“I want another little Elsa around,” Noah said, coming up behind Elsa and kissing her neck.
Kim smiled, leaning back against Kurt as he placed a hand around her waist.
“Are you having fun?” he asked, whispering the words against her ear.
“I am. Yes.”
“We’ve been talking and planning. Elsa and I, we were wondering if you two would be willing to be godparents?”
“Us?” Kim asked.
“You’re getting married, and you’re going to be together. Kurt is my best friend, you’re Elsa’s—it made perfect sense to me.”
Once again, Kim couldn’t stop smiling. “I’d love to. Absolutely love to.”
She hugged her friend, holding onto her tightly.
Elsa and Noah left them alone, talking to their relatives.
“We’re going to be responsible for a kid,” he said. He took her hand, and pulled her along toward the front of the house.
“Where are we going?” she asked.
“Seeing as we’re staying at my folks’, and they’re enjoying the party, I thought I’d delve into a little fantasy.”
He kept her hand as they left Noah’s house, walking along the streets. She recognized the street that she used to cross to get to Elsa’s.
“So many memories here.”
“Is it hard for you because of me?” he asked.
“No. I’m not going to hold that against you.” She rested her head against his shoulder. “You’re not a bully anymore. Besides, I’m marrying you. I couldn’t back out now. You’re rich.”
“Ah, you’re after me for my money.”
“Yes. I intend to live a life of luxury.”
“Which you can support yourself if you began to take the commission jobs.”
“Yeah, I will. The money, it doesn’t bother me,” she said. “I’ve lived without for a long time.”
“Do you like the house I bought for you?” he asked.
“Yes. I do. I love it.” It still seemed surreal to her to be living in a house that was bought for her. It was a nice thought, a loving one.
The streets were dark and silent. Kim started to embrace the present rather than constantly look back toward the past. Kurt was not the same guy. He was a bully no more.
“You know I regretted a lot back then,” Kurt said.
“I know. You’ve said so.”
“No, that last year of high school. It was a killer. At first, it was the best time of my life. Last year of school. I thought I was going to rule the world.” Kurt laughed. “Then Mrs. Donald had to give us that assignment.”
“I was so scared,” Kim said. “I remember tensing up and glancing over at you, and seeing you smirk. I thought my life was going to be a nightmare.”
“I sat with you, and I don’t know, something changed. Something snapped inside me, and I didn’t want to call you names.”
“Why did you?”
“I don’t know. I was an asshole. I didn’t get it? Name them, and I’m sure I wouldn’t have a good enough reason. You went from being the girl I tormented for a bit of fun, to being the girl that I thought about all the time. I hated how you flinched away from me. You wouldn’t give me the time of day, nor would you smile at me the way I saw you smile at Elsa.” He paused at the front door of his house. “I wondered what it would be like to have you call for me.”
Kim bit her lip. “I was never going to call for you.”
“A guy can dream.”
He opened up the door, and they walked inside.
This was her first time in his world. They had invited their parents over for dinner to break the news of their engagement.
Kurt closed the door behind her and locked their fingers together.
“Are you okay?” he asked.
“I don’t know. Do you have any monsters or demons lurking?”
“No. It’s just me, which could suck either way.”
She laughed. “It’s fine.”
“I’m going to be a guy right now, and take you up to my room.”
“Your parents kept it the same?” she asked.
“Didn’t yours?”
“Yeah, I didn’t know if it was different for a guy.”
“My room is the same.” She followed behind him, catching a glance at all the pictures. The evidence of Kurt’s family was all around. He was well-loved.
They got to the third floor, to the door right at the back. “My dad decided I needed a lot of privacy growing up.”
“Why are you blushing?”
“He may have walked into the bathroom when I was becoming acquainted with my dick.”
“Oh my God, no?”
“Yes. We decided to put the entire incident behind us, and um, he got me my own floor, own bathroom. Told me to keep that stuff to myself, and to always wear a condom.”
They hadn’t worn a condom. Kim knew there was still a risk even though he pulled out of her. Since then, they had been using condoms.
Entering his room, Kurt flicked on the light, and Kim got a good look at the guy who’d tormented her, and become the love of her life. There was a little gym area in the far corner. Elsa told her that Noah had the same. Exercise still played a huge part of Kurt’s life. She’d gone to the gym in their own house to watch him work out. Kim had her sketchbook with her, and of course made sure to use every aspect of inspiration he created.