Page 54 of The Reality of Wanting Him (Love Without Labels #1)

LIAM

W aking up this morning is everything.

For the first time since that awful day in the city, I wake up with Blake in my arms. It’s so much better than the empty bed.

When I open my eyes, I’m met with his warm hazel ones staring back at me.

Oh, how times have changed. That first morning on the farm, I never would have pictured this man waking up before me.

Yet here he is, waiting for me to get up, tucked against my chest, fingers drawing patterns against my skin.

I tighten my hold around his waist, pulling him even closer, pressing a kiss to his forehead. “You waiting for me, baby?” I rasp, voice thick with sleep.

Blake grins and presses a kiss to my jaw. “Yes.”

I can see a flicker of hesitation, and I know there’s still so much we need to discuss. I’d planned on talking last night, but Blake passed out, which I completely understood with how intense our sex ended up being.

“Whatcha thinking about?” I ask, running my hand up and down his bare back. I wait, letting him take his time to collect his thoughts .

“Are we still engaged?”

The question makes my stomach flip. It’s not that I haven’t asked myself the same question repeatedly as I considered us getting back together, but hearing him ask doesn’t make it any clearer. “I don’t know,” I admit honestly.

Blake bites his lip, considering my words. “I mean, we were supposed to be married by now,” he says quietly. “And I still want to be.”

My heart beats a little faster because I do too . I never stopped wanting him, or us. But I also don’t want to rush it.

I cup his jaw and run my thumb over his cheek. “Blake, I love you. You know that, right?”

He nods. “Okay,” he says quietly.

“And I do want to marry you, but I also don’t want to rush it.

I don’t want us to feel like we have to prove anything to anyone.

I want our relationship to be ours . Not something we do because of the show, or for money, or because it’s what someone else expects of us.

I don’t want to do anything because we feel like we have to for the reunion.

I just want us to have time to be together the way that we want to. ”

Blake exhales slowly, like he’s been holding his breath this entire time. “Yeah, I want that too.”

“So let’s not worry about the fiancé label for now. We can officially get engaged again when it feels right for us. It doesn’t change the way I feel about you, or the fact that I want our future to be spent together. I just want it to be for us, okay?”

Blake smiles, leaning down to nudge his nose against mine. “Okay. But, for the record, you’re definitely still my future husband, so can I call you that?”

I chuckle, tugging him against me and press a kiss to his lips. “Of course. And you’re mine .”

We stay like that for a while—wrapped up in each other.

It feels like we’re finally back on the right track, like we’re exactly where we’re supposed to be.

Since his dramatic move to the farm, I haven’t doubted that Blake was my future.

I just needed to be in the right headspace to choose it again. And now, we can.

After a few minutes, I finally nudge him. “You ready to get up and go feed the chickens?”

“The chickens! Yes. Daddy’s coming!” he yells dramatically, even though they definitely can’t hear him.

I roll my eyes and laugh, savoring the reminder that my life with him will never be boring. I get dressed quickly and follow him out the door.

As we walk over toward the coop, I turn to him. “So, what’s on our to-do list now that you’re officially moving in?”

He stops in his tracks like this is shocking news to him. “I am?”

“Yeah, baby. We’ll get your stuff today from Dad’s and move you in, although I don’t know if he’ll let Lucky come too with how attached he is.

” I thought living together was a clear next step, but I guess not.

Especially not with the way he launches himself at me, wrapping his arms around my neck and kissing me with excited passion.

When he finally pulls back, his entire face gets serious.

“Liam. Future husband. I meant what I said to you when I first showed up at the farm. I want to put my money into our life. Into the farm. I know I’ve put a little bit in already, and before you get weird about it, just accept that this is my dream too. ”

I sigh, it’s been a bit of struggle to accept his money, even in the small amounts we’ve used already, but I do know he really wants to do this.

He’s proved it. It’s time for me to prove that I trust him too and let him get what he wants.

“What are your grand plans?” I check, trying to sound as excited as he is, despite knowing that I’ll probably have a headache after hearing the answer.

He perks up immediately, realizing that I’m not going to argue with him about the money. “Okay, so first, goats!”

“Goats? ”

“Yes, we need goats. I’ve already picked out names, babe. I’ve done some research and you have to have at least two so I think we should start with four.”

I had a feeling this conversation would immediately go to more animals. “Blake?—”

“No, no, just hear me out,” he pleads. “Goats are good for farms. They eat weeds. They’re cute! And we can get those little pajamas for them!”

“What is with you trying to dress up the farm animals, B?”

“Fine, overalls . We’ll get them overalls.”

I groan but I know it’s useless, he’s already committed to this and named them. “What else?”

“Alpacas.”

I actually laugh at that. He says it so seriously though, like he’s put a lot of thought into this. “You’re out of your mind.”

“I am not!” he exclaims. “They’re profitable, Liam! We could sell the wool. Make blankets. Plus, they’re fluffy and adorable and I love them.”

I cross my arms and level him with a look. “Uh huh, and how much research have you done on all these animals?”

“I’ll have you know, a lot. It’s my entire TikTok algorithm. They’re all I see. I know so much now.”

“Oh, Jesus." I laugh to myself.

“Trust me, I have so many ideas, and the animals will be great for bringing families to the farm! Petting zoos are the best. I’m officially taking over the expansion plans.”

I tug him in, whispering against his lips, “I love you, Blake. So much.”

He smiles against my lips and presses a kiss to my mouth. “I love you , Liam.”

And at this moment, I know we’re going to be okay because we have each other. As ridiculous as his ideas might sound, I love that he’s making plans for us . That this isn’t just my farm anymore, it isn’t just my dream, my future. It’s ours.