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“I can see this being your trophy room,” I whispered. “Stocked full of everything you’ve ever won since you started driving a stock car. It’s almost too small.” I glanced at Watson to find him grinning happily. “And this,” I moved us across the hall to the larger room, identical in color with one more window. “Ours.” I felt my heart fill with happiness. “Where we sleep together, hold one another, and love one another forever.” I squeezed his hand tighter.
“Why do I feel a but coming?” Watson whispered. “Holt.” He tugged me closer. “Talk to me because right now you’re scaring me, and I don’t like it.”
I pressed my lips together. “You know I love you—”
“Are you breaking up with me right now?” He cut me off.
I took in the fear in his eyes, the tightness of muscles, and the tremble of his chin.
“Jesus, Watson, fuck no.” I waited for him to relax, but he stood there staring at me. “I’m scared that you won’t want this in six months or a year from now. That you will get bored. That you’ll wake up one morning and go, yeah no, this isn’t for me. I’m not the settling down type, and—Holy shit! What are you doing!?”
Watson wrapped his arms around my waist to lift me up over his shoulder. He carried me as if I weighed nothing back into what might be our future kitchen and placed me down onto the counter, so I was facing him.
“I’m not going anywhere,” Watson assured me. “I swear to fucking God, H.” He slid one hand into his front pocket. “I was going to wait to do this after Daytona, but...”
He dropped down to one knee.
“Watson, what... what are you doing?”
“What the hell does it look like I’m doing?”
I swallowed nervously. “It kind of looks like you’re proposing to me, baby, but that’s impossible, right? I mean... Is that your championship ring?” The way all the stones sparkled made me dizzy. “You’re really doing this? Right now?”
“Kind of looks like it, doesn’t it?” Watson grinned up at me. “I’ve had this thing in my pocket for a day, H, a day, and I’ve been dying to give it to you. When you’re ready, we’ll go pick out something better suited for you.” I noticed the flush that had started to creep up his neck and face. Watson was actually nervous, something I had never seen before. He was the most confident person I knew. “But this, I want you to have this so that you know how much I love you, how much you mean to me, and that I want you. Always.” He held up the ring so I could see it.
This was a big deal. That ring was more important to Watson than anything. When he won the Xfinity championship, he had actually cried when they presented it to him. He had worked so hard that year and had nearly missed out on winning. So, if he was giving me that ring—
“Yes,” I blurted out.
“I didn’t ask you yet, baby.”
“Uh, sorry, I got a little ahead of myself.”
Watson chuckled softly. “I think that makes two of us, then.” He shook his head. “So, how about it, Holt Alexander Walker? Will you marry me?” He reached for my hand before I even said anything and slipped the heavy, oversized ring onto my finger.
“I don’t get to answer this time?” I whispered as Watson stood up.
He shook his head. “Nah, baby.” He sealed his lips to mine before he pulled back. “It’s yes, though, right?” he murmured.
“Of course, it’s yes.” I yanked his head back to mine and wrapped my legs around his waist to bring him closer.
***
Mom took a sip of her wine, which she had opened the second we dropped the bomb about moving out, then placed the glass back on the table.
“I’m confused,” she said again, looking between Watson and me. “You got your own apartment? The two of you? Even though this is technically your house?” She glanced over at Dad, whose brows were so furrowed together, they looked like they might dig their way into his nose.
“Yes.” Watson was holding onto my hand so tightly beneath the table that it felt like he might break a few bones.
I was glad I had taken the ring he had given me off. One, because it was too big for me, and two, because that would bring on another round of questions we weren’t ready to answer. It was hidden under my shirt on a gold chain, and I kept reaching for it as if I was afraid it would disappear. After Daytona. That was when we were going to tell them. Just one more race to go, then everyone would know about us.
Dad leaned forward. “You boys don’t have to move out. We like having you here. You know that, right?” His nostrils flared slightly, which I knew was a sign that he was trying to hold back his anger.
“Don’t you want your own freedom?” Watson squeezed my hand even harder, and I flinched.
“Watts, can I maybe have a word with Holt?” Dad asked. “Because you’re doing all of the talking and he looks a little, well, frankly, scared.”
I shook my head. “I’m not. I want this just as much as Watson does, Dad. We’re adults, too. We need to grow up.” Watson kicked my chair, and I wasn’t sure if that was good or not.
