Page 71 of Yours Truly, Fall

“Kitty, Kitty,” I hear, his voice balanced in velvet and sex appeal.

I should be surprised by the costume, but he seems to know everything else about me, so fantasies were probably hummed when I slept with him. “Straight out of Top Gun,” I say, swaying back and forth like a schoolgirl when he comes to me.

“A little birdie told me you had a thing for fighter pilots.” He swipes off his glasses in a smooth move, tucks them into his collar, and kisses me. As if this fantasy couldn’t get better. Cupping my face, he whispers, “Are you my pussycat?”

“I am,” I purr unabashedly for him.

“I know how to make you purr your cotton socks off.”

I slide my hands over his shoulders and hold him. Leaning back, I ask, “Does it involve that special trick you do with your tongue?”

“You like that?”

“I love it.” I kiss him once more, a proper welcome after not seeing him since early this morning because of our jobs. “I missed you.” Running my hand over the patches sewn onto the flight suit, I say, “Tell me you bought this, because I really like this on you.”

“It’s ours to keep and play with as needed.” He spins me out and says, “Let me get a good look at you. Damn, you’re sexy.”

“Compliments get you everywhere with me.”

“Good to know.” He walks around to peer through the bleachers at the field. “What brings us out here?”

“I have a favor to ask.”

“Anything, beautiful.” Returning to me, he takes my hand, holding it between us.

I look around once more and say, “I want a redo. This is where it began, so I thought we would start here.”

It’s been a long time since I’ve seen his boyish grin, but this calls for it. He closes the gap and cups my cheek. Without having to explain another thing, he says, “I’ve been in love with you my entire life, Autumn. I’ve asked you out a million times and dreamed you’d one day be my girlfriend.” I’m not sure how he recalls what he said, but the words are so familiar that they feel like close relatives. “I’m asking for a chance. Will you be my girlfriend, Nurse?”

I’m swooning as much, if not more, than I did back then. It’s easy to believe what he says when I know he speaks from the heart.

“Yes. I’ll be your girlfriend, Captain.” Our mouths fall together, and our tongues tango. In one scorching-hot kiss I could taste forever.

Wrapping his arm over my shoulders, he says, “So when are we meeting at the lake to redo that tragedy of an event?”

“I only want to redo the good stuff. The bad stuff can stay dead and buried.”

Kissing the side of my head again, he says, “I couldn’t agree more.”

One memory down. A thousand more to go. This is going to take some time. Good thing we’ll be together forever.

The backyard is full of kids laughing and parents socializing. The treats table was demolished pretty early on. Brandon was manning the burger station for a while, but I’ve lost sight of him. Not sure how since he’s hard to miss.

I hold the bag out for the next kid to dip their hand in and score some candy, but lean toward Stacy and ask, “Have you seen Brandon?”

“No,” she replies, dumping another refill bag of candy to keep the line moving.

Standing on my tiptoes, I finally spot him coming out of his truck. He shuts the door and waves to me when he sees me watching. I smile since my hands are full but enjoy his stride in my direction.

He waits patiently at the back of the line for his turn as it slowly moves forward, inching him closer and closer. He finally arrives at the bottom step leading to the house, while I stand one step higher and hold out the bag. “You look hot.” Not my normal line for trick-or-treaters, but it’s my guy.

“Thanks. Trick or treat.”

“Treat?” I tease.

He bends down on one knee and produces a little black box in the palm of his hand. The bag of candy drops to the wood and spills out over the ground, sending kids scrambling at our feet. I cover my mouth to keep my wide-open fly-catching mouth hidden as I suck in a breath. This is happening. I jump up and down. “Oh my God.” Lowering my hands, I say, “Treat. Definitely treat.”

“I could go into all the ways I love you, Autumn, but that will take more time than we have.” He moves some candy away from his shoes since the kids are getting a little too eager. “With these little vultures around.” Taking my hand, he says, “I love you. I love you to the ends of the earth and time, ocean’s deep and sky high. There’s a reason I saw you before I cheated death. We’re not just one life. We’re eternal. I don’t want to spend another day without you as my wife or another hour without being your husband. Will you marry me, Nurse?”