“They are. I got on a two-a.m. flight and landed around five. Been busy and trying to keep quiet so you can rest.” I nod at her living room, and it’s then that she finally takes in my handywork.
Her brand-new TV is mounted on the wall, her artwork is hung up, and the corkboard wall by her front door is secured. I walk her to the kitchen island and set her there, staying between her open legs as I reach over and pick up the small bright yellow Polaroid camera.
“I don’t know if this is the right brand or kind you had in mind, but I thought it might be what you needed to take pictures of your friends and pin them to the entry wall. It had the best reviews, and the yellow reminded me of you.”
She takes another slow perusal of her place, her eyes welling with tears. When they land on the camera, I think I may have severely overstepped. She’s made it very clear that she wants a hand in everything she does with her apartment, and maybe in my haste to surprise her I went a little overboard.
“Luke.”
“I’m sorry. I can take it all down if I got it wrong, and we can—”
“You got on a plane in the middle of the night instead of flying with the team so you could see me. You managed to put up a TV and a million other things while I slept. And you—” She hiccups, two tears streaming down her face. “And you put up my crazy wall idea and bought me the cutest camera I’ve ever laid eyes on. You—you listened. You know me. You…”
“I love you, Daisy. And if you’d let me, I’d love you for the rest of my life and consider it an honor.”
I don’t even realize I’m holding her left hand and stroking her bare ring finger until I hear a soft gasp escape her sweet lips.
In this moment, I realize what it looks like. All I need is a ring and to drop down to one knee. But the last thing I want to do is rush Daisy when she’s rebuilding her life brick by brick. All that matters is that she knows how I feel and that I plan on sticking around.
Her forehead rests against my own. “I love you so much, Luke. To the point where sometimes… I don’t think I deserve you.”
I squeeze her hand, lowering my head until her eyes meet mine. “Please tell me that’s some kind of sick joke.”
She shakes her head softly. “You’ve lived a drama-free life these past few years. And here I come with the world’s biggest baggage while you come to the rescue every single time, even when I don’t realize I need it.”
“Correction, Daze. I was practically the walking dead for five years. And you stepped into my life and made it worth living again. So if you think for one second that any of the turmoil you’re experiencing right now is a deterrent for me, then I’ve done a shit job of proving otherwise.” She bites her lip and I nudge her chin up higher. “If you’d let me, I’d tell the entire world that you’re mine. Let them write a million articles until their fingers bleed. I don’t give a damn. Because all that matters to me is that you feel safe and loved.”
“I do,” she says shakily. “With you, I do.” She loops her arms around my neck and pulls me in for a kiss.
I wrap one arm around her hips, pulling her closer while sneakily grabbing her new camera with the other and lifting it up toward us. “Smile, Daisy.”
And she does, while I place a kiss on her temple.
The photo slides out of the camera, and we watch the film come to life with our happy faces on it.
I scoop her off the counter and walk her over to her newly installed photo wall. “Care to do the honors?”
She takes out one of the colorful pins I added to the wall and sticks our picture in the very center. “Perfect.” She sighs as she looks at what I know will be the first of many happy memories on her wall.
“I agree,” I say as I keep my gaze firmly planted on the woman of my dreams.
thirty-eight
The Monarchs continued theirunprecedented winning streak this afternoon when they beat the Miami Mavens 5-3 on our home field.
It was a daytime game, but Luke and the team are staying back a few extra hours to go over film and cool down with the strength and conditioning team. Therefore Luisa, Isabella, and I decided to head over to No Boys Allowed for a little girls’ night out. I sent a last-minute text to Valentina, asking if she’d like to join us, and to my surprise, she accepted the invite immediately.
“So Luke has a hot sister,” Luisa says before we’ve even settled into the reserved booth by the arched window looking out into the busy Manhattan streets.
“Let a girl look at the menu before you start in on her, sheesh.” I pass a cocktail menu to Valentina and send her an apologetic smile.
She bats her eyelashes playfully as she takes it. “No, please. Carry on and tell me I’m cute. After a few drinks I’m sure I’ll be giving your husband a run for his money, declaring my undying love for you.”
We all laugh, the sound loosening the tension I was holding. I want Valentina to feel comfortable with our little group. She seemed so sweet and funny when I met her, but I could also sense she has a protective streak, like her brother. And now that I’m dating Luke, I fear I might make it my personal mission to make her my new bestie.
“Speaking of drinks, what are these?” Isabella’s eyes widen as she takes in the updated cocktail list. “Strikeout margarita?” She coughs up a laugh as she reads on. “Our sweet and spicy margarita made with top-shelf tequila, a hint of jalapeño pepper with tajin seasoning, and a colorful sprinkle rim,” she finishes with a knowing smirk.
Luisa shrugs. “I’ve changed this place up since Nick bought it for me, and I love the idea of it being a bar that caters to women who enjoy sports.”
