Page 127 of Revelry
“No, Gertrude,” he said. “It’sourFagenda, we cross the items off together or not at all.”
We canceled our jump with Dave who wasn’t the least bit bothered because apparently, he got to keep our deposit. Then we went home and curled up together on the couch, Tate’s head rested on my stomach, and I stoked his hair while he chatted away to the baby.
I’d been so terrified when I found out. We had talked about children in our future but we hadn’t planned it, it had justhappened. But there was no other man I could ever fathom having a family with. No man who I knew would love his child more.
Eventually Tate fell asleep, and I worked in the kitchen, making some more ice cream and trying out new flavors. Once I finished, I grew restless and went out into the garden and stared up at our tree.
I needed to climb.
I was careful. The fact that Tate had put footholds into the thick trunk was the only reason I would attempt this. I had practice and knew what I was doing. Making my way carefully to the branch where our seats were, I sat there watching the stars, rubbing my belly and talking to our baby. I wasn’t sure how long I was there, but I heard rustling and then Tate’s adorable scowl appeared.
“Woman, you lulled me to sleep,” he scolded.
“Seems like you needed it to me. You can’t be mad at me for climbing the tree.”
He settled next to me, his hand covering mine on my non-existent bump.
“I’m not mad you climbed the tree; there’s no point trying to stop you.”
“Then what are you mad at?”
“That I didn’t get to do what I was planning on doing when we jumped out of that airplane.”
I smirked at him, intrigued. “Oh yeah?” I nudged him. “And what was that, sugar?”
He locked his eyes on mine, the intensity in them warming me in the cool evening air.
“Ask you to marry me,” he said and then produced a small box.
I gasped, one hand covering my mouth as he popped it open and inside was the most gorgeous diamond ring. The violetshimmer glistened in the light, and I knew he’d matched the color to my eyes. It was stunning.
“Tate, this is a big commitment…”
He snorted. “And a baby isn’t?”
“Yeah, but we didn’t plan the baby, you planned this.”
“I did indeed.”
He wanted to tie me to him. After everything his parents had put him through, I never expected him to want this level of commitment. I had accepted it. But this changed everything. He wanted me, forever.
And forever sounded pretty damn good.
We had history and now, we had a future.
“Ask me.”
“Are you gonna say yes?”
I huffed. “That defeats the point of asking.”
He shrugged. “I just like to know going in, call me controlling.”
“You’re controlling. Now hush up and ask me, nicely.”
He shifted to face me, taking my hand in his.
“Gertrude Phyllis Hartman, sugar, will you marry me and make me the happiest man in the world?”
I tilted my head and tapped my chin thoughtfully, pursing my lips.
“I’m not sure about this, what kind of future can you promise me?”
He pushed out a breath. “A future full of annoying me while I horseshoe, making ice cream, getting all the good lovin’, pushing ourselves to our limits, zero sticks in asses, and all the fun that could possibly be had.”
“A lifetime of revelry?” I squinted at him in the night and he nodded. “Sounds perfect, sugar.”
The End.
