Page 130 of Flirtasaurus
“With…?” he prompts.
“A key?”
“Yeah, a key. To my place.”
“You want me to move in with you?”
“Well, I’m hoping pretty soon that we can talk about finding our own place. Together. But until then, when we get back to the city, I want you to know that my home is your home. Callie, wherever you are is where I want to be.”
I start to cry.
“What the hell is happening? I’m not a crier!”
I say this at the same exact time he says, “Whoa. What is this reaction? You’re not a crier.”
I reach into my pocket, pull out a tiny burlap sack, and hold it out to him.
“What is that?” he asks.
“Open it, you dork,” I repeat his words from a few moments ago.
He undoes the ribbon… and a shiny metallic asteroid key ring—with a key—slides onto his palm.
Silently, he shoots his gaze at me with the sweetest smile on his face, his eyes going all crinkly in the corners.
“Ditto, kiddo.” I beam up at him.
He presses his lips to mine, then pulls back, looks into my eyes, and uses both thumbs to wipe the dirt smudges off my face.
“Did you really think I was going to propose?” He laughs.
“Well? Sort of.”
“Marriage?!”
“Yeah…”
“Toyou?”
I swat at his shoulder.
“I’m kidding. I’m kidding.” He puts on a serious face. “Come here, you.”
He hugs me tight. I take a few more jabs at him before giving up and letting him hold me.
“Why did you mess with me like that?” I say against his chest. “Getting down on one knee was a real punk move.”
“I know, I’m sorry. I guess I was… practicing? For someday in the future? Possibly? Maybe? Would that be so crazy?”
I pause a bit too long just to make him squirm a bit.
“Callie?” he says with a touch of worry to his tone.
I look into his hopeful eyes.
“Not crazy at all, no.”
“Okay, good,” he breathes. “Because someday down the line, I’m going to do that again, but for real this time. For now though let’s just… go with the flow and see where things land. That work for you?”
