It was all I’d ever wanted. I’d take all the icy feet and three a.m. wakeups I could get if they came with that.
“I can bore you to sleep if you want,” I offered. “I’ve been thinking about how to improve the shelving in the 1800-1850 section to fit some of the new acquisitions once they come back from the conservation department.”
Theo snorted. “Nice try, but you know I love to hear you talk about work.”
I hummed. “Well, if I’m not boring enough for you...”
“You’re not boring to me at all. I love you.”
I smiled, turning my head to press a kiss to Theo’s hair. He’d cut back the frequency of saying it alittle, but only because we’d been talking about so many other things. And finding other ways to occupy each other’s mouths.
“Feeling’s mutual,” I murmured.
Another handful of heartbeats passed in silence, long enough that I thought maybe Theohadfallen asleep again after all.
“I got a text from Delilah earlier.”
“Yeah?” I asked, nuzzling his hair.
“Mm,” he hummed. “She asked if you’d proposed yet.”
I huffed a laugh into his hair. “Did you want me to?”
I would, if he did. Instantly. I knew this was what I wanted forever. If Theo wanted to have us surgically attached to each other, I’d go along with it.
“Not just yet,” he said. “You can propose when you find the right moment.”
“Thank you for your permission,” I teased, but I was grateful to have it. We’d waited ten years to get our act together. Taking our time was kind of our thing.
Iwouldbe proposing, though. When I found the right moment.
“Corey called me,” I added. “Before I went to my parents’ place.”
“Oh?” Theo tensed in my arms. I pulled him closer—not that there was much closer to pull him—and kissed his forehead again.
“You turned him down when he proposed to you.”
I heard Theo lick his lips. “He told you that?”
“And that he had my number because you instructed him to call me if anything happened to you. Which I appreciate, because I’d want to know as soon as possible if anything did.”
Theo made a tiny, shy noise, turning his warming face toward my shoulder.
“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you,” he murmured. “I just…”
“I get it. You would’ve had to tell me why, and you were scared. We were both… scared.”
“I couldn’t lose you,” Theo said. “And I thought if I tried to hold you too tight, you’d…”
“Slip out of your hands like a wet bar of soap?” I finished for him when he trailed off.
He barked a laugh. “Anyone ever tell you your metaphors could use work?”
“You’re only saying that because you’re an editor,” I said. “Anyone else would’ve thought that was a great metaphor. Poetic, even.”
“Uh huh.” Theo smiled against my shoulder, pressing his face into it. “You keep telling yourself that.”
“You won’t lose me,” I said. “Whatever happens, you won’t. I want you in my life and while I very much like the way that looks right now, I’ll take whatever I can get. You’re stuck with me.”
