Page 250 of Small Town Firsts
“You’re damn right I am,” I called back.
I sat down and dragged her close as I opened up the motor again and raced across the cove to my house—ourhouse. We couldn’t talk above the wind and waves, but I didn’t need words right now.
I just needed her by my side.
It only took a few minutes to get to my dock and to moor the little speedboat. I tied off and jumped out to help her up on the dock.
She wouldn’t look at me as I handed her the oversized knapsack she forever carried.
There was no way I was going to stand for that. Not now.
I dragged her close and lowered my head to catch her mouth in a swift, hot, heavy kiss. I poured everything I couldn’t say into it, taking my time. She moaned and gripped the front of my shirt.
Reluctantly, I eased back a fraction. “You’re all I’ve ever wanted. I was just too stupid to face the truth—never mind say it out loud. All I could think about was fucking things up between us and losing you forever. I’m still going to have nightmares about it,” I said with a harsh laugh against her mouth. “But it’s better than not having you be mine. And most of all, being yours.” I touched my forehead to hers. “It’s scary as hell to know you could break me into pieces.”
“I’d never.” Her voice was a sandpaper whisper.
“I know. That’s what I figured out. I trust you.” I sucked in a breath. “I know it didn’t always seem like that. My dad has a way of looking at the world, and I think some of that seeped into me despite my best intentions. Sometime I’ll tell you more about what I learned today.”
She frowned, but she didn’t push me. She just gave me the space to finish my thoughts.
“I don’t want to live that way, mistrusting everybody. Assuming the worst. I believe in you. I want to believe in me too, that I can do this. We can make this work.”
Eyes wet, she nodded. “We can. We will,” she said fiercely.
“And I want to support your dreams. Whether that’s going to school, or maybe traveling to see other places—whatever, I don’t care. Your dreams are mine and we can make them happen together.”
“Maybe school someday. Maybe traveling. But you know what I want most?”
Swallowing deeply, I shook my head.
Her fingers twisted tighter into my dress shirt. “You’re all I’ve ever wanted. Just you.”
Finally hearing those words was a goddamn miracle.
“Well, you’ve got me,” I said hoarsely. “And you’re never getting rid of me, baby or not.”
Ally would always be enough, even if I couldn’t help wanting to expand our family. Now and possibly even again in the future.
We’d take everything one day at a time.
She smiled, increasing her hold on me even more. “Is that so?”
“Oh, it’s so. We can certainly practice all night long though,” I teased, stroking her cheek. “Laurie’s at my dad’s place.”
A little hiccup sneaked out along with a bubble of laughter. “Yeah, about that.” She dug her hand into the endless contents of her knapsack and came out with a little white bag.
There was just enough illumination coming from the solar lights that lit up the dock and the path to my house for me to see a telltale logo through the plastic.
My chest tightened. My shoulders locked. Hell, my life flashed before my eyes. Not the one I’d already lived, but the one we would create together. “Are you?”
“I wanted to wait for you to do it with me.”
I lifted her into my arms, and her canvas bag and the one with the test folded between us. “Can we do it now? Is it too early?”
She laughed. “It’s a little early, but this test is made for that.”
I blinked away the quick prick of tears. I didn’t want to ask, but I knew I had to. “Is this okay? It’s okay if you’re not. We can wait until we get married. You know, make it all official. And if you want to do the school thing…” I swallowed down the nerves. I didn’t want to wait, but I would for her.
