Page 116 of Rebound

“It’s perfect, Patrick. This … this is perfect.”

“Yeah?”

“Oh my god, yes! A part of me wanted a house just like this and maybe that’s why none of them felt right. And this whole time…”

I chuckle, rubbing the back of my neck. “I got the walls done and a few things pulled out, but this house is your canvas, Tamara. You get to decide what it looks like.”

Her eyes widen and she squeals, waddling towards me with a bright smile. I hug her as tight as I can, my hands sliding under the oversized T-shirt to rest on her leggings clad ass. I kiss the side of her head as she sobs quietly against my shoulder.

“Hey,” I whisper and pull her back gently. “I can’t wait to see what magic you create with this place.”

“We’re building our home!”

“Yeah, baby. You get to raise our kid in your home.”

Her chin quivers and she nods, swiping at her face angrily. Then her expression shifts to concern. “Oh my god, please tell me the kitchen isn’t still ugly.”

Then she’s off.

The kitchen is most definitely still ugly. It’s probably the worst part of the house, but it’s got great bones and Tamara’s magic touch will transform it. As she potters around, cursing at everything, I switch my DAD T-shirt for the new one I bought that reads: Let Me Ask My Wife. Then with the velvet box in hand, I walk towards where she’s shaking her head. Her back is to me, so I take a deep breath and release it quietly, then drop to one knee.

“Hey, Lo?”

“Yeah, Trick?”

“Could you do something for me?”

“Depends,” she says, opening and closing cabinets and I chuckle.

“Turn around, sweetheart.”

She does and freezes when she sees me holding the ring out to her. “Patrick.”

“Hey,” I say softly, willing my emotions to stay trapped where they are until I get through this. “The first time I saw you at summer camp, I told myself girls like you would never notice boys like me. I think I fell in love with your smile first, then your wild curls and everything else happened soon after. Who knew the universe would find a way to bring us back together or you’d make me work for it. But it was worth it. Every hurdle I crossed, every step I took forward, brought me back to you. You stole my heart long before you knew you had it. We might have done this all wrong, but I want you to know something. I never have and never will love anyone the way I love you.”

Her hands are over her mouth now, tears streaming down her face as she stares at me. I smile and shift forward slightly so we’re closer.

“I have one last question. Tamara Eliamma Chandy, will you spend forever with me?”

She blinks slowly and drops her hands, then nods. I’m on my feet as she crashes into me and I laugh as she attempts to climb me. I scoop her up and set her on the counter, our mouths finding each others. The kiss is messy and brief, and I pull back to meet her eyes, smiling when she scowls at me.

“You didn’t give me an answer, Lo.”

She rolls her eyes, the scowl turning into a beautiful smile. Her hands come up to hold my face as we stare at each other and then very softly, she says, “Forever sounds great.”

I kiss the tip of her nose and slide the ring onto her finger, smiling when I see that it fits perfectly. “My Ammachi left this for me. It signifies how much my grandfather loved her and it so happens that your birthstone is sapphire too.”

“Oh my goodness, Trick. This is beautiful.”

“As are you.”

She grins and finally notices my T-shirt, snorting out a laugh. “You weren’t wearing this before.”

“Needed to dress for the occasion. Speaking of which.” I whistle, then kiss her forehead as the veranda doors swing open.

Our family and friends pile in, hooting and hollering. Tamara’s eyes widen as she takes in her cousins, my siblings, my parents, her uncles and aunts, all of her friends and their husbands. Then she looks at me and I wink before we’re hugged and congratulated by everyone.

Forty-Two. Better than ‘dicked you down good’ flowers