Page 76 of Don't Leave Me

“It’s nice to meet you too, sir.”

“Don’t call me sir, or I'm not hiring you. That makes me feel old.”

“Deal.” Peck chuckles.

“I think Mason’s right. You need to be hidden from people sometimes. Plus, when you start popping out babies, there will be days you’ll be working and they’ll be here for some reason or another. You don’t want them running around in the kitchen while you whip up something and people seeing that.” Blake jots notes down in his notebook.

“I'm almost afraid to ask this… How do you want the walls and floors?” Dad looks pained to even ask me.

“Can I do the dark hardwood floor looking ceramic tiles throughout the space? I want to ask Uncle Cole and Aunt Sammie to paint the walls to look like rose gold marble.”

“Damn, I'm good. I arrived at the perfect time.” Uncle Cole wraps me in a hug from behind and presses a kiss to my cheek. “I can't wait to have you home permanently.”

“How’d you know I’d want something painted by you?” I peer up at him.

“Because you’re Sophia Robinson and you have extremely expensive taste even though you don’t realize it. I'm sure when you get pregnant, you’re going to ask me to paint something in the baby’s room too.” He winks at me. “So rose gold marble? Every wall or just this long wall?” He motions to the biggest wall in the space.

“The long one? Could it have pinks, gold, purples, and blues in it? The other walls could be just pink, purple, and blue.”

“Anything for you, princess.” Uncle Cole plucks a measuring tape out of Dad’s hands and quickly measures the wall. He types a few things into his phone, then he hands the tool back to Dad. “I’ll sketch something up with Angel tonight. I’ll text you when it’s done and you can yay or nay it. Once you say yay, I'm not changing it.” He points a finger in my face and twirls it around. “I know all about the floors.”

“Oh my gosh it was once!”

“Twice!” Dad and Uncle Blake say at the same time, making me growl in frustration.

“How’s Wyatt 2.0?” Uncle Cole shakes Pecker’s hand and grins.

“I’m great. Can't wait to make our move to Mulberry Lane.” Pecker’s gaze strays to mine and I find genuine happiness staring back at me.

I’ve been so nervous about the move and if Pecker was sure about this, but he’s seemed happier since we got in town this morning. Somehow lighter and more carefree.

“Oh, trust me. The ladies are so excited for you guys to get settled. I believe there’s even a party in the works, but you didn’t hear that from me.” Uncle Cole winks again. “Also, we’re taking bets on when the wedding will be.”

“You don’t know?” I smirk as I lift my left hand and point to my ring.

“Well, shit. How did no one know?” He glares at Daddy, making him roll his eyes.

“I found out when they got here today. I'm sorry I didn’t start a group text message,” Dad grumbles.

“On the bright side, I think I was the only one who said you’d be engaged before you moved here.” He puffs out his chest withpride. “I’m going to spread the news since Papa Bear doesn’t know how to.”

“I expect an amazing cake at my party!” I call to his retreating back. He chuckles and waves, never stopping.

“Alright, while she keeps bossing around the handymen, do you want to come next door and see your new place of employment?” Uncle Mason turns towards Pecker.

“Yeah, definitely.” He presses a soft kiss to my head and says he’ll be back soon.

“Hey, asshole, we’re not handymen.” Uncle Blake flips off Uncle Mason. He couldn’t care less, he just chuckles. They all grew up together and are hard to offend.

“What else do you want, baby girl?” Dad asks, redirecting my attention to my task at hand.

Chapter 35

Pecker

“This is it.” Mason spreads his hands wide and motions around the space.

There’s a desk with a woman smiling at us behind it. She has a phone pressed to her ear and is taking notes. There are two couches off to the side with a coffee table, but not much else.

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