With a wink, I notice Elisabet’s cheeks matching Mia’s, and Camden and I find camaraderie. The women in our lives escape to the kitchen to get the items to set the table.
All through dinner, the conversation flows smoothly. It’s as if I’ve known Camden my whole life. Hearing about his work, which is vastly different from mine, was interesting, and we even managed a chat about women. I couldn’t believe I had asked advice from someone other than Dominic, but something tells me Camden understood my predicament more than Dom would.
“It was so great to have you,” Mia says, giving both Elisabet and me a hug as we say our goodbyes. I shake Camden’s hand with a promise of dinner at Elisabet’s place soon, and we’re on our way home well before ten.
They’re used to early nights due to having kids, and I have a feeling that Elisabet wanted to meet the children, but they were being babysat for the evening.
“I like them,” I tell her as I drive us back to the apartment. I wanted to spend the night at mine, but perhaps it’s easier at her place. Maybe she’ll even want to move in together. As much as the thought scares the shit out of me, I can’t help but smile.
“Yeah, I enjoyed that. I’m glad you did too,” she tells me.
“Would you want a home like that one day?” I ask her, but I keep my eyes trained on the road ahead. I can’t look at her if she says no. Deep down, even though I love the high life in the city, I’d love to settle down in the suburbs.
“I would,” comes her response, and the breath I’d been holding eases slowly. Thank God. “And I’d love to have kids. I mean, it’s not something I want in the next, say, five years, but I mean, I’d like that. A family.”
“Sweetheart, five years is a long wait. If we are headed in that direction, I’m knocking you up within at least a few months of saying I do.” This time, I do cast a glance her way, and she laughs out loud. Me testing the waters has gone down smoothly, the tension that gripped my shoulders calms, and I’m able to breathe again.
“I have the bakery.”
“That’s why you hire a manager.”
“I just bought my apartment,” her words tumble out, but the moment she snaps her gaze toward me, I realize she wasn’t thinking in the future. She was talking about right the fuck now. “I mean, you know. I can’t just sell it five years after buying it.”
The corners of my mouth lift as she tries to backtrack her earlier statement. I want nothing more than to give her grief, tease her until she’s begging me to stop, but I allow her to gracefully bow out of what she just said.
“I got what you meant,” I tell her, but I know she can see the smile on my face. It’s pure satisfaction. I pull into the lot and kill the engine not long after. Before I exit the vehicle, I turn to Elisabet. “Look, I’m not trying to pressure you, and I’m certainly not trying to rush you into anything. I asked because I enjoyed Camden and Mia’s home. It felt like my childhood.”
“I get that,” she says. “I was taken back to when I was a little girl, and my mother was alive. Granted, the houses were different, but there was a feeling of love. It’s something my father could never offer.”
“I’m sorry, sweetheart.” I cup her cheek, swiping my tongue over her lower lip, taking the deep-red lipstick off. “I’m here. You have me. I want you to know you’re not alone in anything, as long as you’ll have me.”
She’s silent. Her mouth is so tempting I want to kiss her, to steal her moans and whimpers while I taste her. But I wait.
“Before I say yes,” she starts. “Do I really get the girlfriend discount?” Her dark brow arches playfully. I grip her around the waist and pull her over the seat into my lap.
“You can have anything you want, Elisabet.” I allow myself to lock eyes with her. I need her to see my sincerity, because I can’t explain my emotions and those feelings that seem to creep up when she’s around. But I know that I want her with me, beside me.
“Big promises.” She smiles, but I can tell from the shimmer in her eyes she’s emotional as well. “Why don’t you take me upstairs, and we can get better acquainted with each other, boyfriend?”
With a smile, I lead Elisabet into the elevator, and we take it up to her floor. Once she’s unlocked the door, I shut it with a kick and press her against the wall. My hands land on either side of her head as I lean in.