She turns to me. "I can't take a room in your house."
"It's going to stay empty if you don't."
"But we're not... I'm not ready to move in yet."
"That's okay." I squeeze her hand. "This is your space, just for you. And you can do whatever you want with it. You can make it a library or you can fill it with makeup or you can store your extra coffee here. I don't care. But it's yours."
"I don't know."
"Ally, nothing would make me happier than knowing you can feel at home here."
She looks around the room, her eyes wide. She wants to jump in headfirst. She just needs a little encouragement.
"You gave up so much control of your life before," I say. "You deserve to take a little bit back. I know it's not much. It's just a small room in a small house. But it can be yours."
"What if we break up?" She folds her arms.
"Is that something you're planning?"
"You know what I mean."
"You can still have it if we break up. I'll be happy to have you around even if I'm miserable seeing you without me."
She steps into the room and presses her hand against the wall. Her lips curl into a smile. Her whole face lights up with excitement. "I'm going to make this the girliest fucking room."
"Hot pink?"
She nods. "And sparkles."
"I love hot pink and sparkles."
"And pictures of hot dudes on the walls."
"So you kept those pictures I sent you?"
"No, I..." She blushes and folds her arms. "Fine. No hot guys on the walls."
She presses her lips into mine. It's soft and sweet, but there's something under the tenderness. She needs me as much as I need her. As badly. As urgently.
This is hard for her too.
Her eyes connect with mine. "Thanks, Luke."
"For what?"
"For being patient with me."
"Anything."
I can do patient.
I can wait until she's ready.
I can already see how amazing things will be. I can see our wedding, our honeymoon, the first home we have together. I can see us growing old together.
I'm the luckiest guy in the whole damn world.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN