“I love you,” I whisper. “You are so precious to me.”
“I love you too.” She leans in and kisses me, then smiles softly.
I caress one of her dimples, smiling back.
“I’m also obsessed with you, just so you know.”
She giggles. “Oh, I know.”
“Oh, you do now?” I tickle her side. “Now tell me you’ll at least give the places a chance tomorrow.”
“Nate…” She can hardly breathe through the laughter.
“Tell me,” I demand, and I get her right in the spot that makes her lose it, right at her waistline.
“All right, all right,” she cries, and I let up on my torture. “You’re going to pay for that.”
“I like taking care of you. Let me.” She takes a breath, and I know she’s fighting with herself. “Let me put it like this…you are the love of my life, and when we graduate and get jobs, we’re going to get married and live happily ever after, with our kids, a black German Shepherd, and whatever other shit comes along with it. I can’t always promise things will be easy, but one thing I will promise is that my wife will be taken care of every second of every day. That doesn’t mean you’re a kept woman. Trust me, I know my girl. Madeline Grace Cunningham has a mind of herown, and I love you even more for it. It means you feel loved, you feel safe, and you feel happy. Ensuring your safety in a well-secured building in a safe neighborhood is just one way I can show you all those things.”
Her bottom lip wobbles while attempting to smile. I know she gets it.
“How did I get so lucky?”
“Aww, look at Mom and Dad,” Addie gushes, smiling at us.
Leo hands me a beer and Maddie a Diet Coke. “Enough, no more lovey-dovey shit.”
Maddie snickers, sticking her tongue toward Leo, then holds out her drink.
“Congratulations to two of my best friends. One is the love of my life, and the other is like a second brother to me. You both mean the world to me, and I’m incredibly proud of the hard work and dedication you’ve put forth in your school career.” She chuckles and whispers, “Leo and a little more than Nate.”
“You know it.” Leo high-fives her, and I roll my eyes at the two perfectionists. Both are at the top of their class. Not that I was far behind them, but only the top three are acceptable in their eyes. “Anyway, all jokes aside. I would never have understood how difficult and complex this B. Arch program was had I not been in it myself, so I know just how much praise and acknowledgment you deserve. I can’t wait to see the incredible path you weave in your career, and I’ll be rooting for you, especially when you open your firm in the coming years. You deserve everything and more. I love you and feel like the luckiest girl in the world that I have y’all in my life.”
I’m choked up and have no words, so I pull her into a tight embrace, burying my head in her neck. I raise my eyes to catch my brothers, who are filled with tears.
I reach out and cup the back of his neck and give him a little pat.
We fucking did it.
I run through the house when I hear my phone ringing upstairs, just in time to answer.
Mads.
“Babe, how did it go?” I jump on one foot, trying to get my leg in my shorts. I’m late for lunch, a farewell with some crewmates.
I can hear the cars zipping past her when nostalgia hits. I can’t wait to be home and see my family and friends.
“Oh, Nate. I love, love, love it here. Is there anywhere better than New York City?”
“I know, it’s the best city on earth. Hands down.” I smile at her enthusiasm when she giggles over the line.
“Once we’re here together. It will be my favorite place on Earth because you make everything in my life feel like bliss.”
“Mads…”
“Sorry, I’m being all sentimental. This city does something to me that I can’t explain.”
That I understand.
