White Orchids

“Well this sucks.”

Tyler nodded his head in agreement. The second they stepped off of the plane, it started to downpour. The seventy degree weather felt like thirty to him, made worse only by the dampness of his clothes and the wind whipping in every direction as they waited outside for Freddy to pick them up.

“I mean, we are at the airport… we could totally just hop on another plane and go back,” Nicki suggested.

He could tell that she was only half kidding. He wouldn’t mind doing to same. If Hawaii had a hockey team, he would have given serious thought to moving out there permanently. Tyler noticed Nicki shaking beside him and dropped his suitcase to the ground so that he could wrap himself around her.

“Better?” he asked, leaving a kiss on her cheek.

She pressed herself against him and moaned. Tyler took her moan as a ‘yes’, and tightened his hold on her.

“Freddy should be here any second. I keep forgetting he doesn’t live five minutes away anymore.”

“That’s okay,” she said, letting her head fall to his shoulder. “I’m fine like this.”

A smile worked its way onto his face. He felt the same way. A beep caught his attention, and he looked around the pickup area for Freddy’s car, but it was nowhere to be found. Then came the barking. He would know that bark anywhere. Suddenly, a big, brown head stuck out the window of a car in front of them.

“Marshall!” he shouted, grabbing his suitcase and bolting towards the car.

So maybe his voice just got embarrassingly high pitched. So maybe he was way more excited than he should be to see his dog. So what.

When he reached the car, Freddy rolled down the driver’s side window.

“Dude, you got a new car?”

He nodded proudly. “Last week. You inspired me.”

“How’d you convince Evy?”

“Well, with the baby on the way, all she’s been talking about is how she wants a big family. So I told her if she wants a big family, we need a big car,” he said with a huge grin.

Tyler gave him a pat on the arm before walking around back to open the lift gate. He saw that Nicki had already done so, and thrown her suitcase in. Currently, she was hurdling into the backseat to play with Marshall. He chucked his suitcase on top of Nicki’s and got into the passenger seat. It took all of two seconds before Marshall had clawed his way over the center console and onto his lap.

“Marshall buddy we missed you!” he said, roughing around with his ears. “Was he good?”

“Besides the time I came downstairs to find him lying on the kitchen counter, he was a peach,” Freddy said, laughing at the memory.

“Shit, I’m so sorry. How did he even get up there?”

“That, Ty, is the question of the century. So how was Hawaii?”

Tyler looked back at Nicki. He wasn’t sure exactly how to answer.

“Perfect,” she said dreamily.

“Ah, I’m glad to hear it. I’m sure you missed New England weather, right?”

He glanced out the window at the skies opening up above them.

“Yeah, not really.”

Silently cursing the inclement weather, Tyler turned back once more to Nicki. She was already staring out her window, the way she always did in the car. He was hoping for a bright, sunny day. Somehow, he felt the rain and clouds might take away from the surprise.

“So, you ready to go home?” Freddy asked, raising an eyebrow at Tyler.

He nodded and faced forward, awaiting the moment that was sure to come. When Freddy got onto the highway, it came.

“Jeez, Freddy, did you already forget where the apartment is? Where are you going?”

“There’s something I want to show you first,” Tyler said, not bothering to check her facial expression.

He knew she would be confused. The more confused she was, the better. Luckily, instead of asking a million questions like she normally would, she sat quietly in the backseat. Tyler sifted his fingers through Marshall’s fur as they passed exit after exit, growing ever further from the apartment.

“Are… are you taking me to my dad’s house?”

“You’ll see,” he responded, suddenly feeling a little guilty for hiding something so huge from her.

In the distance, the lake finally came into view. The lake he’d walked countless times with Nicki over the summers.

“Are we walking the lake? I gotta say Ty, I’m not really in the mood.”

Freddy turned to look at him, and he couldn’t hold back a grin. They were almost there. He stared ahead of him, at the white house that stood just a little taller than all of the rest. To his right, parked across the street, was Bill’s truck. Either Nicki didn’t notice it, or she didn’t bother to mention it. Freddy pulled up the long drive that led up to the house, and he finally glanced back at Nicki.

“Tyler what the hell? People live here! We can’t just drive up to their house,” she snapped.

They had come to this house on countless occasions, always standing out of sight so they wouldn’t get the police called on them. He remembered the last time they’d come, they sat for hours across the street. Nicki had told him all about her childhood, which, until then, had remained on a need to know basis. She told him that whenever something bad happened, she would run all the way there from her house and pretend that she lived there, with the perfect family. It was her dream house; her escape from all of the terrible things in the world.

“There aren’t any cars in the driveway,” he pointed out. “It’s fine.”

He could sense her shifting uncomfortably in her seat.

“You guys are freaking me out,” she said, leaning forward between him and Freddy.

Miraculously, the rain stopped the moment they reached the end of the driveway. Tyler opened his door to let Marshall out and ordered him to stay, which he obeyed without question. He walked quickly around the car to open Nicki’s door. He knew that she wouldn’t get out willingly.

“Ty, we are so getting the cops called on us. I’m pretty sure this counts as trespassing,” she said, shoving his arms away when he reached in to grab her.

He got his hands around her waist and dragged her out of the car, much to her dismay.

“Who’s gonna call the cops? Our neighbors?”

“Yes the neighbors!” She stopped her shrieking and cocked her head. “Did you just say our – “

“Welcome home, babe.”

Her mouth instantly dropped open. Tyler could almost see the thoughts swarming through her head. Her hands slowly came together over her mouth as the tears pooled in her eyes. Her gaze never broke from his.

The only thing she could manage to ask was, “How?”

Tyler reached to wipe away her tears. “Your dad mentioned that it went on the market a few months ago, and I couldn’t pass it up. I know how much this place means to you. If you don’t like it, I haven’t ended the lease yet, we could – “

He was interrupted by her lips crashing against his own. Mesmerized by her emotional kiss, his fingers tangled through her hair and pulled her face closer to his. Nicki’s hands rested on his hips at first, but eventually found their way across the rest of him, up to his face.

Droplets of rain pounded down on the pavement around them, falling on the tops of their heads and attempting to disrupt their kiss. Tyler clenched his fingers around the dampening strands of her hair. Nothing was pulling him from her, nor her from him.

Tyler heard Freddy and Marshall run to the front door. He heard Bill asking where they were. He felt the rain soaking through his shirt and matting down his hair. None of it bothered him. None of it mattered.

