Page 126 of Sunflower Persona
“Pretty standard.”
“And therapy?”
“Dr. Shaw thinks we should move to monthly sessions.”
“Gage, that’s huge.”
I shrug off her praise and turn my attention to the culinary disaster still smoking on the counter. Accepting compliments is something me and the doc are still working on. It doesn’t matter if it’s from a stranger or my woman, I clam up.
“What were the casualties of your cooking efforts today.” I walk over to inspect it but can’t make out what the burnt mush in the casserole dish is supposed to be.
“It wassupposedto be shepherd’s pie. I called your mom for the recipe since you said it was your favorite, and she assured me it was ‘foolproof.’ I don’t think she realized what she was up against.”
That is supposed to be shepherd’s pie? May those poor potatoes rest in peace.
“What’s got you cooking today?”
“It’s our anniversary. I wanted to do something special.”
It’s our anniversary? By what standard? We started dating in September, and if you take out the six months we weren’t together, that puts 365 cumulative days of being together somewhere in early March. Hell, we celebrated in March, so I don’t know what this is.
“Anniversary of what, love?” I ask, trying to keep the rising panic out of my voice.
“A year ago today, I unofficially moved in. I wanted to do something to commemorate that. Well, to be honest, I wanted to celebrate the day we got back together, but finals made that one impossible, so this is close enough.” She glares at the failed meal like it personally offended her.
Unable to resist, I pull her in for another hug, tucking her head under my chin.
“Pizza is perfect. We can do a movie night too. I’ll even drag the mattress out here so we can make a date of it.”
“Really?”
“Of course, Low. Anything for you.”
She springs into action, pulling up the website to order on her phone while directing me around like the little tyrant she is. I bend to her will with a smile and head to our room. Unlike the first time we did this, there’s no need for me to rely on my friends to supply me with extra pillows and blankets. Kor brought so many with her that they take up half the space in our closet—her closet, really. My clothes have been banished to my half of the dresser. It’s a good thing my wardrobe is limited, or I’d have to start storing things in the living room.
By the time I maneuver the mattress through the cramped hallway, Kori has already pushed the rest of the furniture outof the way, and she’s having a quiet argument with that duck of hers. She doesn’t even notice me standing at the threshold; whatever “conversation” she’s in has all of her focus. It must be heated because her hands are waving around without a care for her surroundings. The sight has every ounce of love I have for her swelling in my chest to the point I think it might burst.
It hits me like a bolt of lightning—I’m gonna marry this woman.
I’ve always known she is my forever, but it felt like part of a distant future. Now it feels imminent. Like something that should have happened yesterday. This woman is my everything.
Mattress forgotten, I bound across the room and place a gentle hand on her shoulder. She starts to say something as she turns, but I steal the words from her lips with a rough kiss and pull her tight against me.
“Marry me,” I rasp once she breaks away for a breath.
“What?” She blinks away the lust-filled daze as what I said catches up to her.
The words weren’t planned, but I don’t regret them at all. Yellow is meant to be my wife. However, I probably should’ve bit my tongue until I had time for a proper proposal. She deserves better than this.
“Fuck, I’m doing this all wrong. I shouldn’t have said anything. I haven’t talked to your dad yet, and I don’t even have a ring. Forget I said anything—”
“Yes,” she says, cutting me off.
“What?” This time I’m the one reeling.
“Yes, I’ll marry you, Gage.”
“Fuck. Really?” A dopey grin finds a home on my face.
