Page 48 of Don't Leave Me

“You really didn’t have to do that, babe.”

“I know, but I saw this and I thought of you.” He slips out from under me and grabs something out of his work bag by the front door. He comes back with a thin box wrapped in black paper with a gold bow sitting on top.

“What is this?”

“You’ll have to open it to find out.” He settles onto the couch and pulls me half on top of him again.

I slowly unwrap the present as excitement spreads through me. I love getting presents, but I didn’t expect one from him.

“Why didn’t you give it to me on Christmas?”

“I don’t know. I guess I felt weird doing it because I knew you didn’t have one for me. I'm not upset about that, so don’t start feeling like you owe me something.” He lifts my chin, making me stare deep into his eyes. “Do you understand?”

“Yes.”

“Good. Open that present so I can find out if you like it.”

I pull a jewelry box out of the wrapping paper and stare at Pecker. He motions for me to keep going and I carefully lift the lip to the box. A soft gasp leaves my mouth as my eyes fall on the most beautiful bracelet I’ve ever seen.

“You got me a diamond tennis bracelet? Pecker, this is too much!”

“Nah, baby. Nothing is too much for you. I thought it’d look really good on you. If you don’t like it, the jeweler said we could return it and get something else you’d like.”

“These are real diamonds?” I blink down at the bracelet. There’s no way he bought me a real diamond bracelet.

“Yes.” He chuckles, pulling me in for a kiss. “Why is that so surprising?”

“Because this has to be expensive!”

“It definitely wasn’t cheap, but I wanted to spoil my girl.”

“What if I break up with you?”

“Well, that would make me horribly sad and I don’t think having a few more hundred dollars in the bank would ease the pain of that.” He frowns at me, his brows forming a deep V. “Are you going to break up with me? Because I’d really rather you didn’t. I want to move our relationship forward, not sever it.”

“I'm not breaking up with you, Peck.” I push his chest back until he’s lying flat on the couch, then I straddle his hips and kiss him. “I'm never breaking up with you.”

“Does that mean you’re going to marry me?” He murmurs against my lips.

“Maybe one day. I’d have to be asked though.”

“Oh, I’ll definitely ask. I plan on making you Mrs. Pecker.”

“Oh my gosh! I didn’t think about that!” I snort with laughter and drop my head to his chest.

“You don’t want to be Mrs. Pecker? I guess you could keep your last name.”

“Do you really think I want to go by Mrs. Robinson?” I arch a brow and wait for it to click for him.

“Damn, I didn’t even think of that.” He lets out a deep belly laugh and it might be my favorite sound ever.

“Why are you still at my house, it’s almost midnight?” Colt’s voice comes through one of the cameras in the corner of the living room, scaring the crap out of me. I let out a shriek and almost fall off of Pecker.

He grabs me at the last second and rights me on his lap… where I'm still straddling him.

“Sophia, I don’t think Papa Robinson would be pleased with the position you’re in right now,” Colt tsks.

“Shut up, Colt! I’ll invite a family of raccoons into your house while you’re gone.” I smile innocently at the camera.

---