His hands finally fell from her hair, and he used them to hoist her up. Her legs clamped around his waist and her arms around his neck. When their lips parted, Nicki tilted her forehead against his, and began to laugh.

“You… you bought me my dream house. You bought my fucking dream house,” she said, shaking her head in disbelief.

He laughed with her, for what reason he wasn’t sure of. Maybe because of how ridiculous they must look, drenched and entwined on their front lawn. Or maybe he was in disbelief, too.

Nicki leaned back and held his face in her hands. “I don’t even know what to say to you.”

“Believe me, that kiss said it all.” He paused, taking a second to appreciate how stunning she looked just then, soaking wet and in his arms. “After everything you told me, that last time we were here… I had to. To be honest, we could afford something much bigger. But it has everything we need – “

He was cut off by another kiss. “It’s perfect,” she said as she took a breath before leaning in again. “It is absolutely perfect.”

“Good. Can we go in then?”

She nodded eagerly and kissed him one last time. “I can walk,” she reminded him, gesturing for him to put her down.

Tyler let her down. Before she could move, he scooped her up and held her bridal style.

“Aren’t I supposed to carry you through the door to our first house?”

A grin spread across her face and she didn’t argue. He couldn’t wait to see what she would do when she saw the inside. It was relatively empty; it went without saying that the house was much larger than their apartment, and their few pieces of furniture would certainly not suffice.

He stepped through the doorway and set her down on the newly polished hardwood floor so that she could look around.

“Tyler. This. Is. Incredible,” she whispered, glancing frantically around the foyer.

The setup was similar to his old house in Brampton, with the kitchen straight ahead and rooms to either side of them. The biggest difference in the entryway to their new home were the two grand staircases that made it feel more like a castle than a house. The architecture was dated and the bones were old, but the last owners had left it well kempt. The walls were bare and the rooms were plain, as if it was just waiting for someone to make the house into a home.

Bill, Freddy, and Tyler stood quietly, allowing her all of the time she needed to take everything in. Tyler was aware that it was an enormous, sudden change. As much as he wished he had given her some kind of heads up, the expression on her face when she realized that she would be living there was worth all of the waiting and the lying and the stress.

A hand gripped Tyler’s shoulder. He could tell by the firm grasp that it was Bill, and turned to look at him.

“I can’t possibly thank you for this,” he said, clenching his knuckles. “All I ever wanted for her was a happy life. You’ve given her so much more than that.”

He shook his head. “You don’t have to thank me. She deserves it.”

“You’re a really great guy, Tyler. I wouldn’t want to see her with anyone else.”

Tyler could do nothing besides smile. How do you tell your father-in-law that his daughter was the best thing that’s ever happened to you without sounding like a pussy?

Nicki came wandering back into the room, eyes darting across every crevice and corner of the place. He could tell the gears in her head were turning, trying to conjure up a layout for every single room she entered. She did it everywhere they went; rearranging furniture and painting walls in her mind. Tyler was hoping the renovations would keep her busy while she adjusted to being alone in such a big place once the season started. Training camp was only two weeks away, and they had a long road trip right off the bat. He was already worried about what it might be like for her.

“What do you think?” he asked, approaching her and draping an arm across her shoulders.

She turned and placed her hand in the middle of his chest. “Is this real?”

“Very real,” he said, laughing.

After another look around she added, “We need to buy some furniture. This place is huge.”

“We can start tomorrow if you want. Or today, if you’re really motivated.”

“We have the couch and the TV right?”

“Yeah.”

“Then tomorrow is fine,” she said, leaning against him.

“Aren’t you wondering how all of your stuff got over here?” Freddy asked from the other end of the room.

Nicki tilted her head and raised an eyebrow, the same way Tyler always did. He smiled to himself, noting that it was the second time in two days that she’d displayed one of his habits.

“I just assumed the movers or whatever did it.”

“Uh, no. Your daddy dearest and I slaved away getting all this shit here. I think we deserve a thank you.”

With that, it became clear that Freddy hadn’t been spending enough time with Nicki. He should have known better than to demand a thank you from her. The ones she gave on her own were overwhelming enough.

“Thank you Freddy,” she said, over articulating her words as if she was in a play.

She ran across the room and hugged him so hard that she nearly knocked him over. Tyler couldn’t help but laugh at the expression on Freddy’s face, which was a mix of horror and comfort. He and Nicki had been so close when they lived together, it bothered him somewhat that Freddy hadn’t kept in touch. Tyler knew he was busy, but they had become nothing short of brother and sister. Maybe that was how their relationship stayed rock solid, even with the distance between them.

“Yeah, you’re welcome. I did it for Ty, not you.”

“Douchebag.”

“Shithead.”

“Please don’t call my daughter a shithead in front of me,” Bill said, his tone threatening.

“Oh, uh, sorry Bill.”

Nicki began to giggle and high fived her father. “Finally! Someone actually got you to apologize!”

“You all suck,” Freddy mumbled, crossing his arms.

Tyler strode across the open room to join them. “Freddy, you and Evy should come over tomorrow. You aren’t doing anything, are you?”

“Tomorrow’s Sunday, right? Nah, we’re free.”

Nicki clapped her hands together in excitement. “It’ll be like a housewarming party! Dad, you and Diane should come, too. This place is so big, we could use some guests.”

Tyler’s heart sank as she said it. He remembered the first time he left her alone in his apartment, how lonely she’d been. The house wasn’t enormous by any means; out of all his teammates’ houses, it was by far the smallest. But the idea of her all alone, wandering around with no one but Marshall to keep her company made him want to cry.

“We can do that, sweetie. Want us to pick up some food? Doesn’t look like the two of you will be cooking any time soon.”

He glanced into the kitchen, which was in dire need of renovation. That was certainly the first thing on the list. Tyler was going to have it done while they were on vacation, but he wanted Nicki to pick everything out, so he waited. They would be living off of pizza and Chinese food for a while.

“That’d be great,” Nicki said, giving him a drawn out hug.

“I could call some of the guys, too,” Tyler suggested.

If they were going to have a housewarming party, he wanted to do it the right way. Besides, it would be nice to get everyone together one last time before they went back to work.

Nicki flashed him a grin of approval, and took her place by his side, underneath his arm.

“So, what now?” she asked.

“I should probably get home to Evy,” Freddy said, taking a half a step towards the door.

“Sorry honey, I have some paperwork to go through at home.”

“Oh, okay then,” she muttered.

