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I huff a laugh and burrow into his side.“Hey, remind me tomorrow.I want to tell you about the time I slept with a stripper.Best sex of my life.”But I press my lips over his heart as I say it, kissing my love into his skin, and his chest moves under me in laughter.
“He sounds amazing.Can’t wait to hear all about it.”His voice gets fainter, and the last thing he says before he drops off is, “Love you, Livvie.”
We’re drinking coffee in bed the next morning when Hollis asks, “When do you leave for Indiana?”
I grimace.“Apparently a stomach bug’s taking down my extended family one by one, including my mom.Christmas will be rescheduled once everybody’s keeping fluids down.”
“Bummer.”He taps his thumb against his mug, his hair adorably mussed from all the sex we had and all the sleeping we did afterward.“What’ll you do instead?”
“Tag along with CJ, I guess.”
“Or.”
When he hesitates, I say, “Orrrr?”I’m pretty sure I know what he’s gearing up to ask, and I want it so much that it physically pains me.
“Or you could come to my family’s.”He’s trying to sound casual.He’s failing.“They’d love to have you there.”
“Ohtheywould, would they?”
He wraps his fingers around the ponytail that’s barely containing my own post-sex hair.“Iwould.”He drops a sweet, coffee-flavored kiss on my mouth and murmurs, “Come home with me.”
“Okay.”I can’t contain my smile as I snuggle into him, tracing my finger over and over in the shape of a heart on his chest.“Hey, what were you going to ask for if you’d won the silverware challenge?”
“Marry me.”
I pause mid-heart.“Come again?”
“I was going to ask you to marry me.”
I laugh, but his face is serious.
“Wait, for real?”
He shrugs.“Is it any crazier than asking for theDirty Dancinglift?”
“Yes!”
“I coulda dropped you on your head, Livvie.Marriage is way safer than that.”
I open my mouth to argue.Marriage is the most risky, unpredictable thing in the world, especially for two people who’ve known each other for less time than the shelf life of organic milk.It’s ludicrous, and I’m sure the tiny voice in my head shoutingsay yes!is just post-sex endorphins and a general feel-good holiday glow.I tell it to shush as I say with a laugh, “Sure.Marriage is way safer than theDirty Dancinglift.”
“You scoff, but it’s a standing offer,” he tells me.“Just say the word.Any time, any day.I’ll marry you right then and there.”
“Just say the word?”I ask, amused.
“It’s a standing offer.Just say the word.”Then he kisses me until we both forget everything except “here” and “yes” and “more” and “now.”
A few hours later, CJ comes home to find me on Hollis’ lap on the couch.
“Well, this is new,” she says as she unwinds her scarf.“What’d I miss?”
He and I share a look.
“So much,” I say.“I’ll fill you in.But first, I’d like to introduce you to Luke Lawless.”
Twenty-Four
Jonesy
