Page 53 of Unveiled Wishes

“I was going to get you a place in town, but I thought it would be too far from the clubhouse. You’re going to want to be close to How after so many years apart.” He threaded his fingers through the back of my hair. “I don’t want to live in my room forever. I asked the club if anyone can build a home on the property. Pretty has to look into it, but it’s in the works.”

“A house? You mean like Sabre and Flo’s house?” I was firmly in the honeymoon phase, and I hadn’t thought about our living situation. He was right. I wouldn’t want to live in his room forever.

“Yeah. If the club votes, and we can develop the land, I want to build a house back there. You’ll be close to How and the other women. I’ll know you’re safe because you’ll be on club lands.” I felt him lay his chin on top of my head. “You’re going to give me a family, but they won’t grow up in the clubhouse. They’ll still be able to run and play outside, causing mischief, but they won’t have to grow up too soon.”

“When are you planning all of this?” I asked. It sounded amazing, but I didn’t want to rush our relationship. I wanted to enjoy our lives together and let things progress naturally.

“Not for a while.” I could hear the smile in his voice. “I want you all to myself right now.” His stomach rumbled, reverberating against my ear.

“My bed is really comfy. Why don’t we order food for delivery and lay like vegetables?” I offered.

“You had me at ‘food’ and ‘bed.’” He let go of me, but I grasped his hand. Leading him to the kitchen, I opened the drawer that had all of my takeout menus.

He took one look at the drawer and collapsed against the counter, laughing.

“Just for that, I am ordering Chinese, and you’re going to like it.” I felt his arm wrap around my waist, and he pulled me to his side as I found the menu to the restaurant around the corner.

“I don’t care. I am not a picky eater, like your brother.” We looked at each other and laughed at the inside joke. Eric was the worst eater, and I thought he would’ve grown out of that. The man only ate chicken tenders and fries if he could get away with it.

I ordered the food and then wrapped my arm around Tyler’s back and steered him towards the bedroom. “Strip,” I whispered in his ear. “It’s the only way to lay like broccoli.” I let go of him and headed towards my walk-in closet to change. I didn’t think I was in there long, but when I walked back into the bedroom, Tyler was looking at the pictures that I had framed on my armoire, fully dressed.

“You saved them,” he said, picking up a brown frame that I’d had custom made.

“I did. They were priceless to me,” I replied, knowing exactly which set of pictures he was looking at.

“I asked How to take them because I wanted you to know that I had listened. The only problem was, I opened the box, and I had to take a moment. He took the picture anyway and told me to suck it up, that you’d get a kick out of it.”

“When I look at that picture, I see the emotion on your face as if I can feel it myself. I didn’t get a kick out of it. I didn’t have any pictures from when you spent the summer in the Hamptons, andI wanted to see you. That’s why I pushed so hard,” I said to his back. His shoulders were bulging underneath his cotton shirt.

“Are these cut-outs of the balloons I drew?” he asked, not turning around.

“Yes,” I whispered. “There’s a small shop down the street that engraves trophies. I traced the original balloons onto printer paper and asked if he could make the frame.”

He sat the frame down, turned around and stared at me. “I’ll always remember this Christmas, but Valentine’s Day is our holiday. A year from now, on Valentine’s Day, marry me, Em.”

“Why in a year? Why not this Valentine’s?” If he asked, I would say yes immediately.

“I want to prove to you I am not leaving. I am in this for the long haul, but I worry that you’re going to keep expecting me to check out when it’s hard because I’ve done that before. Give me a year to prove myself.”

“I don’t think that’s necessary. I don’t want you looking over your shoulder, wondering if today’s the day I am going to leave because you didn’t prove yourself. That’ll be exhausting, and I would rather just be with you.”

“No, but this is important.” He took the few steps over to me and placed his hands on each of my cheeks. “I want to make sure that my actions match my words, so that you’ll never love me any less than you do now.”

I held his cheeks in between my hands, too. “You need to breathe, Tyler Mitchell. I would marry you tomorrow if you asked me. I am not leaving, but you need to believe in us.” Kissing him, I could feel the tears running down my cheeks. “One year. In that year, I am going to prove to you I love and accept you, just the way you are.”

***