Page 116 of The Cabin

“Or?” I often feel like I’ve died or am dreaming or have gotten a concussion or have gone insane around this man. He makes me feel like this in so many ways. Butthis. This takes the cake, I think. If I haven’t been dead or dreaming or concussed for all the times before, I am definitely,positivelyone of those three now. I have to be.

He kisses me stupid, hand abandoning between my legs to hold me as closely to him as possible. “Mom status.”

We’re going to have to take this issue higher up. Hi? Supreme Court? Mr. President?Elon Musk????? Something must be done! This guy is out of control! He has given me forty heart attacks, taken my breath three thousand times, fucked me so hard my soul left my body more times than I can count, and NOW he’s bursting my goddamn ovaries! What are we going to do about this?!

I can feel my eyes prick with tears, fingers nestling into his hair. I just watch him. I can’t look away. “Grayson,” I whisper, running my fingers through his locks again and again.

He captures my lips once more. We stay in this embrace, holding each other, kissing, nuzzling.

“Other options include: Abuela status, Best Friend status, and Puzzle Partner status. There’s a bonus gift of a Test Dummy for All the Sexy Scenes You Read husband starter pack, we offer personal yoga instructors, forever dance partners, a permanent milkshake date…The list goes on and on...”

I’m laughing through how choked up I am.

His face gets very serious, his fingers brushing a few pieces of hair out of my face before kissing me once…and then again…and then again. “I amnotsorry to inform you that we’ve discontinued the Divorced status option. Non-negotiable.” It’s my turn to sport a big, goofy grin. “Now, if you sign today, you can lock into Girlfriend status for the low, low price of letting me fuck you with one of our toys while I fuck your mouth.”

From lumberjack to goddamn sex addict.

“Deal.”

He’s ready to jump my bones immediately, but I put my hand on his chest.

“Wait. Wait a second.”

He looks absolutely crestfallen. “Tell me, baby. Because I have positions to fold you into.” Devious. Devilish. Dangerous.

“Are you serious about all this?” Best I just ask, right? We don’t do ‘beating around the bush’ anymore. Even if asking exactly what I’m thinking even though it could lead to rejection still feels like eating glass.

“As a heart attack.” I can see it in his eyes. All over his face.

“Grayson. We both had to crawl tooth and nail out of failed marriages. How can you talk so casually about this? Aren’t you scared to death?”

He shakes his head. “Nope. You’re it for me, Sol. I knew it the moment I saw you.”

“I feel the same way about you, but…”

“Listen,” he kisses my jaw, “You can take your promotion whenever you’re ready. We have all the time in the world. Just know, “ a quick nip, “that if it was up to me, I’d promote you tomorrow.”

What?

“You’d get engaged tomorrow? After a month of knowing each other?”

“Correct.” His fingers are itching to get back inside my underwear.

“And that doesn’t terrify you?”

“Uh-uh.”

“Grayson!”

He stops his teases and wandering hands and interlocks our fingers together between us. “Yes, baby. It’s scary. It’s scary how much I love you. It’s scary to try and do this again. To get remarried. But that’s just because I’m scared of losing you. And every step we take towards marriage and kids and old age is one more nail inmycoffin if I do lose you. But there is no one I’d rather jump into the unknown with. It’s you, Sol. Only you.”

“You’re looking at jobs in New York. My teaching certification is in Pennsylvania.”

What a wicked expression. “I’m looking in Philadelphia too. I have three interviews there.”

“What?!”

“It doesn’t matter where we are, Sol. I’d like to start fresh. I’d also like to introduce you to my city. Whatever gets me you is what I want.”

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