Page 79 of Emil

“Are the two of you going to tell me what’s going on?” I asked, exasperated.

Rory had the decency to look guilty. Emil tried and failed to look innocent.

“What are you talking about?” Rory said, wearing the most beautifully innocent expression I had ever seen on his face. He ruined it immediately by breaking into giggles.

“Emil,” I said, “are you going to tell me what’s going on?”

My sweetheart of a boyfriend took my hands and led me around the counter until I was pressed against him, standing between his spread legs. Rory, to his credit, looked away. I looped my arms around Emil’s neck and kissed him. Firmly. On purpose.

“What is going on?”

“So maybe Rory was supposed to butter you up today,” Emil said, “and maybe kind of, sort of mention marriage.”

“Oh, for goodness’ sake, Emmie. Give me a prenup that says I don’t get your money, and I’ll marry you tomorrow.”

Rory’s head snapped up. “Can I call you that?”

“No, you cannot,” I cut in. “You can call him Emil.”

Rory grinned because, of course, he did. He’d gotten exactly the reaction he wanted. He was absolutely stirring the shit today.

“Emil, you’re not going to win this argument,” Rory said cheerfully. “Give him the prenup, and you’ll be married by the weekend. Anders may be the sweetest guy alive, but he’s also stubborn as hell. Give it up, my guy.”

“Sit down, sweet boy.” Emmie nodded to the floor pillow on the carpet between his knees.

I sank down and made myself comfortable, half leaning against him. He picked up the brush from the table beside him and began brushing out my hair. It was my favorite ritual of the day. No matter how tired either of us was, or grouchy, or out of sorts, our day ended this way. Emmie brushed my hair. Always.

“What’s your schedule again next week?” Emmie asked after a few strokes.

“I’m working Thursday, Friday, and Saturday at the flower shop. Jonah asked me to cover for him for a few days.”

“So the following weekend you’ll be off still?”

“I should be, yeah. Was there something you wanted to do?”

One of the many things I loved about Emmie was how valid he made my life feel, even after I resigned from my job and started working at the flower shop. He never made plans without checking with me. He treated my schedule like it mattered because, to him, it did. I never took that contrast for granted, and I loved him all the more for it.

“I was hoping you might want to go on a little trip with me,” he said. “If you’re not busy or anything.”

“Where are we going?”

“I was thinking we’d go away for the weekend. It might be nice to get off the island for a bit.”

I twisted around so I could look at him directly. “Are you kidding me?”

“I wouldn’t do that to you.”

I turned back around and hugged my knees to my chest, smiling. This man was everything to me.

Stroke after stroke, he brushed my hair while we chatted about our day and our plans for tomorrow. I had already set out his clothes and polished his shoes before I took my shower, so his trip into the city the following morning would start without a hitch. I wasn’t expecting to go anywhere myself. I planned to spend the day working on the felted animals I’d become slightly obsessed with, which was fine because I was creating an entire village for Beckett and Will’s kiddo.

“Do you think you could come with me into town tomorrow?” Emmie asked as he finished the last brushstroke.

“Of course. Do you mind if I ask why?”

“Because I scheduled an appointment with Levi to talk about a prenup.”

He said the words with confidence, but I heard the hint of fear underneath. I scrambled to my knees and turned to face him.