He reaches down and picks me up by the back of my thighs without breaking our connection, and I wrap my arms around him, allowing myself to fantasize about the life Luke has so beautifully depicted. My mind snags on his mention of us having children together, and I pull myself back before I start attempting those baby making plans immediately.
He places his forehead against mine, breathing heavily before he asks, “So what do you say, Daisy girl? Sound like a plan to you?”
I look back out to the view. He takes advantage and kisses my neck.
“Well…” I pause.
He stops his ministrations on my neck. “Well?” His arms tighten around me.
I sigh dramatically. “Does this mean I’ll have to get a matching ring finger tattoo? I am a bit adverse to needles, so I need to know what’s in the fine print before I agree to anything.” I play with his hair as I look at him pensively.
His eyes flash before he nips the spot right under my ear. “Don’t play with me, Daze. You know I’ll get down on one knee right now if that’s what it takes.”
I wiggle in his hold, unable to hold in my laughter. “Okay, okay, yes! Let’s build a home. Let’s do all of it.”
He stops, his face going serious. “Yeah?” He searches my eyes. “All of it?”
I nod. “All of it.”
“Good.” He heaves out a breath. “That’s good.”
I giggle as I nod at his truck. “Let’s go find that bed I’m so fond of before you go off and make that tattoo appointment.”
sixty
SUMMER
“I STILL CAN'T BELIEVE how much you cried at Mateo and Isabella’s wedding.” Daisy smiles down at her phone, no doubt looking at all the photos we took at their wedding this weekend.
It was a quick forty-eight-hour affair, since they’re planning a bigger wedding in the off season, but it was beautiful. They lit up the entire Altos de Chavón amphitheater with candles, and we watched them get married under the stars, alongside their family and friends.
The only thing that broke my concentration during the vows was the less than covert way Middlebrooks was staring at my sister, who did her very best to keep her distance from him. I really hoped things would have smoothed over by now, especially since she’s the new team photographer and travelswith us to away games. Sooner or later, they’re going to have to leave the high school drama behind them and play nice.
Daisy and I decided to stay an extra two days at the house in Jarabacoa that she inherited from her mother. The same house Nick and Luisa got married in a few months ago. This place holds a lot of happy memories for my Daisy girl, and today I hope to add another to the list.
“I wasn’t crying, I was stoically weeping. At least that’s how Nick put it.”
“Ugh, I can’t believe you guys are such besties now. I think he took more pictures with you at the wedding than with Luisa.”
“That’s because midway through, he snuck off with her behind the restaurant and I caught them—”
“Never mind, you were a stoic, burly manly man who released axe-wielding tears. There, is that better?”
I pounce without warning. Over the past few months, she’s developed quite the mouth on her, and I’ve loved seeing her new sense of self flourish beautifully. I love punishing her in bed for it too.
“Get off. Your beard is tickling me,” she squeals.
I lift my head from where I was nipping under her jaw. “I thought you liked it when my beard tickled you.” I raise both brows playfully and I let her escape my hold. For now.
“I can’t believe I took such a long nap after breakfast. Those tres golpes really took me out.”
I smile. “A breakfast of mashed plantains, fried cheese, and salami will do that to you, I suppose.”
“Oh yeah, and you eating me out after as dessert didn’t do a single thing to send me into that coma whatsoever.”
I shrug unapologetically as I watch her reach over to the nightstand for her laptop. Looks like it’s almost time. Hope I don’t fuck this up.
I try to nonchalantly come to sit by her and lean against the headboard. It’s convenient since what I need is hidden under this very pillow.
