Page 132 of Truck Me

She shrugs and nuzzles closer to me. “I don’t know. I guess I worry that we’re moving too fast. Either that, or the gossip in town is getting to me.”

I feel her tense against me. We’ve talked a lot about how to handle the gossip that was sure to come. Word spread fast that I’m Rayne’s biological father. That kid wasted no time telling everyone who’d listen that I’m her dad. It made me both proud and nervous at the same time.

I love that she’s happy I’m her dad. Lord knows it’s some of the best news I’ve received in my life. But it’s put a strain on my relationship with Charlotte.

Everyone already figured out we’d been secretly seeing each other. Considering Charlotte and Rayne’s familial relationship, we’ve been the talk of the town.

“Hey.” I roll us over so I’m settled over her. I rest my elbows above her shoulders and cup my arms around her head. “We promised each other we wouldn’t let the gossip get to us. And if someone said something to upset the other, we’d talk about it. No matter what anyone says, we’re not doing anything wrong.”

“I know.” She threads her arms underneath mine and wraps them around my shoulders. “And I believe that with all my heart. It’s just hard hearing the old ladies chatter when they come into the salon. Mrs. Engle stops them every time, but a few still manage to give me a piece of their mind.”

I frown. “You didn’t tell me this.”

“I didn’t want you to worry. You worry too much as it is. I can handle it, but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t bother me.”

I press a light kiss to her lips. “I need you to tell me these things. I can’t help you work through them if you don’t talk to me about them. We promised no more secrets. Ever. No matter how big or small.”

She nods. “I’m sorry. I won’t keep it from you again. But you should know, it happens almost every day. The ladies from the Methodist church are relentless.”

I groan because Grams has already told me a few stories about them bombarding her with questions when she’s at the community center. From what Grams tells me, Charlotte and I have a lot of people praying for us.

“Well, fuck them. And fuck their judgment. I only care what you and our families think. They support us. That’s all that matters.”

“That’s easier said than done. You try working at gossip central and see how much it gets under your skin.”

“You know,” I say as I pepper a trail of kisses down her neck. “If you would just marry me, that’d shut at least half of them up.”

“Garret!” She runs her hands into my hair and gives it a sharp tug.

“Yes, Princess.” I tease, choosing to ignore her frustration. I’ve asked her to marry me almost every day since we officially got together, and I don’t plan on stopping until she says yes.

She huffs and tugs at my hair until she forces me to look at her. “It’s only been a few weeks.”

“But we’ve known each other our entire lives. And it’s been longer if you count the time since we first reconnected.”

“You could decide you hate me in a month.”

I’m shaking my head before she even finishes talking. “Never going to happen.”

“It will when I finally take over your tiny house. I have a lot of shit in your garage to unpack. And all my plants are still at my parents’ house.”

I shrug. “I’ll build us a bigger house.”

“But you love your house.”

“I do, but I love you more. Plus, there’s nowhere for Rayne to stay. I want her to have her own room in our house.”

She raises a brow. “Our house.”

“Yes.” I position my legs between hers and spread them wide until my growing erection presses into her center. “Our house. This is your home too.”

“I like the sound of that.” She smiles as I press my lips to hers.

“Then say you’ll marry me, Princess. You already said you agreed with me. That I’m the only man you should marry. I don’t understand why you want to wait. Make my life complete and be my wife.”

“You’re not going to stop asking until I say yes, are you?”

“Nope.”

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