It was killing Tyler to see her so sad. He knew it wasn’t anything he had done; he understood exactly how she felt. With no furniture, no paint on the walls, nothing to make it feel like home, the place felt lonesome and desolate.

“You and Tyler will be fine,” Bill said, pulling her into a hug. “I remember the first night your mother and I spent in our house, we felt the same way. Except our house was a lot smaller.”

Nicki chuckled softly and held onto him a moment longer before saying goodbye to Freddy.

“We’ll see you guys tomorrow,” he said as he followed Bill out the door.

Tyler nodded and watched them leave. When the door shut, Nicki looked at him helplessly.

“I never thought finding out I was living in my dream house would feel so… empty.”

He wrapped his arms around her and rested his chin on the top of her head. The silence that had enveloped them made the thundering chorus of raindrops against the roof feel ominous and oppressive. The dark grey sky seemed to seep through the walls and windows, casting a dull mood throughout the rooms and hallways.

“It won’t be this way forever,” he promised, pulling her closer. “I think I have something that might cheer you up.”

Tyler stepped away from her, leaving a kiss on her forehead before he entered the large living room to their right. He was still learning the layout of the house, but the living room, kitchen, and master bedroom were easy to find. Nicki followed a few paces behind him, and gasped as she realized where he was going.

“How did I not see that?!” she asked, staring at the striking fireplace in the center of the room.

“I dunno, it kinda stands out,” he said, laughing light heartedly.

“Oh my God, Ty. It’s gorgeous.”

She ran a hand along the stone mantle, appreciating it in a way that only she was capable of. To Tyler, it was a fancy fireplace. To Nicki, it was a work of art. He watched her for a while, admiring the passion she had for the simplest of things, before opening the tiny cabinet to the side of the fireplace. Inside lied enough wood to last them through the night, along with a lighter, fire starter, and crumpled up pieces of newspaper. It surprised him that whoever had lived there last left all of that behind, but then again didn’t see the purpose in bringing it with them.

Tyler stacked the pieces of lumber in his arms and tossed them into the empty fireplace.

“How did you know that was there?”

He looked up at Nicki and smiled. “I didn’t. Pretty good luck, huh?”

She nodded, and he could see her trying to smile back. It got caught halfway, and he knew he would have to try a little harder than normal to cheer her up. Marshall trotted into the room to help him out, rubbing his head against Nicki’s legs. She knelt down to pet him and Tyler turned back to the fire he was attempting to start. Nothing said home like a warm, steady fire.

** * * * *

Nicki pushed herself up off of the chilled floor and crossed her legs underneath her as she took a seat on the couch. It suddenly looked so small outside of the apartment. Before, it had been the coziest part about the entire place. Now, it was just a small piece in a large, empty room. Everything about it felt cold and dismal.

She watched Tyler as he tried to get a fire going. She felt absolutely horrible for being so sad. He had done arguably the most amazing thing that anyone had ever done for her, and she couldn’t even appreciate it fully. There was nothing she would like to do more than dance around all of the rooms, screaming at the top of her lungs. But a heaviness inside of her kept her on the couch, staring into the darkest corners of her new home.

In front of her, there were a few sparks, followed by a growing flame. It lit up the room, throwing a flickering orange glow off of the dreary walls. Tyler stood up and turned to face her, obviously proud of his work. Nicki held out her arms, silently begging him to come to her. She spread her legs and he sat between them, leaning back gently against her.

“I’m sorry I’m being so horrible,” she said, brushing the back of her hand across his face. He melted at her touch, his cheek falling against her hand.

“It’s okay,” he assured her, taking her hand and leaving caring kisses across her palm. “It’s a big change. I feel bad that I didn’t tell you, I just wanted you to be surprised.”

“I’ve never been so surprised in my whole life,” she said, laughing a little. “I’m in shock. Waking up tomorrow is going to be the weirdest, most exciting thing I’ve ever experienced.”

Tyler nodded. “It might be a little weird. But at least you’ll be waking up next to me.”

Nicki dropped her lips to his shoulder and finally found herself truly smiling.

“And that’s what makes everything okay,” she said before taking a deep breath, looking to find comfort in his familiar scent.

For a while, they sat quietly, both lost in their own complicated thoughts. There were so many things that could be, so many things they could make that house into. Nicki imagined a time when it wouldn’t just be the two of them, when it would be full with family and love and happiness. As she glanced around, it became easier and easier to picture. Soon enough, it would be a home. It would be their home.

“Want some tea?” Tyler asked her, twisting his neck to look at her.

“That would be great. We have some?”

“Everything that was in the apartment is here now, so yeah, we should still have some.”

He got up from the couch, taking his body heat with him, leaving her chilled to the bone, even with the fire crackling only feet away from her. Nicki left the last bit of warmth on the couch in pursuit of the few boxes that were scattered through the foyer. It still hadn’t sunk in that she actually had a foyer.

As she dug through the first box, she let out a relieved sigh. The blankets she’d been searching for were right on top, and she grabbed the warmest one to drape around herself. Marshall rose from his spot on the floor and followed her to the couch, breaking the rules they’d established and jumping on it with her. Nicki felt no need to reprimand him. She needed all of the comfort she could get.

She felt herself beginning to nod off when Tyler came back into the room, a mug in each hand. The smile returned to her face. Through all of the uncertainty and the solitude, she felt truly happy.

Tyler handed her a mug and reclined into the couch next to her. Unable to resist the temptation that his body offered, she slipped some of her blanket onto him and curled up against him. She took a long sip of her tea, and the soothing mix of herbs helped calm her as it traveled down her throat to her stomach. As her head fell to his chest, Nicki realized that she was surrounded by everything she loved, everything that she needed.

Staring into the glowing hearth, tranquility took over. Her eyelids became heavy and her breaths shallow. She allowed herself to be pulled under the spell of sleep, and the last thing she heard was a quiet I love you.

** * * * *

When Tyler opened his eyes, it took him longer than he would have liked to remember where he was. The faint scent of burning wood still lingered in the still air, and his stiff muscles reminded him that he’d fallen asleep on the couch. Nicki was still sleeping peacefully by his side, and he had no choice but to reminisce about the way he’d felt just before he’d fallen asleep. The strangest kind of happiness had flowed through him, leaving every inch of him warm and tingling. A sense deep within his gut told him that he was exactly where he was supposed to be. The house could have been a hundred times darker and a thousand times colder; as long as he was with Nicki, he was home.

