Page 84 of Ropers Can't Tie Knots
“Today is a special day. Diamond delivered so we could celebrate.”
I freeze, running through the calendar in my brain. All birthdays accounted for. It’s not our wedding anniversary or any of our friends that I’m aware of. Drawing a blank, I shake my head.
“Gabe, I’m sorry. I don’t know what day it is.”
He takes me by the hand and leads me to the living room. My favourite cheesecake sits on the table, and next to it is an envelope with my name. Now I’m really confused as he pulls me down on the sofa next to him.
“Three years ago, I moved in here and pretended to be your husband. A short eight weeks later, you sat where you are now with your feet on the table and a crossword book in your hand.” Gabe reaches for the card. “I stretched out and rested my feet on your lap. You didn’t push me away. Instead, your free hand absently rubbed my leg.”
Gabe speaks softly as he tells the story of literally any night we spend at home, and I feel like an ass for not knowing what’s so special about this day.
“Gabe…I’m sorry, but I’m not getting this.”
He shakes his head, the fond smile never fading. “We celebrate our wedding, but we never celebrate little moments. It was at that moment, as you asked me another word for purple, that I knew I was in love with you. I’ll remember it forever. It smashed into me so hard, more than any moment we’ve spent on the porch swing. I loved you. It had to be you.”
Gabe passes me the card, and when I open it, it’s an anniversary card, but he’s scratched off all the words that say anniversary and replaced them with various words for falling in love, stealing his heart or whatnot.
And it chokes me up that he remembers the day so clearly and wants to celebrate it out of the blue. Hell, that he remembers it so clearly, and I didn’t even know what was going through his head.
“And I ruined it by riding naked and showing friends and strangers my good parts.”
Gabe laughs and takes my face in his hands. “You didn’t ruin it at all. You reminded me why I love you and how lucky I am. I love everything about you, Hunter, and I always will. I didn’t expect it, but that’s kind of what all this is, right? Unexpected good things.”
He kisses me. Deep and sweet, and I reach for him, pulling him onto my lap.
“Even when I walk from the barn naked and give one of our closest friends a full-frontal show.”
“Especially then.” Gabe kisses me all over my face. My eyelids, nose, and forehead. “Let’s eat cake, and after that, I just want to be happy that I took the chance to tell you I loved you when you pushed me away.” He kisses me and lingers against my lips. “I just want to remember that sometimes, when we take a chance, it pays off. And you were the best chance I ever took.”
My throat bobs with a swallow, and I wish I knew what god to thank for this.
“Anything for you, Gabe. Always.”
“I know, doll. Don’t feel like you always have to prove that to me. I know it.” He spreads his hand over my heart. “Andthisis the best part of you.”
My husband presses his lips to mine and kisses me with the promise of forever.
“Can we eat that cake now?” I whisper against his lips.
“I figured since you were already naked, we could save the cake for later.” He swivels his hips on my lap. “It’s a cock-before-cake situation now.”
My laugh is deep as I stand with him in my arms and turn to place him on the couch.
“I can definitely handle that, counsellor.”
