Page 94 of Unraveling Rain
I nod, still too stunned to fully process what’s happening.
“I’ve been thinking a lot about what comes next for us,” he says. “Now that I have to go back to Raleigh and hockey’s about to take over again… I figured it’s going to be hard for me to make it back here often. But I’ll try my best to spend my time off here—with you.”
His words land heavy in my chest. I search for signs that he’s trying to break up with me. But all I see is warmth. Excitement.
Still, I feel impatience creeping in. “But what does this RV have to do with any of that?”
He chuckles. “Well, I knew you’d want to move back into Minx—and that’s fine. But I thought you might be more comfortable here. You can take this baby into town, or leave it parked here and drive Minx around as usual.”
I raise my eyebrows. “You bought this for me?”
He nods, smug and adorable. “I bought it forus.It can be your home base—ourhome base. Then we can use it during summer for road trips.”
I stand slowly, taking it all in. The spice rack matches the one at the diner. The cookware is the exact brand I use. My throat tightens with emotion. He’s been paying attention. To every single detail of my life.
“Xander, this is incredible, but I can’t accept this,” I say, releasing a breath. “I don’t need a bigger van. Minx has all the space I need for when I’m alone.”
He stands too, walking slowly toward me with a soft smile. “I know this is a lot to take, but hear me out.”
I stand still, wrapping my arms around my middle, feeling overwhelmed by his big gesture.
“The RV is just temporary. The only reason it’s parked here is because this is where our house will be built.”
My heart stutters. “What house?”
“Our house,” he says, wrapping his arms around my waist. “The one we’ll design together. The one we’ll raise our family in.”
I lift an eyebrow, still half-disbelieving.
He chuckles. “Yeah, yeah, I know. I’m skipping a couple of steps. But ultimately, that’s the plan. I’m going to ask you to marry me. You’ll say yes. I’ll retire in a few years. And we’ll live here—together, full-time. Raise our kids,” he says, cheeks flushing a smidge.
“How are you so sure I’ll say yes?”
His cocky grin appears. “Well, baby girl, I hate to tell you this… but you’re deeply in love with me. Almost as much as I’m in love with you.”
I bark out a laugh. I love his confidence.
“What?” he asks, amused once my laughter dies down.
“Nothing. I just love how much you love me,” I say, grinning at him.
He kisses me deeply.Fuck, I’ll never get enough of this man’s kisses.
In an instant, I’m lifted onto the kitchen counter, and the kiss turns hungry. If I’m not careful, my clothes will be on the floor before I can blink. But there’s still so much to figure out.
I break the kiss slowly, and Xander groans in protest.
Chuckling, I slide off the counter.
“I love where that kiss was going,” I say, smoothing my shirt, “but we’ve got some stuff to talk through first.”
He leans against the counter, still watching me like I’m the only person who exists. “Okay. Hit me.”
“So, I’ve been thinking too.” I take a breath. “As much as I’d love waking up next to you every day, that’s not realistic right now. You’re going to have away games. And I still need to run the diner.”
His posture deflates, but he keeps his gaze trained on me.
“I was thinking… I could come to Raleigh for your home games. Then, whenever you’re on the road, I’d come back here.”
