Page 65 of Surrender to Love

“Why haven’t you asked her yet?” Quintus asks as soon as our call connects.

“How do you know I haven’t?” I ask, even though he’s right.

“Because trust me, if you had, my kyau would have been screaming and crying, excited. She hasn’t; so you haven’t. What are you waiting on?”

“I just haven’t found the right moment. This has to be perfect for my baby.”

“It’s been four days. You come back Tuesday. You don’t have much time left.”

“I know,” I admit. “We’ve done some dope shit too. We got massages, went to this luau dinner where they danced with fire and last night took a boat out for whale watching.”

“Whale watching?” he questions, sounding like I did when Kyrah first mentioned it.

“Yeah. Apparently, winter is whale season. They come out at the end of November, beginning of December. We went yesterday afternoon and spotted two big ass humpback whales. She loved it, and I can’t lie, it was crazy. I liked it too. I was going to do it then but… I don’t know. It wasn’t right.”

“I feel you. I hate that I never did the whole proposal thing. I might have said some shit that night we got married but neither of us remember and I’m sure it wasn’t the proposal she deserved,” he says. It took him a minute but he finally told me the truth about him and Sis’s drunken wedding night. “Don’t rush it. When it’s right, you’ll know.”

“I hope so. She’s not coming back without my ring and a promise to carry my name. I’m ready for everything with her.”

“Good luck.”

“Thanks. I’ll get at you when we get back.”

“Bet. Love you, bruh.”

“Love you too.”

I end the call then walk back into the suite. For the past few nights, we’ve eaten at one of the resort’s restaurants but tonight we’re staying in because we have a super early start in the morning. She heard about some sunrise picnic on a dormant volcano. It’s popular and our suite assistant also recommended it.

“Quintus?” she asks.

“Yeah. How you know?”

“I was talking to Reya. She was still up, looking at ideas for the baby’s room. I’m about to order. You know what you want?”

“That steak and curry lobster I had the other night at that Duo place was good. I can eat that again.”

“That lobster was good. You want that same sauce on your steak?” she asks.

“Yeah, baby. That’s fine. What you getting?”

“I’m going to try the sesame & ginger-steamed fish. It looks good,” she says while looking at the iPad. “I’m going to get another of those pineapple beers too. I think I like it.”

“I don’t,” I admit. “Shit is too sweet. A beer should not be sweet. Get me that island one,” I tell her.

We’ve been trying all the local beers and liquors since we arrived. According to her, when traveling, the experience isn’t the best if you eat, drink, and do the same things as at home. It’s her thing and I fuck with it. She’s opening my eyes to new things and I love it because I’m experiencing it with her.

“Ordered. It says forty-five to sixty minutes, so we have time to finally use that big, pretty marble tub and that golden milk bath I bought from the spa.” She places the iPad on the table then stands. Slowly, she lifts her dress over her head then tosses it to me, then reaches back and unties her swimsuit top. She slings that my way next then walks over. “Meet me in the bathroom,” she mutters before pulling her bottoms down and stepping out.

“Already,” I reply, then drop her dress and top on the floor.

Like a dog in heat, I follow her to the bathroom and just watch as she starts the bath and pours in the milk shit. She turns, then helps me undress before easing into the extra-large tub and inching forward, making space behind herself for me. Happily, I step into the hot ass water and try to get comfortable. She leans forward to stop the water, then scoots back, nestling herself between my legs and resting her back on my chest.

“Thank you for agreeing to the sunrise breakfast. Starting my birthday on that volcano as the sun rises, overlooking the island, is going to be amazing. Well, extra amazing because you’ll be right there with me.”

“Baby, stop thanking me. You’ve done that every day of this trip. Giving you what you deserve doesn’t require any thanks. I’m just being yo’ man, so let me.” I wrap my arms around her.

“Alright, love. I’ll try not to say it again.”