AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Always and forever?”
“Always and forever,” he rumbles with a cute nod, and I’m drawn to the steady rhythm of his voice. “Come here, trouble. I want you in my life every day and in my bed every night. I’m going to be the man who loves you until the day he dies. I’m going to be the man who brings that smile to your face and makes you happy. No fucking doubt about it.” He tilts his head, silently asking for a kiss.
Tears fill my eyes. I can’t help it.
I press my lips to Dillan’s, overwhelmed with emotion, unable to think of what else to do. The burdens I’ve been carrying my whole adult life lift off my shoulders, and I feel like I can breathe properly for the first time in years.
“Well, lucky for you, Ms. Trouble comes with a lifetime supply of craziness,” I whisper, burying my face in his chest.
“As long as it’s with you, I’ll take it.”
I was fully expecting a joke, a return to our playful back-and-forth, but his sincere words hang in the air. I hold his face in my hands and lean back so I can look at him, overcome by emotion.
“It feels like a dream,” I tell him. “No one’s ever told me I’m perfect like that.”
“Well, start believing it. Because you are. Well, except for one thing.”
Oh. I stiffen. “What?”
“Your last name.”
“Ha.” I let out a chuckle.
“But hey, that’s easily fixed.”
I’m still catching my breath from just moments ago when he laid it all out: cohabitation, love, the works. But the suggestion of putting a ring on my finger? That’s even too wild for me. Our connection still feels fresh, and I’m hardly the typical picket-fence kind of girl. “But isn’t that what sets us apart?” I ask. “We’re not your run-of-the-mill couple who follow the same old script.”
“Nothing’s wrong with a classic love story.”
“True.” I plant a kiss over his heart and lean back into his chest. “Maybe it’ll be for us one day.”
“I’ll be ready.”
“Just promise me I won’t wake up to find you gone.”
“I promise, baby. I’m with you and Isaac. I will hold you for the rest of our lives.”
I look at Isaac, who is happy as can be, settled between his parents. All the work I’ve been doing has been rough as a new mom. I want to be home with Isaac more—and now I will be able to.
“I wish I didn’t have to go to work today,” I muse, happier than I’ve felt in a long time. “I don’t know how I’m going to focus on anything else but my studio and you two.”
Dillan shrugs, the playful glint returning to his eyes. “Call your boss and tell her you need the day. You’ve been working plenty, I’m sure she would understand. Plus, who can resist spending the day with the undisputed king around?”
“Ah, so we’re bowing to the king’s demands now, are we?”
“We are. Because seriously, I’m pretty sure the real king around here is the one in diapers.”
I laugh.
A day off sounds like a blast. Marlene would understand.
Normally, the thought of calling out sends me into an anxiety episode. But not today. I’ve got vacation days that are untouched, and I feel I’m entitled to use some. “Let’s ditch the routine for a day. Or two, or three,” I say, smiling. “Or more.”
“Now you’re talking.”
“Oh, my gosh! I just realized, I’ll soon have enough saved already to go ahead and get the floors redone. I thought about saving it for much later, but now I don’t have to.”
“I don’t mind lending a hand with renovations either,” Dillan offers.
