Page 93 of Burn It Down
When I bring it back, clean of frosting, her eyes go wide. Tears slip down her temples as she tips her head back and laughs into the sky.
Fuck, she’s beautiful and perfect. I think I might be man enough, because of her, to really deserve her.
“Marry me. Give me all your keys. Our shit is messy and dirty, and I fucking love it. I fucking love you, Gigi Cooper. I want to fight fires and be your man. Forever.” Gigi sinks to the ground in front of me.
“Yes! Yes. So much yes. All the yes. I love you, Finn. You are messy and dirty and I fucking love you. We’re golden as shit now, yeah?” I laugh and she does too, both of us crying.
Shaky hands lift her wrists to my face. I kiss each one, then kiss the “F” she had tattooed inside her left wrist just recently. It matches the “G” on my own hand. I lean forward and capture her lips, kissing her deeply as the entire world goes muted.
It’s wet and cold, but I feel hot and hungry as I crush her to me. I don’t feel the snow blanketing us or the chill of the wind that whips around us. I taste the frosting, taste Gigi, and taste my future in that kiss.
Her and me, that house waiting in the city with the huge fucking bow Regan rented for me. Fires and me at Cage’s back, and that crazy family that’s watching us from inside the house. They gave us a few moments before they rushed us.
I let Gwen yank Gigi away from me. They all saw the ring last night, but they ooh and ahh over it on her hand. I step back beside Cage and Deacon. We watch them go on and on, and we let them. Because we love them. I feel like maybe I do look at Gigi the way Deacon looks at Gwen.
I know I love her more than anything, and I can’t wait to come home to her the way he gets to come home to Gwen.
Happy with a family and looking beautiful in the kitchen making cookies. Or in her studio making those stunning photos she takes.
Or sitting on my couch, watching Dr. Who and being the beautiful nerd I love.
I’ll take her anyway she wants to let me have her.
“It’s…perfect….” Gigi gasps as we stand in front of our new home.
I smile down at her, holding it together although my entire life is about to change. Doesn’t matter because I have her. Days after the shit with Bree, I knew we couldn’t stay at the condo much longer.
Not that I had intended to anyway. The house closed about a week later, and I leased my place to Hunter. Seems he can’t stand the memories of his own perfect little house.
Cage is working on leasing his place; Charli seems to think Lola might want it. Gigi knows none of this. Since the Bree Incident part deux, as Gigi calls it, we had been staying at her place. We moved most our shit over last night while the girls were working on last minute Christmas shit.
“You love it, Sweet Girl?” I watch her look the place over, hoping I chose right.
“Finn...is this…our home? Like we get to live here? Together. Get married and have babies here?” I nod as her voice floods with emotion and her eyes with tears.
“Yes, Sweet Girl. If you love it. If you want it.” Gigi nods, turns to face the house then twists, and crashes into me.
“It’s perfect. You’re perfect. I love you. Take me inside, Tarzan. Jane wants a tour.” I laugh and let out a breath before bending to scoop her up.
“Fuck, I’m glad you like it. Cage helped pick it out. The girls did the rest. I want to give you everything. Starting with a home to make our own. A place I can come home to with you waiting for me. I want that so fucking bad. Best fucking days of my life, coming home to you being there for me.” I start to carry her inside, ducking beneath the ridiculous bow, but I stop.
I set her at her feet, and she frowns up at me. I hand her one of the keys, made to match the key at her neck. The key tattooed on my hand. One more key I want her to have. The inlay doesn’t have a “G” or “F” Just a C…Cooper.
Our home, our key.
“Welcome home, Sweet Girl.” Gigi gasps and turns the key over in her hand.
Then, she lets us in and hesitates at the threshold. Those big beautiful eyes dart around, and we share a look. I take her hand and lead her around each room.
Gigi seems overwhelmed. By the time we reach the bedroom, I think she hates it. Or that I rushed this. Regardless of that ring sparkling on her finger.
“I…I...” I bow my head when a shaky hand flies to her mouth, her eyes full of tears.
“Fuck. You hate it. It’s too much? Not enough?” Air escapes my chest with a gasp as she hurtles herself at me, knocking us both backwards.
“It is the single most perfect thing in this entire world. Not the house. It’s perfect too. But this. You. Us. Golden as fuck, with a ring on my finger and a perfect bow around our perfect future. I love you, Finn. I am going to be your fucking wife, take photos, and someday we’ll have babies running around here, and…I fucking love you.” I beam up at her as she pieces together the last part of me that a lifetime of shit left broken.
“I love you, Gigi. I can’t wait to make this our home, see your photos, and watch you raise our kids. Speaking of kids…” I buck my hips and she giggles, nodding her head.