He took the mug from her hand so that it wouldn’t spill over and left a long kiss on the top of her head. Marshall stretched out next to her and jumped off of the couch. He needed to be fed, and most likely need to go for a walk. Tyler just couldn’t find it in himself to leave Nicki. She’d been so sad the day before, he wanted to make sure that he was right there with her when she woke up.

Hopefully, whatever kind of party that was happening later would make things easier on her. Once she sees what the place is like filled with friends and family, he was confident that she would feel more at home there. They’d been at their apartment for so long, the change effected both of them more than Tyler had anticipated.

At last, the sun broke out from the heavy cover of the clouds, spraying light through the many windows in the living room. It entirely changed the way it looked, the way that it felt. The openness was airy now, instead of intimidating. He couldn’t wait to see what Nicki would do with each room. Tyler was sure that each of them would be completely different, yet somehow cohesive. He would never know how she did it. Design came as naturally to her as hockey did to him. And now she had a blank canvas; a five bedroom, four bath blank canvas, that would surely keep her busy for months to come.

Tyler looked down at her, smiling at the contended expression on her face. The only thing better than her lying on him was knowing how happy it made her to do so. Before her, he’d never known what it felt like to be truly, honestly needed. It was one of the most amazing things he’d ever felt.

He watched as she opened her eyes, just barely enough to see. When she saw him looking at her, she closed them again and moaned out a sleepy good morning before lying on her back across his lap. Tyler laughed at her, at how she could act so childish sometimes. He brushed a hand over her hair, spreading it out across his thigh and onto the couch beside him. Another moan came from his lap, a little louder this time.

“How’d you sleep?” he asked, continuing to stroke a hand across her silky hair.

“Really good,” she mumbled, obviously still half asleep.

He chuckled. “Since when do you have trouble waking up?”

“I dunno. You’re comfy.”

“I know,” he said, admiring how adorable she was when she was half asleep.

“You do?”

“Babe, you tell me that every morning.”

“I do?”

Tyler leaned forward and pressed his lips to her forehead.

“Yes, you do. Are you feeling okay?”

“Mmmmmm.”

Another laugh escaped his lips. He’d never seen her so out of it.

“How about I make us some coffee and then we can check out the top floors? You never saw them yesterday.”

Nicki sprang up from his lap, like someone had jabbed her with something sharp.

“There’s more than two floors?!”

“There’s three! I figured you would have known that, all of the time you spent staring at it.”

“Let’s go!” she said, hopping off of the couch and grabbing his hand.

Tyler used the grip she had on him to pull her back, catching her off guard and sending her tumbling into him.

“Woah, woah, woah. Slow down, Seabiscuit. I still need coffee.”

She scoffed and prodded him with her fingers, herding him towards the kitchen. He let her push him, enjoying her enthusiasm. Tyler pressed the button to turn on the Keurig, which was one of the only working appliances in the kitchen besides the microwave and the refrigerator. The oven stood in the corner, detached from the wall. It was probably for the best, the thing was so decrepit that Tyler wouldn’t dare cooking anything on it.

“The sunlight changes everything about this place,” Nicki muttered under her breath.

“Yeah, it does. Check out the backyard,” he said, nodding his head towards the floor to ceiling window in the center of the room.

“Holy shit. Tyler, it’s gorgeous.”

He watched her as she walked cautiously towards the window, slowly absorbing every inch of the spacious yard.

“WE HAVE A POOL?!”

Tyler nodded happily. “I was waiting for you to figure that out. I want to get it lined, that concrete doesn’t exactly seem safe. Especially with you around,” he teased.

Nicki didn’t even rebuff. She threw her arms around his neck and pulled him down to her lips. His hands found her back, the same way they had the very first time they kissed. It seemed as though that had been decades ago. Everything had been so drastically different then, it truly could have been another lifetime. Somewhere, deep down inside, Tyler knew the moment he kissed her that this was where they would end up. He may not have known it then, but he most certainly knew it now. All of those unexplainable feelings he’d had, this was what they were.

“I love you so so so so so so so much,” she said, hanging off of his neck.

“Yeah,” he said, leaning in for another kiss. “I love you that much, too.”

She flashed him a pretty smile and broke away to explore some more. Tyler tossed a K cup into Keurig and waited for his shitty, instant coffee. He missed their old coffee maker, but nothing could beat the convenience of having a full cup brewed in a matter of seconds. Coffee cup in hand, he went to look for her.

“You ready?” he called out to nowhere in particular.

“Yup! Come on!”

He followed her voice to the foyer, where he found her staring at the grand staircases, utterly lost in thought. He slipped an arm across her back and looked straight ahead. The marble could use some polishing, but the staircases were breathtaking. No one he knew had anything like them, which was one of the many reasons an older house actually appealed to him. All of his teammates bought the newest everything, and their houses were nice. But they lacked the character and the history that older houses had in abundance. The place had potential, and he knew that Nicki would find it and bring it out for everyone to see.

“I hope we have a girl,” she said softly.

Tyler felt his cheeks start to burn. Besides going over the details of conception, they’d never really spoken about what they wanted. To have her come out and say it threw him off, but sent a smile crawling across his face.

“All I can picture is her walking down these stairs before prom, and us standing right here taking pictures and swooning like idiots over how beautiful she is.”

He let himself in on her fantasy, staring with her as he imagined everything she’d just said. It seemed so strange, but he welcomed it.

“I hope we have a girl, too,” he whispered, pressing his lips to the side of her head. “And I hope she’s just like you.”

Watery brown eyes looked up at him, smothering him with love. He held her gaze, making sure she knew that he’d meant every word. The small smile that formed on her face told him everything he needed to know.

“You wanna go upstairs?” he asked, acknowledging that the moment was over. Although it was over, without a doubt they would both be thinking about it constantly for the rest of the day.

She nodded and took his hand, leading him up the marble steps. He noticed the elegant details on the iron railings, and realized just how much time must have gone into them. All of the original items from the house had been crafted by hand, and were probably worth more than Tyler’s life.

“So, do you know the history of this house?” he asked, quite sure that she would. After all, she grew up one town over.

“No, why? It has a history?”

“You really don’t know?! I thought that was part of the reason you liked it so much.”

“I have no idea, Ty,” she said, anxious to hear about it.

He let her pull him through the rooms, and spoke as she scanned over everything.

“Well, this town was actually a part of your town back when it first started in the seventeen hundreds.”

