Total pages in book: 124
Estimated words: 117574 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 588(@200wpm)___ 470(@250wpm)___ 392(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 117574 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 588(@200wpm)___ 470(@250wpm)___ 392(@300wpm)
Auggie kisses the top of my head. “So, it wasn’t a dream? You really said yes to marrying me?”
“I sure did. Are you freaking out now that it’s settling in?”
“Not at all. You?”
“Not at all.”
“My family is gonna be so thrilled for me. I talked their ears off about you in California.”
“I haven’t told mine you exist.”
We both guffaw.
“Will your family freak out when you tell them you’re engaged?”
“Oh, definitely. But then, they’ll meet you and understand. But even if they don’t, so what? Nobody else will ever understand what we’ve been through together. How quickly and completely we got to know and love each other. Nobody could ever understand our love but us.”
“Ain’t that the truth.”
“They’re going to love you when they meet you. I have no doubt about that. To know you is to love you, Auggie.”
“My family already loves you. Just from what I’ve told them about you and that one FaceTime call.”
“That’s so sweet. I can already tell I’m going to love all of them, too.” I shift in Auggie’s arms to be able to look him in the eyes. “I do think we should enjoy our engagement for a while. Let’s not try to plan a wedding while you’re still in school. We’ll do it after you’ve graduated and passed all your licensing exams.”
“Sound great to me. I’m in no rush to get the piece of paper, really. As far as I’m concerned, I’m already committed to you, right here and now.”
“Me, too. I feel the same way.”
“Are you sure? If you’re freaking out, please tell me and we’ll make that a promise ring.”
I swat his chest playfully. “Don’t you dare take back my proposal. It was perfect. It’s not a promise ring. It’s my engagement ring. And that’s that.”
As Auggie kisses me, I press my naked body against his and practically mew with pleasure and joy. I can’t believe he’s here. He did it. He fought for me. He’s my knight in shining armor.
“Can I tell my family?” he whispers. “I told my brother I was coming here and he told me to keep him posted. I’m sure he’s told the whole family by now and it’s taking every ounce of strength for my mother not to call and ask for an update.”
I laugh. “Hell yes. Let’s tell the whole world.”
We get dressed, since calling our peeps on FaceTime while naked, even if we’re both covered by a sheet, would be awkward. And when we’re both fully clothed, and I’ve brushed the just-got-immaculately-fucked-by-a-dude-with-a-dick-piercing look out of my hair, we make a round of calls, first to Auggie’s family, and then to mine—both to my blood family and also to Tessa and her family, too. Predictably, Tessa and her family are elated, while my blood family—my mother and the one of my two brothers who picked up—are visibly stunned by my happy news. But even so, they’re kind to Auggie, and congratulatory, despite their obvious shock, and the call ends with promises to get together in LA soon.
When our calls are done, we’re both elated but exhausted. Especially Auggie, after his cross-country flight. We strip off our clothes and head into the shower and wind up making out languidly in there under the stream of hot water. We’re in no rush. We’re relishing our new status as an engaged couple.
After our shower, we order food and champagne from room service, and then crash on the couch in our soft night clothes to await our order.
“If I fall asleep, wake me up when the food comes,” I say with a yawn.
“If you fall asleep, I’ll let you sleep.”
“No, don’t. I really want to toast our engagement.” I smile. “Maybe you could sing me a silly song to keep me awake?”
He returns my grin. “Okay, as my engagement present to you.”
“Seriously?”
“I’ll even dance while I’m singing to you.”
I sit up straight on the couch. “Like a boy bander, you mean?”
“Exactly. It’ll be my once-in-a-lifetime, engagement gift to you.”
“And just like that, I’m wide awake.”
Auggie laughs. “Don’t get too excited. I’ve told you before: my dancing isn’t all that great. But I’ll give it my best shot, as my gift to you.”
Auggie slides off his chair and stands before me, grinning from ear to ear. After taking a moment to think about it, Auggie sings:
Pull my heart strings all the way, girl
Entangle me, never wanna break free,
Want all strings attached to you, baby,
Forever and ever, always, it’s you and me
During his singing, Auggie’s been shaking his ass and doing classic boy-band hand gestures and movements; and the end result is that this little performance is perfect—the best, most perfect gift I’ve ever received. Especially because I know it’s being delivered by a man who’s not a natural extrovert or exhibitionist, like me. Knowing that about Auggie, I’m even more touched and impressed by his adorable performance.