’ll never make the cut, because Kendrick belongs to me.
Kendrick softens. “No, Spence. This is for us.”
“Then no, I’m not inviting Sebastian. Just family, and the team.” They’re family too. They’re all we have outside of each other, and I have no intention of expanding that circle. I like Sebastian, and I like the friendship that we have. It means nothing when I compare it to this man in front of me. I would forsake the entire world for him. Leave behind anyone and anything. All he has to do is ask.
“Who’ll do the whole”—I wave my hand around and almost knock the fork out of Kendrick’s hand—“thing.”
“The celebrant?” he asks, lips twitching. “I’m sure we can find one. Hunter knows a lot of people; I’ll ask him.”
“Didn’t one of Jericho’s people get married not that long ago?” I try to cast around in my brain for a name but come up blank. I’m sure he mentioned it.
Kendrick blinks. “I… don’t think any of his guys are married? Recently, or otherwise.”
“How would that even work if they wanted to? There are an uneven number of them. How would they choose? I never thought Jericho would get married. Though I never thought he’d settle down with anyone either.” Proof that miracles do happen.
“He never met anyone he wanted to with before. I think we’re getting off topic. Who got married?”
“His boyfriend Quinn’s partner, I think?” I vaguely mention Jericho talking about the ceremony. And something about ducks.
Kendrick bites his lip. “Do you mean Grady and Lake?”
“Right, yeah, them.”