“All of this was Reading?”

Tyler nodded. “And the guy who founded it lived in this house. It was the only one for miles, all of these houses used to be farmland, and there were barns and stables and all that shit. I bought a book, if you want to look at it. It’s actually amazing.”

Nicki stopped in her tracks and turned to face him.

“You bought a book? Tyler Paul Seguin bought a book?”

He grinned and gave her a playful shove. “Shut up. You can’t tell me it’s not wicked cool that someone wrote a book about our house. There’s even pictures and everything.”

“That’s incredible. I can’t believe I didn’t know that. Who would have thought you would be giving me a history lesson?”

“I know,” he said, chuckling. “That’s your thing.”

She laughed with him for a moment before turning serious. “Tyler, I wish there was a way to tell you how much I appreciate this. You could have gotten a house like Milan’s or Shawn’s – “

He didn’t let her finish. “But I like this house. There’s more to this house than all of theirs’ combined.”

“Yeah, our house has spunk,” she said as she started to giggle.

“You’re right, it does. I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else. Except maybe Hawaii.”

Nicki continued to giggle and wrapped her arms around his waist. “Same here.”

“Want to see my favorite part?” he asked.

She dropped her arms from him and waited for him to take the lead. Tyler grabbed her hand and walked back to the landing, climbing the second, smaller staircase that brought them to the third floor. The gasp that came from Nicki’s mouth told him that she approved.

The entire floor was one great expanse of hardwood floor and windows. It was a room that you could do virtually anything with. Directly ahead laid his favorite part of the house; the doors that led out to the balcony.

Nicki stared at it, grounded where her feet met the floor.

“Go on,” he urged, approaching the elegant glass doors.

“Just… give me a sec. I’ve dreamt about standing on that balcony my entire life. Let me enjoy this,” she said, never breaking her focus.

Tyler backed up a step and let her have her moment. After what felt like an hour, she finally inched towards the doors. He was going to open the door for her, but figured she might want to do it herself and stayed put. Her hands reached out slowly to grasp the knobs and she tentatively swung the doors open and stepped out onto the balcony. Tyler followed her, keeping a few steps behind her.

She didn’t say a word. She leaned over the railing to gaze at the sparkling lake directly in front of them. Tyler slid his arms around her stomach and rested his chin on her shoulder.

“Beautiful, isn’t it?”

Her head fell against his as a response.

“We can watch the sunset every night, if you want,” he said into her ear.

“Tyler…”

He spun her around and cupped her face in his hands. “I know.”

Whatever she was about to say was better left kept to herself. It was too perfect to mess up with words.

“We can come back out later, if you want,” he said, tucking her hair behind her ear. “But you haven’t seen our bedroom yet.”

Nicki’s eyes opened wide, indicating that she hadn’t even considered that. “What’s it like?”

He grabbed her hand again and brought her inside. “You’re gonna love it,” was his only answer.

Back on the second floor, he took a left, down the hallway that Nicki hadn’t gotten to yet. It was a relatively long hallway, and the only door rested at the end of it, just begging to be opened and explored. He gripped the knob and pushed it open, letting Nicki go in before him.

The only furniture in the room was their bed, dresser, and bedside tables, making it seem even larger than it already was. Again, huge, glossy windows surrounded them, letting the warm sunlight stream in. They had a full view of the lake, which he was positive that she would adore.

“This is our room?”

“This is our room,” he said, looking around proudly. “Wait until you see this.”

Tyler walked behind Nicki and over to the corner of the room, where another door stood. He opened it and laughed as her face mirrored his excitement.

“I always wanted a walk in closet,” she said breathlessly.

“Looks like you’ll have to let me buy you more clothes.”

He followed her in, and realized he managed to forget just how big it was. It was nearly the same size as their old bedroom. Tyler almost tripped over his suitcase, and had a moment of confusion as he tried to figure out how it had gotten there. He drew the conclusion that Freddy must have brought their things up here while they were out in the rain.

His near fall caught Nicki’s attention, and she glanced down at his feet.

“So… I kind of forgot to mention something,” she said, still looking down.

“What is it?”

She knelt down and unzipped her suitcase as she explained.

“Remember yesterday, when I went to get snacks at the airport?” He nodded, waiting for her to continue. “Well, to pass some time I was just looking around the shelves and stuff, and I saw these,” she said, holding up a rectangular purple box.

Tyler looked at it. Something about it seemed so familiar…

“I was going to take it there because I was curious, but I thought I should wait until you could be there with me.”

As she flipped it over in her hands, he realized what it was. All of the sudden, he couldn’t breathe.

“Oh, well, thanks, I guess.”

They both stared at the thin cardboard box, crumbling under the pressure of the weight it held over them.

“Yeah,” she said, letting out a breath. “Should I… should I do it now?”

Tyler shrugged, and could feel his palms starting to sweat. “I don’t see why not.”

Nicki got up off of the floor and walked past him. He hadn’t showed her where their bathroom was yet, but she was observant enough to figure it out. It was parallel to the closet, on the other side of the hallway. Besides the fact that the shower, sink, and toilet worked, the bathroom didn’t have much to offer. He wanted to get a Jacuzzi tub put in, but decided there was a time and place to bring it up, and this certainly wasn’t it.

Tyler waited outside of the door, trying to calm his nerves. He didn’t know why he was nervous; if it was positive, they’d be getting what they wanted. If it was negative, they just had to keep trying. It seemed like such a deciding moment in his life, and he was having a hard time keeping himself together. When he heard the toilet flush and the sink run, he knocked on the door.

“Can I come in?”

The door opened in front of him, and he could see the anxiety in her face that he felt in his gut.

“How long do you have to wait?” he asked, eyeing the test on the edge of the sink.

“Three minutes,” she mumbled.

Not once since they’d been together had Tyler ever felt so uncomfortable around her. He had no idea what to say to her. How could he calm her down when he was having a panic attack himself? In an attempt to satisfy both of their needs, he grabbed her around the waist and sat on the tiled rim of the tub, pulling her onto his lap.

Tyler wondered if these would be the longest three minutes of his entire life. Then he thought, if it was negative, how many more times they would have to do the same thing, sitting in excruciating unease waiting for their future to be decided for them by a little plastic test.

“I think it’s changing,” she said, lifting herself off of him.

