Page 106 of The Story of Us
Bigger than his debut football romance,The Comeback Route,hittingThe New York TimesBest Seller list.
Bigger than attending a premiere for the second season of the smash hit show based on hisSmoky Mountain Killersseries.
Today was the day his biggest dream was coming true and the best bit? His forever best friend was right by his side. Snoring lightly, which was totally fucking adorable.
Nate shifted carefully so as to not disturb Eloise and reached for his phone on the bedside table. He’d planned everything right down to the tiniest details. He couldn’t fully plot a book because he always got bored, but this? A proposal for the perfect woman? He’d almost done an Owen and used spreadsheets. With nowhere to be for hours yet, he relaxed back into the bed and settled in to do one of his favourite things.
“Are you watching me sleep again?” It was like Eloise was pressing her words right into his body. Every syllable matched the thrum of his heart. Because that’s how essential Eloise had become—had always been, really—to his happiness.
“Tiger, I could watch you?—”
She rose on to her elbows, and he congratulated himself for not looking away from her face when the sheet fell to her waist. It was a good thing, too, because he would’ve missed Eloise roll her eyes, her lips twisting into the smile he wanted to see every minute of every day.
“Stare into space for hours and not get bored. I’ve heard this story before. You’re pretty smooth when you want to be, Mr James.”
He could do it now. Ask her to be his wife, to become Mrs James. Although, he didn’t care if she took his name. Eloise had his heart and that was all that mattered. Whatever adventures the world had in store for them, they’d face them together. Just like they had for the last three years. Whether it was road tripping around the US in an RV for three months once Eloise had finished her exchange or spending days cuddled up on the couch ignoring the world while they watched old sitcoms and sketched or supporting each other while they tried new things. Turns out taking chances wasn’t so scary when your best friend was always there with a hand to hold and to offer a safe space to land.
But he wasn’t going to be that guy. Their engagement story wouldn’t begin with ‘so we were in bed’. Not when Eloise deserved so much more. And Teddy would dine out on it forever, even if he was captain of Team Love Is The Best Thing Ever these days.
“I mean”—Nate flipped Eloise onto her back and climbed on top of her—“I’d rather watch you do something else …”
“Like some drawing?” she asked as she shifted underneath him, her legs widening, encouraging him to nestle in even closer.
Nate pretended to consider her response. “Not quite.”
“Oh? Perhaps make some bread for later?” The innocent expression on Eloise’s face made Nate grin. He leant forward and kissed her, groaning against her lips when she nipped at his mouth, her hands slipping under his boxers, gripping his ass.
“Promise me something?” he asked when they broke apart.
“Always,” she replied immediately. Hopefully that was a good indicator of what her answer would be later.
“Be as loud as you can.” Nate winked and slid down her body, hooking her legs over his shoulders.
* * *
Who saidyou couldn’t teach an old dog new tricks? Nate and Echo had been working on this for the last six months. “Give this to Tiger,” he said, and the golden retriever took the envelope he was holding out.
“For me? What’s this? You’re such a clever, clever girl.” Eloise rubbed Echo’s head when she pushed her nose into her lap.
“I thought we could do something different today,” he said, sitting next to Eloise, loving how she immediately nestled into his side, her free hand resting on his thigh. Between her full schedule at KPs—surprising no one, her art therapy sessions had become so popular they’d had to hire a new social worker so Eloise could focus solely on them—and his busy writing career, they hadn’t had much downtime lately.
“That sounds perfect. Should I open this now?” Eloise held up the little envelope that was only marginally covered in dog slobber. He probably could’ve thought that part of the plan through a bit better, but Echo was an important member of their family. Including her in this big moment had been a no-brainer.
“Please.”
He held his breath as Eloise tore it open and flattened out the note inside.
Once upon a time, two friends fell in love. Let’s start our day by visiting the place where we first really got to know each other.
“Did you make me a scavenger hunt?”
Nate brushed the loose tendrils off Eloise’s face and kissed her forehead. He’d never get over the fact that he got to be with her and touch her like this. “I did.”
“You spoil me,” Eloise said.
“Nah,” Nate replied. “It’s nothing less than you deserve.”
* * *
