“You’ve given me so many gifts, Dove. This just adds to it. I love you, sugar, but just so we’re clear, I’ve heard you all those nights. That was yours to give and not mine to take, but now it’s mine, for the rest of times.” He seals his words with a kiss, and if I wasn’t crying before, I damn sure am now. This man with his larger-than-life presence is the sweetest man I ever could have imagined, and if it meant going through everything I did in high school and even the past few times having to deal with Regina and Amanda, I’d do it ten times over again if I’d be wrapped up in the arms of Trace McCray, having his baby, building a future together, and everything that comes along. He is my future, and I am his.
Nineteen
Trace
“For the third time, I am not getting married just because we’re having a baby together. I’ll be as big as a house wearing a tent. Plus, there’s no need to rush, and you damn well know it,” Dove is hollering in the kitchen after she left me in bed. Of course, we’ve spent half the evening making love, and when I mentioned it was time for us to get married, Dove marched her ass buck naked to the kitchen and proceeded to slam every God-given thing we have in the kitchen—cabinets, drawers, the refrigerator door. Though that one pissed her off because it didn’t make a peep when she slammed it with her hip.
There are a lot of things I’m going to miss about this small home, mainly being able to see and hear everything. But the rightness of having us and our unborn child in a home where he or she will have her own room, that’s what I’m really yearning for.
“And why won’t you marry me, Dove? Give me one valid reason.” I stand up, my own body void of clothes. If she can walk around naked, showing off all of her delicious curves, then she can deal with me doing the same. I have an inkling that she won’t be pissed for long.
“For starters, you haven’t asked, and the second is, we’re not getting married just because I’m pregnant. We have so many things going on. There’s no freaking way I’m adding a wedding on top of it.” She stomps her foot, all the ingredients to what I’m assuming is our dinner on the counter, plated, with drinks off to the side. Even when she’s breathing fire, Dove still takes care of the two of us. Sandwiches, fruit, chips, and I even see some of the homemade chocolate chip cookies she made are set out too.
“Well, you know damn good and well I love you, and even though I haven’t asked, you knew this was coming. It’s only a matter of time. It’s my name you moan every morning and night. We have a house being built together. This place is as much yours as it is mine. Please, for the love of God, tell me you know this?” My dick’s out, blowing in the damn wind. Her arms are crossed over her chest. I can see the tick in her eye, and it’s telling me she’s not giving in easily.
“I know that, but, Trace, I don’t want to get married while I’m pregnant. I truly don’t. We have the house to get ready for, you want to start working in breeding cows this summer, and I’ve got this book that needs to be out, and who knows what all that will entail? I think if we wait until our child is born, it’ll be that much more special.” Fuck, this woman drives a hard bargain, and it goes against every bone in my body.
“I’ll agree to this, for now. But if shit settles down for us, then it happens sooner. Also, you’ll wear my ring, and, in my eyes, you have to know you’ll already be my wife. The only thing I’m waiting on is for you to catch up.” It seems like that shit is always happening, but this will be the last time I’ll allow it. Call me a Neanderthal or a dick, the woman I want in my life, who owns the biggest beating organ in my body, my heart. She needs my last name and our lives entwined together.
“That’ll do. Now, are you ready to eat dinner?” Dove agreed to that entirely too quickly. I do a double-take, trying to figure out what else she’s got going on in that crazy mind of hers. Well, besides the characters that have gotten her out of bed in the middle of the night on more than one occasion.
“Oh, I’m ready, but it’s going to be you who will need your strength. If I have any guesses to the sex of our baby, I’ll bet it’s a boy.” I wink at her but still walk closer to her.