He got up with her, finding himself unable to stay still. He stared and waited for something, anything, to pop up. Tyler held his breath as he watched a blue dash form on the white strip. As hard as he tried, he couldn’t hide his disappointment. He glanced at Nicki, who looked nothing short of thwarted.

Tyler rubbed her shoulders, finally finding the strength to comfort her.

“It’s okay,” he said softly, “It’s only been two weeks. Sometimes these things take a while.”

“Yeah, I know. I was just really hoping…”

His hands dropped from her shoulders to caress her stomach. “Me too.”

Nicki sighed and nodded her head, attempting to compose herself. Tyler let go of her, giving her some space.

“Do you wanna go shopping? It’ll take our minds off of it for a little,” he suggested.

“That’s a good idea.” She paused to look him in the eyes. “I love you, Ty.”

“Always?”

“Always.”

** * * * *

“You know, we’ve never actually been furniture shopping together,” Nicki said, grasping Tyler’s hand in hers.

“Weird.”

She stopped walking and looked at him. “What’s up with you? Ever since we got here you’ve been all… weird.”

“I hate furniture shopping,” he grumbled.

Nicki pulled him to her, not caring about the glances they were earning from fellow shoppers.

“But you’re with me! Be happy!” she said, taking his arms and wrapping them around her.

“I am happy, I just don’t like furniture shopping.”

She tilted her head up and left a kiss on his jaw. “It’s gonna be fun, Ty! Come on,” she whined, willing to do just about anything to cheer him up.

The tiniest hint of a smile crept onto his face, and it was enough for her to know she’d done her job.

“Where to first, love?”

Tyler pulled her against his hip and began to walk again. She knew how much he loved when she called him that, and tried to reserve it for the most necessary situations. It nearly always won him over. Pretty much any term of endearment had him melting at her feet, but she didn’t like to take advantage. She just didn’t want to be dragging around a grumpy husband while trying to pick out furniture. That didn’t seem like it would be fun for anyone.

“No idea. What do we need, exactly?”

“Well… shit. A bunch of stuff. But I guess I can’t really pick much out until we decide on wall color.”

Without warning, he scooped her up and power walked towards the exit.

“Great! Let’s go to Home Depot.”

She giggled in his hold, not bothering to try to get down. He wasn’t letting go, and in all honesty, she didn’t mind being towed around.

“Well that was productive,” she murmured as she got into his car.

“You said yourself we need to paint and shit first. So we can do that.”

“Why do you hate it so much? Do you have some kind of phobia? PTSD?”

Tyler turned on the car and swung out of his parking spot, speeding out of the lot and away from Jordan’s.

“You could say that,” he said, gripping the steering wheel.

“Sweetie what the hell happened to you?” she asked, trying to coax it out of him.

He glared at her, probably spewing curses at her in his mind.

“I thought we were gonna tell each other everything.”

He groaned and released his death grip on the steering wheel. She watched the color flood back to his knuckles as she waited for him to explain.

“Fine. When I was six, my parents brought me with them to look at dining room sets or something. I got lost and didn’t know what to do so I hid in one of the bedroom displays and ended up getting locked in overnight.”

Nicki shot a hand up to cover her mouth, trying to hold in the laughter that was forcing its way out of her.

“God you poor thing! Your mother must have lost her mind!”

The look on Tyler’s face made the giggles come out in bursts.

“I’m, I’m so, sorry,” she said between fits.

“Oh yeah, that’s fine. Laugh all you want. It just traumatized me, no big deal.”

“Tyler!” she shrieked, unable to control herself. “I’m sorry! It’s just, so, funny.”

“Next red light, get out. You can walk home,” he threatened.

Nicki leaned across the car and hugged his free arm. “Babe, don’t be like that. You can’t say it isn’t hysterical.”

“It isn’t hysterical.”

She resorted to plan B, and inched closer to him, stretching herself and her seatbelt as far as physically possible. The second her lips hit his neck, a soft moan came from his mouth. She kissed him softly, and became confident that it was working when she felt him shiver.

“Do you forgive me now?” she purred into his ear.

“As long as you stop before you make me crash.”

“Well we’re here, so it looks like we’re gonna be okay,” she said, retreating back to her seat. “Sorry I laughed at you.”

“That’s okay, it is kinda funny.”

Nicki shot him a look, and he grinned.

“I promise I’ll keep you by my side the whole time. I won’t lose you, babe,” she assured him, giving his hand a reassuring squeeze.

“I know you won’t.”

She leaned across the car again, hoping he might catch on. He did, and parted his lips to make room for hers. Nicki couldn’t hold back a small moan, his mouth had touched hers just the right way. It was a short kiss, and left her wanting more.

“You ready?” she asked, eager to complete the task at hand so they could get home. She looked forward to pulling into the driveway, this time knowing that she lived there. And she looked forward to hauling Tyler up the stairs and into their enormous bedroom. Or the couch, if she couldn’t make it. Maybe the kitchen counters. Or the floor, by the fireplace…

“Nicki?”

“Hm?”

“I asked you if you knew where to go. I think I got us lost.”

Nicki glanced around the store, which until then, she hadn’t even realized she’d entered. She looked above her at the orange banners hanging above every aisle.

“This way,” she said, leading him to the middle of the store where the paint station was set up. She’d been there plenty of times, more often than not just to look at the new samples of paint that came in every few months.

“So do you have any ideas yet?” he asked, crossing his arms in front of his chest.

She had to blink a few times to organize her thoughts. Even after finding her center, she couldn’t stop staring at his muscular pecs, being squished together by the force of his arms. Her eyes ran across his tattoo, tracing over the bulges and the dips of his biceps.

“You – uh – yeah. Kinda? I’m not sure.” She stopped and took a deep breath. “I mean yes. Yes I have a few ideas.”

Tyler looked at her like she’d just lost her mind, and hey, maybe she had. He chose not to say anything, and listened attentively as she told him what she’d been thinking.

“A warm color for the kitchen, maybe tan. Same for the bedroom, something that will make it feel cozy. Honestly, I didn’t get a good enough look at the rest of the place, and I can’t decide on the foyer and the big living room.”

He nodded, and she could tell he really didn’t have much interest in what she’d said. He would help her paint, but that was as far as his services would be extended when it came to decorating.

“Isn’t that what these are for?” he asked, picking up a thick book of different paint colors. “They have a bunch. Wanna just grab them all?”

“Might as well,” she said, sighing as he reached out his arm to grab more of them.

