Page 182 of I Dreamt That You Loved Me

I had big plans for this evening but fuck it, I wanted to do this right now, so I lifted her onto the washing machine. “Stay right there. Don’t go anywhere.”

“Sex on the washing machine…” She ran her tongue over her lips and gave me a big wink. “I could get into that.”

I groaned. Now I was getting hard.

In the living room, I dug through the backpack I’d dropped on the floor and pocketed the things I needed, ready to head back to Cleo when a truck pulled into the driveway.

Two delivery men carried a crate to my front door and made quick work of unpacking the art piece. They propped it against the bookshelves while I signed for it.

After they left, I took a few seconds to admire the moody blue and indigo tsunami. My love letters. Our photos. Theusthat we used to be.

It was Cleo’s art, the piece I’d bought six weeks ago:I dreamt that you loved me. But this wasn’t a dream. It was real.

Later, I would hang it in our bedroom, but I had more pressing business, so I returned to the laundry room.

It smelled slightly musty and like fabric softener. Not exactly the most romantic spot for the occasion, but I was committed now so I didn’t let the location deter me.

We didn’t need the perfect setting, anyway. We had each other.

The laundry machine was going and so was the tumble dryer, so Cleo probably hadn’t heard the delivery guys.

She was leaning back on her palms with a smile on her lips.

I took a moment to drink her in. She was wearing the short white dress over a faded orange bikini. Her golden-brown hair fell around her shoulders and her long bangs brushed her eyebrows. Fresh-faced with no makeup and a bit of a tan, her cheeks were flushed a pretty pink, just like her lush lips.

Cleo had never looked more beautiful to me.

She looked like my forever.

I stood between her legs, and she locked her ankles around my back, giving me a playful smile as she slid one of the bikini straps off her shoulder.

“I didn’t come in here for sex,” I said. “Not that I’m ruling it out,” I was quick to add when her bottom lip jutted out in an adorable pout. “But first, I have something to say.”

She sat up taller, sensing the gravity of my tone. “Okay,” she said hesitantly, chewing on her lip as her gaze flitted over my face, trying to gauge my mood. “Am I going to like this?”

I sure as hell hoped she would, or I’d be fucked.

I had a whole speech prepared for our romantic sunset picnic on the beach this evening but now I couldn’t remember a damn word of it.

Guess I’d have to wing it. My specialty.

Besides, I didn’t need to make a whole big speech. I just needed to speak honestly.

I cleared my throat and looked into her green, green eyes. “I lost myself a few years ago and I can’t promise I’ll always be okay,” I said. “But I can promise that I will never stop loving you and that I will never leave you again. You’re it for me. Without you, thereisno music.” I pulled the velvet box out of my pocket and flipped it open, holding it out to her. “For better or worseuntil death do us part, will you spend the rest of your life with me, Cleo?”

My heartbeat kicked up a notch, pulsing in my ears while I waited for her response.

“Yes!” She slid off the washing machine and threw her arms around me. “Absolutely yes.”

I sighed with relief and wiped the sweat off my forehead. “Thank fuck for that.”

“As if there had ever been any question,” she scoffed. “I was a sure thing.”

I gave her an incredulous look that made her laugh. “It was touch and go for a while but in the end, we prevailed so that’s all that matters,” I said, tossing the box aside and sliding the gold wedding band onto her ring finger.

Mine. All mine.

“Oh my god,” she breathed. “This is gorgeous.” She brushed her thumb over the half-twist in the metal. “What is it? I mean, what does the design represent?”