“Hey, neither am I,” Xander responded. “Maybe one day we’ll learn together?”
“For the wedding,” I said. “Uh. Dawn and Roxie’s hypothetical wedding, I mean. Not…”
“You weren’t asking me to marry you?” Xander asked, pulling back and pretending to be shocked.
“Not like this,” I said.
Notno. Notnever.
Just.
Not like this.
Xander chuckled. “I actually think this is incredibly romantic.”
“It is,” I said, resting my forehead against Xander’s again when he let me tug him back to me. “But you set it up. I wouldn’t just… take advantage of something that was your idea.”
“How would you do it?” Xander asked.
“I…”
I stopped myself from sayingI don’t know, because suddenly I did know. I knew exactly how I would’ve proposed to Xander.
“Might have to enlist the help of a kitten,” I said, smiling to myself as I nuzzled his cheek. “You could never say no to a kitten.”
Xander laughed again. “And you wouldn’t want me to say no?”
“Are you kidding? If I asked you to marry me and you said no I might literally die of embarrassment.”
“Not sure you canliterallydie of that,” Xander said. “But I’ll keep it in mind.”
“Well, good,” I said.
Because I might, one day, I didn’t say.Because I will, one day.Because I want to, one day.
Xander kissed me then, so I didn’t have to risk saying it, but I hoped maybe he could taste the hint of the words in my mouth. Just so that he knew he felt likeitfor me. Like I could do this all my life and be happy. Like I’d been waiting for him all this time.
The song changed, but we stayed together, swaying our way around the few square feet of space left in the nursery.
“Not long until you’re doing this with a lullaby playing and a baby in each arm,” Xander said.
“Won’t be doing that for long, either. They’ve already doubled in size as far as I can see. Hospital says they’ll be home in a couple of days.”
“We’d better finish this nursery up, then.”
“We’d better,” I agreed, glancing around to see what was left. Xander had finished a lot of little tasks when he’d sent me to get coffee, and the clear air was making it easier to think. Just one or two things left, finishing touches.
“Tell you what,” I said, pulling away from Xander to twirl him around under my arm. It went slowly and awkwardly at first, but Xander laughed when he figured out what I was doing and went with it, eyes reflecting the galaxy of lights projected on the walls.
I forgot what I’d been about to say.
“Tell me what?” Xander nudged.
“Oh! Right. What if I take you to dinner at The Friendly Otter? When we’ve finished up in here?”
Xander broke into a grin. “I’d love that.”
35