Something had gotten into her, and it wasn’t going to quit until she got exactly what she wanted. Unfortunately, what she wanted was clothed and standing in the middle of Home Depot. Nicki took armfuls of the booklets and gave him a small hip check towards the exit.

“K let’s get out of here.”

If there was anything faster than a sprint, she would have done it straight out of the store and into the car.

** * * * *

“Mother of God,” Tyler said, collapsing onto one of the stools from their apartment.

Nicki giggled as she hopped off of the counter and wedged herself between his legs. A sheen of sweat covered her forehead, as did his. Her arms around his neck sent a chill down his spine; his entire body was left hypersensitive.

“That was some nice work there, Ty.”

“Don’t be expecting it again anytime soon. In fact, I would even expect me to get off of this stool for the next week,” he said, gripping the backs of her thighs.

His legs were wobbly underneath him, and his arms and abs were on fire. Not even a double overtime could wear him out the way she could. Tyler had noticed a change in her since the wedding. She used to like everything gentle and slow, soft and romantic. He’d been just fine with that. Now, even his roughest wasn’t rough enough, his hardest not hard enough. It was incredible and sexy and hot and passionate, but he was one and done. He’d be lucky if he could get out of bed the next morning.

“It’s okay,” she said, giving her tongue a seductive run across her upper lip. “Somehow I get the feeling that you’ll change your mind.”

Tyler rolled his eyes and tried his best to seem frustrated with her. He was frustrated with her. He wished he could have the energy to keep up, a drive to rival hers. The faces she made, the noises that came from her, the way her body moved with his; it was intoxicating. He was addicted in the worst possible way. And just when he thought he was done, when he couldn’t handle any more, she would squeeze it out of him, taking everything he had left.

Without giving him a chance to respond, she pulled him into a thrilling kiss, one that he couldn’t possibly deny. He wanted to scream at her, to reproach her for being so damn irresistible. Instead, he caved, taking everything he gave her and asking for more. His hands grasped her hips and pulled her on top of him. He accidentally bit down on her lip as she squirmed, finding himself inside of her again much too soon.

Unfortunately, she took the bite as an invitation, and used the bars on the stool to control her movements as she attempted to deplete whatever dignity he had left.

“Oh, for God’s sake!”

Tyler snapped his head towards the foyer. He didn’t need to see to know that it was exactly who he hoped it wasn’t. That gruff voice was unmistakable.

“Dad!” Nicki screamed, falling off of him and backing into the island, hard. Tyler heard her suck in a painful breath as the corner jabbed her side. He maneuvered himself off of the stool and tried to soothe her injury with his hand. “You’re, you’re early!”

“I figured you wouldn’t mind!” he called back. “Tyler gave us a key!”

She glared at him, pinning the blame for their awkward encounter on him. Sorry he mouthed. Nicki nodded and gave him a quick kiss on the cheek. They stood uncomfortably in the middle of the kitchen, unsure what their next move should be. Their clothes were upstairs, and in order to get them, they would have to walk through the foyer, where a fiery Bill was most likely readying to rip Tyler’s head off.

“We’ll wait outside. Come and get us when you’re… decent.”

Nicki’s head dropped onto his chest in defeat.

“I am mortified,” she said, shaking her head. “Who does it in the kitchen?!”

“I’m sure plenty of people do,” he muttered, hoping to console her. “We should probably get dressed.”

“Ugh,” she groaned, “I really need to shower.”

“Yeah, so do I.”

“What do we do?” she asked frantically.

“Hell if I know.”

He watched her as she thought, leaving the game plan up to her. In his current state, he wasn’t coming up with anything helpful.

“Okay. I’ll send my dad a text saying to come in once we’re upstairs. Maybe you should take one of the other showers,” she suggested.

“Most likely a good idea,” he said, following her out of the room and up the stairs, praying that Bill wasn’t curiously peeking into the window as they sprinted up to the second floor.

Tyler grabbed some clothes and a towel that was still packed neatly in a moving box and ran to the closest bathroom. He heard the front door open and shut, and Bill murmuring something to Diane. At least Nicki had been on top. So, maybe it was a million times more humiliating for her, it saved him a whole lot of embarrassment.

He winced as he stepped under the water, too frazzled to remember to check the temperature. The hot water scalded his skin, probably for the best. It momentarily took his mind off of what had just happened. He quickly bathed himself with his hands, hoping it would do the trick. There was no time to look for soap.

In record time, he dried himself off and threw on his clothes, running back to their bedroom like a madman. If Nicki thought he was facing her father alone, she had another thing coming. He opened the door without knocking, and caught a glimpse of her bending over as she stepped into a pair of panties.

“Fucking ay,” he snapped, drawing her attention.

“Close the door!”

Tyler slammed the door behind him, using more force than he’d meant to.

“The fuck do we say to them?” he asked, taking a seat on their bed as she got dressed.

“I don’t know. I have no idea. I can’t even add two and two right now.”

He got up and caught her in his arms. She fought him at first, reaching for her blouse.

“Hey,” he said, keeping his hold on her. “Just calm down, okay? Breathe.”

He took a deep breath in through his nose and let it out slowly through his mouth, watching her as she copied him.

Tyler nodded his head as he kept breathing that way. “Just like that.”

“I don’t know what I’d do without you,” she said, hugging him before pulling away calmer than she’d been a moment ago.

“You’d freak out a lot more,” he joked.

Nicki pulled her top over her head and fluffed her damp hair with her fingers before heading towards the closet. She came back no more than a minute later, makeup fully applied and looking like a million bucks.

“You clean up nice,” he said, giving her a once over.

“You look like a hot mess.”

“Hot in a good way?”

“A very good way,” she said, winking at him as she held out her hands to help him up. “I just want you to know… if my dad kills you, I promise I won’t get remarried.”

Tyler scoffed and shook her hands off of him. “You’re so good at making me feel better.”

“That’s what I’m here for.”

They walked cautiously to their fate hand in hand, ready to face the wrath of Nicki’s father together. A part of Tyler believed that he really wouldn’t be mad, but he couldn’t imagine a world where a protective father didn’t mind walking in on his daughter having dirty sex in the middle of a kitchen.

Bill and Diane turned to face them as they approached the living room. Tyler figured if there was any time in life to be responsible and own up to something, this was it.

“Bill, I – “

A calloused hand shot into the air. “Tyler, please. Let’s never, ever speak of this again.”

He closed his mouth and gave a single nod. An uneasy silence filled the room as their eyes darted between each other, trying unsuccessfully to forget what they’d just seen.

