Page 68 of Burn It Down
I wanted to wait until closer to the holidays. Let them have their fuzzy moment of engagement bliss. I would be putting a ring on my woman’s finger, though. And soon.
After a dinner where all the girls went on and on about weddings, I took my woman home. The light in her eyes as they talked about Charli’s wedding cemented it for me.
I wanted her to have that. I wouldn’t do something stupid like rush her to a court house or even Vegas. The thought had crossed my mind, though.
No, I wanted her to have the wedding she wanted. With the dress and the church and her sisters and Charli. Whatever my woman wanted, I was going to give her.
Even if I wasn’t sure it was what she needed. I loved her too much to deny her anything now. If she wanted a church wedding or one at the park in the snow, that’s what she was going to get.
“I can’t wait. Charli will be such a beautiful bride. Don’t you think?” Gigi wondered as we sat cuddled in bed, her back to my front.
“I do think. I think you would put her to shame, though. You want that one day, Sweet Girl? The dress and the church, flowers. That’s what you want, yeah?” We were so high on the excitement, we hadn’t made it to the bedroom before I was inside her.
Now, we lay in bed, my fingers combing through her hair as I held her. I wanted to tell her I wanted that. To see her head down the aisle in the perfect dress, her father at her side. Cage at mine.
Cage blew my mind when he asked me to be his best man tonight. I had never felt prouder, not even the day his father handed us our badges for the department.
“Mmm, maybe. If you want that. Finn, I’d take you anyway I can get you. You thinking about our future again, baby?” Gigi wriggled her ass back against me.
“I’m always thinking about our future, Sweet Girl. Tell me what you would really like. Forget all our shit. All the complications we might have, all the lies and the bad. Pretend it’s been golden the entire time. Pretend I asked the right question, at the right time,” I whispered against the back of her neck, terrified of doing it wrong, “pretend for me, Sweet Girl. Tell me what you want.” My arms tightened around her as I waited without breathing.
“I want you. I want a home like Charli and Cage. I want to see the world with you, Finn. I don’t want to stay in school anymore. I want to figure myself out, with you. You make things make sense for me. You’re my compass. I know where I want to go because of you. Know what I think would be amazing?” Gigi’s voice became animated as she twisted onto her back.
“Tell me, Sweetheart.” God, I loved her. Her excitement made me excited.
“Getting married some place ridiculous. Super romantic, but ridiculous. Something like…that old fire station on Michigan Ave. The cool one that was a restaurant. That building is amazing; I need to shoot it since they gave up restoring it. Maybe the library. Scratch that, Charli and I decided her wedding will be there. Something not traditional, but still romantic.” Gigi giggled, and I leaned down, rubbing my nose against hers.
“Whatever you wanted. I’d give you anything.”
The words were hoarse and full of emotion; we both knew it wasn’t a proposal, but I think she realized at last that I meant them. That I wanted to marry her. I fully intended to.
I figured that out when her eyes flooded with tears and she cupped the back of my head. Gigi kissed me deep and slow. I pinned her to the bed and cradled her close as I kissed her back.
When we broke away, we were quiet with the heaviness of what was happening. What we weren’t saying, but were both aware of. It was for real this time.
Gigi was mine and I was hers. End of story. I loved her, and watching her eyes shimmering up at me in the moonlight, I think I knew she loved me. I wanted to hear her say it but I didn’t need it.
Once we were golden, I’d tell her I loved her. Then I’d make her my wife.
