“I know, baby. I see you’re trying, and I love that about you. You never give up.”
“Yeah, but all this shit is expensive, and Pyro—I know this shit is a lot on him.” He sighed.
“He’s your friend, your brother, and he’s not giving up on you just like I’m not giving up on you,” she said, stroking his arm.
“That means a lot to me.”
“I know it does, baby. I know.”
He paused for a moment before asking her, “Do you still see a future with me?”
Chanel looked offended by the question. “What kind of question is that, Mateo? Of course I still see a future with you. Why would you ask me that?”
“Lately, it seems like your mind has been distant—on something else. And for a moment, you weren’t coming to see me on a regular like you used to.”
She sighed. “I just had some things going on.”
“Like what?” he wanted to know.
“Just things, Mateo.”
“I understand. You don’t want to talk about it right now.”
“I would rather talk about us.”
“Us?”
“You still wanna marry me?” she asked him.
“Of course I do, Chanel. I love you. You’re my world.”
She smiled. They locked hands and stared at each other. Though parts of his body were still impaired, he was still the same, she felt. The way he gazed at her, she never had to guess how he felt about her.
“You want a big wedding or small wedding?” he asked her.
“You know me; something simple,” she replied.
“And kids? How many?”
“You can give me four kids—two boys and two girls.”
He laughed. “Four?”
“Oh, that’s gonna be a problem?”
“Nah.”
“I know you’re gonna have fun making them,” she joked.
He laughed. “You got that right.”
“I know, and I wish we could start now,” she teased.
“No doubt.”
They talked about their future, movies, family, and life. Their conversation flowed effortlessly, and Mateo loved hearing her voice. It was comforting to him in so many ways. He wanted Chanel to lay with him forever. With her by his side, he felt like he could take on the world.
***