Page 172 of Off Season

I’m about to protest, but I’m learning to compromise. I simply remove my clothes until I’m in a bra and panties. Once he’s in his boxer briefs and T-shirt, we crawl inside until we both lay our cheeks on the pillows facing each other. I find myself wondering if this will be the last time I’m in a Cheetah fort looking at his handsome face. My stomach twists at the notion.

I’m about to start my planned speech when he holds up his hand. “Don’t. I know what you’re going to say. You’re always the one steering this ship. Today, it’s my turn.”

I nod. “Okay. Say what you need to say. I’m all ears.”

“No less than a thousand times during the past year and a half, you’ve expressed thatIwant kids and marriage. ThatIneed both to be happy. Have you ever heard me say that?”

I shake my head. “No, but you did ask me to marry you.”

“I’ve asked you to marry me over two hundred times.”

“The first time, Cruz. That proposal was real.”

“Was it me being swept up in an emotional moment without an ounce of forethought, or was it as real as the night of theaccident when you accepted my proposal thinking it was a marriage proposal?”

My eyes widen. “You knew?”

“You’re not the only one with brains. I figured it out at some point that night while we were sitting in the hospital as I replayed it over and over in my delirious head.”

“Okay, so maybe we were both swept up in moments, but haven’t you always assumed you’d get married and have kids?”

He takes my hand and rubs his thumb over the back of my palm. “I think I assumed it because I hadn’t considered differently. It’s all I knew. But it wasn’t my goal in life. I didn’t run around looking for a child-bearing wife. I’ve never even been in a real relationship until you. I’ve never truly cared for a woman until you. Honestly, Kam, I was mostly worried that I’d never find someone who matches my crazy. Someone who loves to be silly and laugh like me. Someone who gets my euphemisms. Someone who loves me as I am. I know I’m notnormaland never will be. There’s only one thing in life I know for sure right now. I love you. I want to spend my life with you, whatever form that takes. There is not one ounce of doubt in my mind about that.”

“What about kids? You’ll push for that one day, and I don’t know if I’ll ever get there.”

His blue eyes bore into mine. “Have I ever asked you to do something you didn’t want to do?”

I shake my head. “Never.”

“Other than giving our relationship a chance, have I ever once asked you to change anything about yourself?”

I shake my head again. “Never.”

“Kam, I’ve never even asked you for monogamy. I made a personal decision not to be physical with other women because I don’t want anyone else, not because we agreed to it. I’m not interested. It’s not an effort. I’ve never asked you to give up women or men. You’ve done it because you want to. You don’t want anyone else, just like I don’t, but I never asked that of you.”

What the fuck? I immediately replay all our relationshipconversations. It’s true. He’s never asked me for that. I did it because I only wanted him. Hell, before we even slept together, I couldn’t look at other men because of him.

“W…what are you saying?”

“Do I make you happy?”

I nod as tears fill my eyes. “Exceedingly happy.”

“I feel the same.” He smirks. “I make me happy too. I’m a fucking riot.”

I giggle as I playfully slap his arm.

His face turns serious again. “Youmake me happy. How about this? We spend time together as long as we both want that. No rules. I’m asking you to move in with me, not for any other reason than I want to live with you. I want to go to sleep with you. I want to wake up with you. I want to build forts with you. I want to make dinner for you. I want to pump you with dark chocolate when it’s shark week. I want to pump you with my vanilla cream when it’s not. If you don’t want to—”

“I want the same. I want all of it. I just never want to hold you back from what you need, but I equally know that I’m not going to be forced into anything. But you’re right, you’ve never once forced my hand…except down your pants at the dinner table a few weeks ago.”

His dimples make an appearance. “Good, because I already made you a key, and that’s three dollars I can never get back.”

I smile. “What key? You don’t have a front door, kitten. The elevator opens into your condo.”

He feigns shock as he sucks in a breath. “Oh shit. You’re right. The elevator keycard is like a hundred bucks. I’m not sure I’m ready for that level of commitment. Three dollars was my budget. Forget everything I said.”

I let out a laugh.

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