“Before or after our trip?”
“Before, if we can do it. If not, right when we get back.”
“Okay.”
“Okay?” Nia asked.
“Yes, okay. I was going to ask you on our trip anyway.”
“You were?”
Emmy nodded and said, “At dinner, where there would have been wine, and I’d be wearing a nice dress.”
“I like you better naked,” Nia stated, rolling them over. “Can we go ring shopping on our trip?”
“What?” Emmy asked with another laugh. “We were just talking about moving in together.”
“I want to be prepared for the next step.”
“And when is that happening, exactly?”
“We’ve talked about it. Don’t act like you don’t want to marry me.”
“Oh, I absolutely want to marry you,” Emmy replied. “But I can’t go shopping for your ring, love.”
“Why not?”
“Because I already have it. It’s hidden at my place because we’re never there. You couldn’t find it that way.”
Nia sat back, straddling her, and asked, “You already have it?”
“I bought it two months ago. I saw it and just thought of you.”
“You–”
“Yes, love,” Emmy replied when Nia said nothing else. “So, if you want to go shopping for mine, we can do that, because whenever one of us asks that question, I have a feeling the answer is going to be yes.”
“Then, ask it,” Nia suggested.
“Now? We’re in bed and naked.”
“So?” Nia said. “I’ll ask it if you don’t.”
“Nia, let’s move in together and go on our trip.”
Emmy rubbed her thighs.
“I love you, Emmy Hammond,” she said.
“I love you, too.”
“And if you want the whole romantic proposal thing, we can wait. I’ll get you that ring and even get down on one knee. But Iammarrying you. I’ve waited so long for you, Em. I don’t want to wait too much longer to call you my wife.”
“Understood,” Emmy said and sat up to kiss between Nia’s breasts. “I’ll book movers tomorrow.”
“I’ll help you pack,” she replied, smiling at the woman she had known she’d marry since that first day at the coffee shop.
Becky
