“You are, because you’ve got me.” Ashton stretches his legs, making himself comfortable.
I smack his thigh, pushing his leg back toward him as he impedes on my space. “There’s enough room for two,” I chide.
Ashton snorts. “Just making sure no one else gets any ideas to join us.”
Within a few minutes, we’re riding through the touristy area, but all of it is quite extravagant and lovely. Ashton sits closer, his fingers tangling in my hair as he can’t seem to stop touching me.
“One more year of college,” he muses, staring at me.
“Two more years for me,” I grumble. “Rub it in some more.”
Ashton laughs and kisses me, the world disappearing around us.
Already, so much is changing. Harper and Luca have been talking about moving away from campus, but he won’t do it until Harper graduates. He’d rather take the long commute than make her deal with it, especially with Zeke in preschool.
They’ve been looking at houses, places they can have built to be the dream home they both want.
Honestly, I don’t want to imagine living without them, but I know they won’t live too far away, and I can always visit.
I don’t even want to think about what my senior year will be like. Most of my friends will have graduated. I’m trying to take extra classes so that maybe I can graduate early, like I did with high school.
I just haven’t told Ashton yet, in case it doesn’t happen.
“I have something to ask you,” Ashton whispers, and I feel a soft breeze caress my skin.
The carriage comes to a halt and Ashton moves from the bench and gets down on one knee, sliding a small black velvet box from his pocket. “Nova, although we still have a journey ahead of us, I can’t imagine taking it with anyone else. I want you in my life forever. You’ve made me realize what I missed when we weren’t together. A piece of myself was missing, and with you, I’m complete. We may not agree on everything,” Ashton says, and my hands tremble as I stare at him and at the engagement ring he’s showing me.
“Yes!”
“I haven’t asked you a question yet,” Ashton says, pretending to be miffed.
I pull him up off his knee and back onto the bench, throwing my arms around him. “Then ask your damn question already,” I say with a laugh.
“Always the impatient one, aren’t you?” he teases. “Nova, will you do me on the honor of marrying me?”
“Let me think I about it,” I joke and scrunch my nose, sticking out my tongue.
Ashton leans in, his breath against my ear. “I’ve got someplace you can use that tongue if you’re so eager, sweetheart.”
Giggling, I pull back and glance him over. “Yes, Ashton, I’d love to marry you. But—” I hold up a finger, telling him there’s one thing first.
His gaze tightens, and sweat beads on his forehead, yet it’s not incredibly warm or humid outside. He waits patiently for me to answer, but I sense his worry, and I drag the moment out.
“The wedding won’t happen until after we both graduate. We need to focus on school, not making little babies.”
He breathes a sigh of relief and raises an eyebrow at me. “Little babies? I was just asking you to marry me, not to have a litter. But you know, now that you mention it?—”
I knock his shoulder with mine. “Anytime you get baby fever, you can watch Wren and Zeke.”
Ashton shakes his head, laughing, his eyes shining. “No, thanks. I get enough babysitting hours in as it is. But knocking you up sounds fun.” He waggles his eyebrows, and I elbow him in the ribs. “I’m all about the trying part of getting you pregnant.”
“After. College,” I bite out. “So help me, Ashton, if you knock me up before then, you’ll be taking care of the baby while I finish school.”
He strokes his chin, staring at me, perhaps imagining the scenario. “Okay, okay.” He holds up his hands in mock surrender. “After we graduate, I’ll put a baby in you. I think I can wait.”
“You think?” I snarl playfully at him. Thankfully, I always remember to take my birth control because if it were up to Ashton, I’d be racing to keep up with Harper. “I’m telling you, Ashton, if you have baby fever, you might need to spend more time with Wren when she’s fussing in the middle of the night.”
Ashton groans, tipping his head back. “I value my sleep.” He glares at me, realizing what a baby might actually mean. “You’re right. No kids. We will be the awesome aunt and uncle who spoil the little ones.” He opens the box and shows me the ring again. “So, was that a yes?”
