Page 34 of Choosing a Forever
Shit.
There are so many things we need to talk about. So many things are still up in the air, and I don’t know how to bring any of it up. What are we doing about rings? Are we splitting the bills somehow? Will he bring his own furniture and mix it with mine? What about groceries?
“Mack, you good? Your face changed. Talk to me.”
“Beds,” I blurt. “And rings. Bills. Groceries. Where Siren will sleep. I just—there’s a lot to talk about. Lots of logistics we haven’t thought of.”
“I’ll pay half of everything—mortgage, utilities, groceries. Your sisters will most likely suspect something’s off if wedon’tshare a room, but you can make that decision. Siren sleeps in a crate. I already have a ring picked out for you, and I can buy my own if you want. I don’t have any food allergies or preferences, but I enjoy cooking, so that burden won’t fall on you.” He reaches across the table to take my hand, rubbing his thumb over my knuckles in a soothing gesture. “I want to help take the burden off of your shoulders, Mack. I know this is a big change, but I’ve already thought some of it through. I’ll get a storage unit for my stuff or sell it. I don’t have much beyond the basics anyway.”
“Okay, yeah, that sounds good.” I stare at the place we’re connected. My skin sizzles with every brush of hiscalloused thumb. Wait— “You’ve already picked out a ring for me?”
“Yeah. If you want to pick out your own—”
“No, no. That’s okay. I can buy yours, too. Can you even wear a ring on the job, though? That seems like a hazard.”
“I’ll probably get a silicone band for when I’m working, but if you buy me a ring, I will wear it proudly whenever I’m off the clock.”
Why does my heart flutter when I think about him wearing a ringIbuy him? Why does he have to be so fucking sweet and earnest?
“Okay. I can do that. Any color preference? Gold, silver, black?”
“Like I said, I’ll proudly wear whatever you buy me. But if you want ours to match, gold would be best. That’s the only hint about your ring you’re getting, though. You’ll have to wait to see it.”
“Gold, got it,” I say, almost robotically. My mind is too stuck on other things. What kind of ring does he envision for me? Does he know my heart is about to explode over how enthusiastic he sounds over all of this? He’s practically vibrating with it, and it makes my nerves simmer down.
“Have a proper dinner date with me.” He squeezes my hand. “Are you free on Saturday?”
I blink, trying to think if I’m scheduled at the bar. “Yeah, I’m free.”
“Great! I’ll pick you up at seven, okay? Nothing too fancy but not, like, jeans and a T-shirt. Is that okay?”
What the hell does he have planned?
“Yeah, sounds great.”
His answering smile is blinding. I swear he’s going to turn gold from all of the happiness pouring out of him. “Fantastic. Thank you for trusting me, Mack. I don’t have the words to express how much it means to me.” An alarm on his watch beeps. “I’ve got to run. I’ll see you Saturday.”
Automatically, I stand and follow him out the door. He wraps me in one of his big bear hugs, opens my car door for me, and helps me in, giving me a rapid wave before he gets into his own vehicle and drives away.
I slam my head back against the headrest. “What the fuck is my life?”
I picked up a mid-week shift at the bar so I could have a little extra money to buy Talmage a ring, and I’m regretting it now.
I swear Joanna has a sixth sense for gossip because she’s been eyeing me all night like she’swaitingfor me to tell her.
The bar isn’t as busy on a Wednesday, but some people come for the food, so the dinner rush is just dying down when she turns to me with her arms crossed.
“Spill it, Mack.”
“I thought I wasn’t supposed to purposely spill drinks anymore?” I try to joke, but her stern gaze blocks any levity from entering the conversation. I sigh. “I’m getting married.”
Joanna throws her head back in a laugh, throaty and gruff. Tears trickle from her eyes as she continues to cackle, bent in half and slapping her knee like it’s the funniest thing she’s ever heard.
I don’t know what to do in this situation, so I stand there awkwardly until her laughter dies down, and she sees the look on my face.
She immediately sobers. “Oh, shit. You’re serious?”
I nod.
