He frowns as if confused. “I would adopt one and you would adopt two?”
I shrug. “We could do it that way.”
“I was thinking it would be great to get married in the Square like Carver and Kaelyn did.”
I blink at his sudden change of topic. But then I grin. “You of all people were made to get married in the gazebo in the heart of Sapphire Falls.”
“Yeah?”
I laugh. “Carver and Kaelyn did it because it was practical. Everyone they wanted at the wedding was already going to be home for the festival. And this way they didn’t have to find a venue big enough and didn’t have to decorate. Plus they just agreed to pay for the band for the dance that was already going to happen. And that definitely made the festival committee happy. But as far as nostalgia and theme, getting married during the festival is way more a you thing.”
He smiles as if that pleases him, then sighs. “I was thinking we would do it next year.”
My heart thumps. Is he actually going to propose like this? Here? Now?
“Oh,” I say, not really sure if that’s the right reaction.
“But that’s a year away,” he points out, unnecessarily.
“Right.”
“But it seems that you’re talking about adoption right now.”
I frown. “Yes…”
“It seems like it would be a lot easier for everyone if we were married when we did it, right?”
I frown. “Why would we need to be married to adopt the cats?”
He stares at me for three heartbeats. “Cats,” he repeats.
“Yeah. The foster cats.” Then suddenly everything makes sense. I start to laugh. “You thought I was talking about adopting kids?”
His eyes are wide, and I realize we’ve stopped moving, even though everyone around us is still dancing, and the music is still playing.
“Of course I thought you were talking about kids.”
Oh my God. I said I could adopt two and he could adopt one. I laugh even harder. “Why would you think that?” I ask.
“Because adopting kids is exactly something you would do. Even three at a time.”
That makes my heart melt a little. And he’s not wrong. I’m still grinning, but I admit, “It is. But I would definitely talk to you about it first. I wouldn’t just spring that on you in a text.”
He pulls me closer. “You could, you know.” His voice is soft and husky. “I want whatever makes you happy.”
And I do know I could. My heart melts further. I reach up and put my hands on either side of his face, just looking at him. “Yeah, I guess I do. Wow.”
“So, I guess it’s safe to say, I am open to adoption.”
I smile. “If someone had asked me that, I would’ve already known the answer.”
His return smile is soft. “But it would be easier on everyone if we were married right?”
I nod. “Yeah.”
“Good to know.”
And it’s good for me to know that he wants to get married in the town square at next year’s festival.