The rest of the room is still casted in shadows, which means it’s likely still early.
“You look exhausted,” I say, concerned when I notice the dark circles under his eyes. “Have you even slept at all?”
He shakes his head. “Not really. My body might be tired, but my mind won’t shut off,” he replies, glancing back to Noah, who has his arm across my middle.
“I understand that, Caleb. I feel restless, too.” Even when I do sleep, my dreams are chaotic.
Caleb places his laptop on his bedside table before laying back down beside me. I reach out for his hand, and heimmediately starts fiddling with my ring, the action bringing a smile to my face as he stares down at my hand.
“Thank you,” he whispers.
“For what?” I ask.
“For saying yes to marrying us, to starting a family,” he replies, his gaze moving from my engagement ring to my face.
He gives me butterflies. This beautiful man is thanking me.
“Caleb,” I say, releasing a soft sigh as I reach up to cup his jaw. “You don’t have to thank me. You and Noah are my everything. You’re my beginning, middle, and end.”
He leans into my touch. It’s not often I see Caleb this open and vulnerable, it’s like he shares pieces of his soul when we have these quiet moments of pillow talk. But I see it in how he stares back at me now, the unknown. That time really is fleeting.
And he proves my thoughts correct when he says, “I don’t want to wait to get married,” he admits. “I know it’s a lot, but if I can make it happen within the next few weeks, will you be up for that?” he asks.
I nod. “Yes, absolutely, I’d marry you both tomorrow if I could.”
“Me too, little one.”
I smile at the term of endearment as he leans in for a slow, deliberate kiss as Noah’s hand tightens over my waist.
Caleb releases me from the kiss as he whispers against my lips. “I just, I don’t want to waste time, and I want to make it happen before his surgery.”
I swallow. Noah’s surgery is scheduled for just under five weeks’ time. Caleb was pissed, and I get it. Five weeks feels like forever when you put everything into perspective.
“I’ll speak to the girls and ask them to come dress shopping.”
“Is there anywhere specific you want to get married?” he asks.
I shake my head. “Honestly, I don’t mind where we get married. As long as we’re together surrounded by the ones we love, that’s enough for me.”
He leans down again, his lips brushing mine softly, his six o’clock shadow tickling my skin.
“Same, but I also don’t want either of you missing out. I want it to be what dreams are made of.”
I sigh, my hand moving to the back of his neck. “Caleb, if we got married here in our living room, wearing pyjamas, it would be enough. Together we’ll make it perfect. Besides, I for one don’t want a big wedding. I just want to marry the loves of my life, surrounded by our loved ones. I couldn’t ask for anything more.”
He smiles, and my response is one he approves of. I know as much as Caleb loves to spoil us, when all is said and done, it’s about our shared love for one another.
“Same, as long as you don’t feel under pressure that’s all that matters. We’ll talk to Noah in the morning. If he’d prefer to wait, then that’s what we’ll do. He gets the deciding vote.”
I shake my head, doubting he’ll want to wait any more than I do. “I know he’ll be in full agreement.”
Noah’s arm tightens around me. “And you would be correct,” he says, his voice still deep from sleep.
“How long have you been awake?” I ask, smiling as I look over to see him watching us.
“Long enough,” he replies with a smile.
Caleb glances at Noah. “So, no time like the present, and do you have a preference of where you’d like to marry?”