“We ordered some pizzas,” said Bill.

Tyler was thankful he was attempting to break up the tension and felt himself loosening up.

“Thank you so much. Freddy and Evaline should be here soon, and Looch, Marchy, and Ferry are coming a little later. I hope you don’t mind their bringing the kids,” he said to Nicki, realizing he’d forgotten to tell her.

“Of course I don’t mind.”

“Good.”

The silence was back, but was interrupted but Bill clearing his throat.

“Hey, will you guys help me decide on paint colors?”

Tyler would have to remember to thank her for that later. She was always coming up with the best ideas. Maybe sex in the kitchen when they were expecting company wasn’t one of her brighter ones, but he’d let it slide. It took two to tango, and he’d been completely on board.

Nicki picked up a few of the booklets, handing one to Diane and one to her father. She led them through each room on the first floor, getting opinions and advice from the two seasoned homeowners. Tyler had no clue that so much went into deciding what color to paint a wall, and found himself listening intently to everything they had to say. He was in awe of Nicki’s extensive knowledge, and couldn’t imagine how she’d learned everything she knew.

The doorbell rang, and Tyler left them to answer it. Freddy came bouncing through the doorway, booze in one hand, wine in the other. Evaline followed after him, she’d gotten so big that she now had to waddle when she walked. Her stomach was the normal size for someone so late in pregnancy, she was just so tiny that it completely swallowed her frame.

“Hi guys, how are you?” he asked, helping Evaline over the small rise in the doorway.

“Aw, we’re good Ty. What about you? How was the honeymoon?”

“It was great, Evy. I’m sure you’ll hear all about it later once Candace gets here, she’s going to have a million questions.”

“I can’t wait,” she said, giving him a soft pat on the back.

Every time Tyler saw her and Freddy, he couldn’t help but feel elated. It was like seeing his family after a long season apart. He knew that their time together was over, especially now that he and Nicki had left the apartment for good. But he had to reminisce about times they’d had there. As much as he looked forward to the future, he would always miss those days.

Within the next half hour, ten pizzas and the rest of the guests had arrived. It was a blessing that their couch was so big, because besides the stools, the house was void of all seating. Once everyone had gotten settled, Freddy broke out the alcohol. Tyler gratefully accepted a beer from Milan, twisting off the cap and allowing the cool liquid to slide down his throat, waiting for the calming effects to begin.

Candace showed off her new bartending skills and mixed drinks for herself, Diane, and Nicki. Tyler mentally punched himself for forgetting to warn Candace that she couldn’t drink. He’d decided it would be okay to tell his family, just in case his mother spilled the beans. He certainly didn’t want to deal with the aftermath of two sisters finding out that he’d been keeping it from them.

“Oh, thanks Candace, but I’m all set,” Nicki said, leaning away from the drink being offered to her.

“Just take a sip! I promise it isn’t that bad!”

Tyler desperately wanted to intervene, to do or say something that would make the situation better. Instead he helplessly gulped down the rest of his beer and braced himself for whatever may come.

“No really, I… I can’t,” Nicki muttered, trying to avoid making eye contact with everyone in the room currently staring at her.

“Oh my God, you’re pregnant,” Candace said, nearly dropping the glass in her hand.

“No, I’m not.”

“But you might be?” asked Krista, who’d been silent for most of the night.

Nicki shrugged uncomfortably. Tyler caught her gaze and motioned for her to sit with him. Things were always easier when he had a hand to hold, when he they faced things together. She got up from the other end of the couch and took her spot on his lap, instantly easing his anxiety.

“Oh, well now everything makes sense,” Bill said, realizing after he’d said it that he broke their promise.

The expressions in the room ranged from stunned to sympathetic. Stunned coming from Candace, sympathetic from Krista and Brittany. The kids were playing quietly in the other room, avoiding all of the tension.

“I can’t believe you didn’t say anything.”

“Candace, I’m sorry,” Tyler said, knowing he’d probably have to beg her to forgive him.

“It was my decision, not his,” Nicki intervened. “He wanted to tell you guys, but I was afraid something might happen… I just thought it would be better to wait until we knew.”

“What could possibly happen that would keep you from telling me?” she asked, clearly hurt.

Nicki was quiet for a moment, and clenched Tyler’s hand for support. He got the feeling he was about to hear something he’d never heard before. She had never fully explained to him why she didn’t want to tell people.

“What if I… can’t?”

“Don’t think like that, sweetie,” Diane said, placing a hand on Bill’s knee. “I wondered the same thing about myself, and I ended up with four wonderful children.”

“Thanks, Diane. It’s just, I’ve always had a feeling that I might not be able to. There’s no specific reason why, I can’t help it.”

“They have doctors that can tell you,” Brittany said.

“I know they do. I’m not sure I could handle finding out if I’m right. Ignorance is bliss, right?”

Tyler wrapped an arm around her stomach. Hearing her say all of that made him feel sick. How could she deal with all of that and keep it to herself? A part of him was almost angry, but he felt too bad to take it out on her.

“I can’t blame you, hon. You’re still so young, and you’re healthy, I wouldn’t worry about any of that just yet,” Krista said, trying to comfort her.

It must have worked, because Nicki relaxed slightly on top of him.

“So tell us about Hawaii!”

** * * * *

“Well that was exhausting,” Nicki said as she fell onto the bed.

Tyler remained quiet, stripping down to his boxers before joining her. He sat with his back against the headboard, fingers crossed over his stomach.

“Why would you keep all of that from me?” he asked, unable to hold it in any longer.

She rolled onto her side and looked up at him. “Tyler, I am so sorry. I didn’t want to worry you. And for all I know it’s just me being paranoid.”

“I thought we were gonna tell each other everything,” he murmured, repeating the same words she’d used with him earlier that day.

He watched as a single tear dropped onto her cheek. “I didn’t know how to tell you.”

“You can tell me anything, you know that,” he said as he wiped the tear away with his thumb.

Nicki nodded and leaned into his hand. He hated seeing her so upset, and decided to leave it alone. Calling her out on it wasn’t going to make her feel any better, and was only going to make him feel like an asshole.

Giving up on words, Tyler pulled her to his lips.

“I know I can’t erase the doubt,” he whispered, “But that doesn’t mean we should give up.”

“I’m not giving up,” she whispered back, pulling him back to her, kissing him the same way she had in the kitchen.

It was going to happen.

It had to.