Page 18 of My One Rule

“I’m saying this because you’re only twenty one.”

“Almost twenty-two,” I add.

I love the smile he does when I’m being extra. “What I mean is, you’re young. You’re restarting your life, and starting school soon. You already have a lot to focus on.”

There’s that look from before, that uncertainty. “I want to be together. I would marry you no questions asked.”

“But?”

“But I want to give you time. Room to breath and grow and experience life. I want you to feel steady.”

The burning in my chest dies down quite a bit and I lean into him a little more comfortably. “Okay, that makes sense.”

I can’t imagine my life changing, or what kind of growing I need to do but I know he’s right.

“I have some self learning too,” he adds. “This weekend I realized that I’ve done what my father wants and what I felt needed to be done to counter his demands. I can’t say I’ve done what I need to do for me, what my path in life is.”

The uncertainty is replaced by a brilliant spark, one I’m grateful to witness. “I’m not sure what I’m meant to do yet, but I know it’ll be brilliant and we can do amazing things together.”

Our fingers entwine and he uses the other hand to rub his thumb across my finger with the ring. “And when we’re ready, we can make this commitment.”

Part of me wants to argue that I’m mature enough and I know what I want. Instead, I tilt my head up and we kiss for a good long moment.

When I break away he adds, “Next time you propose I expect it to be at the nudist pool.”

I’m surprised by my own quickness when I ask, “You don’t want me to wear a collar?”

Ace chuckles, his cheeks tinging pink, it’s amazing!

Then he leans down again and kisses me for a long moment before he pulls away and says, “Happy birthday, Oliver.”