Total pages in book: 122
Estimated words: 116031 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 580(@200wpm)___ 464(@250wpm)___ 387(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 116031 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 580(@200wpm)___ 464(@250wpm)___ 387(@300wpm)
The smile splits her cheeks as soon as she sees it and a giggle bursts free. Reaching toward the headrest, she runs her fingertips over the design. “You did not.”
“I did.”
Angling for a better look, she says, “Why do I like it so much?”
“I know, right?” She pulls her phone out and takes a photo of her initials embroidered on the seat. I kept it classy for her, so the thread is camel-colored as well. “CMF,” I say, “Catalina Marie Faris. Or Farin if you prefer. Works both ways.”
She replies, “Tomato.”
“Tamahto.”
“I love it, Shane. It’s beautiful and it will make the commute a lot easier and more comfortable. Thank you.” Checking the back seat, she adds, “And it fits two car seats.”
I’m about to move to surprise number two when my brain catches up. “Wait . . . what?”
“Just in case.” She shrugs. “Twins do run in the family.”
“Talk about expensive.”
She leans over to give me a kiss. “It’s only money. I need you to remember that.”
“Now it’s no object,” I reply sarcastically.
She laughs.
Suddenly, I’m nervous. I shouldn’t be. We’re together. We’re happy. We’re having a baby together. “I should have given you this a long time ago.”
“The car? You didn’t need to worry about—”
“Not the car.” Why is this so nerve-wracking? “There’s something for you in the glove box.”
She pushes against it with her fingertips, and it begins slowly openly. It’s the reveal I was hoping for. “What is . . .” She’s staring at the velvet ring box, dragging her palms down the front of her jeans.
I shouldn’t but she seems to need the help. I reach over with my right arm and retrieve it. Opening the box, I say, “You deserve the universe, but I hope this ring will be a good substitute.”
Tears fill her eyes as she reaches for it but hesitates. “It’s too beautiful, Shane.”
“I thought of you the moment I saw it. Luna helped. So if you don’t—”
“Luna was in on this?” She wipes her eyes and rests her hand on her chest.
I’m prepared, so I pull tissues from the console. “I had it picked out, but this should be forever, so I didn’t want to fuck it up. I showed it to her to get her opinion. She approved.”
“I can imagine. I’m speechless.” She clasps her hands together at her chest. “I really am.”
“Four carats in total. Nothing too flashy.”
She shoots a glare in my direction with an arched eyebrow in a pointed gesture. “Not flashy, huh?”
I shrug. “Luna told me to go for six.”
Laughing, she says, “That sounds like Luna.”
The diamond is a brilliant cushion cut situated on a platinum band. “Can I try it on you to see if you like it?”
“I like it in the box. I can’t imagine it’s going to be worse.” I take it from the box and slip it on the ring finger of the hand she’s holding out. Pulling back, she admires it in the sunlight drifting in through the open door.
I think she likes it, but I ask, “What do you think?”
“What do I think? God, Shane, it’s the most beautiful ring I’ve ever seen.” She lunges over the console, wrapping her arms gently around my neck as her mouth collides with mine when she kisses me. “I love it so much.” Waggling her fingers to watch it sparkle, she adds, “When should we get married?”
Six months later . . .
She jinxed us.
Although I’m probably a lot responsible for making twins with her.
“The babies want a burrito from El Fuego’s Burrito Shack,” she says, sending me out at nine at night to pick up food for a snack. I used to not even go out before midnight. Now I’m ready to stay in by seven. Life changes fast, and our priorities have shifted even quicker.
I should have bought stock in El Fuego’s last July based on how much I now frequent it. I have a standing order ready to go. I’m not sure that’s normal. But the babies get what the babies want.
Tossing the keys on the kitchen counter, I notice Cat asleep on the green couch that made it over from her place when the lease was up. The painting she did hangs proudly as the centerpiece of the living room. She brought more than color to my life. She brought meaning.
And soon two babies. I sit on the coffee table with the bag of food beside me. I always hate waking her up because she’s tired when she gets home from work. But if I don’t, she’ll sleep until morning, and she needs to eat.
I lean down, kiss her temple, and whisper, “I love you.”
Her eyes open, and a slow smile graces her face. “I love you, too.” She sees the bag of food next to me, and asks, “For me?”
“Yep, for you and the babies.” I stroke her cheek before standing. “Can I get you anything to drink?”