“But back then, I was an asshole with a mission. To keep everyone away. No connections, no real feelings. I thought it made life easier. I lived on this fucked-up belief that we come into this world alone, we live alone, and die alone. When Desiree was murdered…” He pauses, needing a second. “I became terrified of loving anyone else. Because I knew how it felt to lose them. To have that void in your chest, eating at you, begging for something that’ll never come back. To have to live with it every day. I thought I couldn’t survive another void. But then… you happened. You just walked straight into my life and called me out on my shit. You challenged me. Made me question everything. And when you kicked down my walls without blinking, I realized that while I’d kept my entire life trying to keep people’s hearts at bay, I should’ve spent more time protecting my own.”
The tears are blinding me.
“I love you. And I want to keep waking up next to you. I want to watch you burn our pancakes, and I want the movie marathon, even the chick flicks where I constantly fall asleep. I want it all. And I want you. Forever. So I’m asking you…” He pauses. “Winter Kingston, will you do me the honor…”
I swear, in that moment, it feels like every never-ending math and history class I’ve ever had teamed up to make this wait unbearable.
His blue eyes collide with mine.
Time stops.
Then he says it.
“Of accepting this dog?”
Wait, what?
I’m so shocked when the words escape his lips that I almost lose my balance, tumbling a few steps until the backs of my knees hit the stone of the fountain behind me.
That’s when I hear a dog’s barking.
I turn around and see Vic, Haze’s friend, standing a few feet away from us. In his arms is a puppy. A Shiba Inu. Exactly the dog I wanted. Speechless, I blink at Haze in disbelief. Since I ended up touching him at the last minute during our dumb game, he told me that I lost and had to kiss my dog goodbye. I was so mad at myself. Was he planning this all along?
He rises from the ground and pulls me closer with one move. “I heard you when you said that we’re too young. And I respect your wishes, so I’ll wait. For as long as it takes. Until you agree to marry me someday. But when you’re ready. And on your own terms. Consider this puppy the first step toward the rest of our lives. My promise to you.” He rests his forehead against mine.
I finally bring myself to speak. “Let me get this straight. You just did this entire speech… to give me a promise dog?”
He stops to think for a second.
“Pretty much.”
God, I love this idiot.
That’s my cue. I start sobbing, and I mean full-blown sobbing. Without giving the waterworks on my face a single thought, Haze slams his lips to mine, his fingers banding around the back of my head. I kiss him back but can barely breathe, trying not to choke on my own mucus. We break away for air.
“You’re crazy,” I say between sniffles.
“Can I say it?”
I immediately know what he means. I usually limit his cheesy lines. But not anymore. Not right now.
“Knock yourself out.”
“I’m crazy for you.”
Laughing, I throw myself into his arms, but I don’t stay there for long. I’m way too excited to meet the new love of my life. Haze motions to come closer, and Vic makes his way to us. My heart threatens to burst out of my chest when he hands me the bundle of energy that is now my baby. The overexcited puppy wiggles around and gives my cheek a long lick.
That’s it. I’m in love.
“Hi, Waze,” I whisper and pet him behind his ears. His wagging tail hits me repeatedly.
“Waze?” Haze mocks.
“Yeah, it’s our ship name.”
“Isn’t that like an app?” Vic mocks.
“Not anymore it’s not.” I shrug, and the guys laugh.