Page 122 of Not Looking
He shook his head. “Naw, man. I ain’t knocking it, it’s just…”
“Just what?”
He leveled a stare at me. “The last time I heard about anybody getting a promise ring, I was in college. And we both know you’re riding Craig’s knot on the regular.” He paused. “It’s also extremely sweet.”
I smiled as I shifted my phone back to my left hand. “He… sort of… proposed.”
Kerry blinked. “Ok, now I’m more confused. It’s a promise ring, but he proposed?”
I nodded. “Yes, but he told me to wait to give him my answer.”
I hummed. “Kerry, it was perfect. It had just hit midnight, and fireworks were going off over the lake. Then Craig’s there, on his knee, up where we were camping in the clearing. He told me he loved me and wanted to spend the rest of his life with me. Then he said that he understood I would need time to think. He told me that he wanted me to know where he was at, so that I’d be comfortable moving forward.”
“Awww,” Kerry gushed, then he froze. “Wait… camping? Fireworks? Dude! That would have been New Year’s Day! We’re a couple days past, and you’re just now telling me?”
I chuckled. “To be fair, he only left to go back to his apartment a little while ago. I was busy—as you put it—riding his knot for most of the weekend.”
He laughed. “Ok, point made. You were in your little bubble of happiness.”
I hummed, nodded, then sighed. “It’s only been an hour or so, but I already miss him.”
Kerry shrugged. “So ask him to move in.”
I licked my lips. “I’ve been thinking about that. It’s not too soon?”
One of his eyebrows went up as he leveled a stare at me. “Really? You’re wearing a friggin ring. I know it’s not technically an engagement ring, but it looks to me like things are pretty serious. Besides, it’s your slow season. It’s the perfect time to get him moved in and settled before you have to start prepping for the spring and summer gallery openings.”
“You say that,” I started, “but you know I always cycle off…”
My words trailed off.
“Cycle off?” Kerry echoed, then. “Ohhh.”
He chuckled. “Oh, you’re thinking about jumping into the deep end, aren’t you.”
“No… I…”
He snorted. “I know you better than that. You tried to remind me that you cycle off your suppressants this time of year—and cornered yourself with something you want.”
“Hey!”
“Come on. What better time to make things permanent? He’s already sort of proposed, remember? Cycle off and get that dick. Let him fuck a baby into you and mark you.”
“What if he doesn’t want kids? We haven’t talked…”
He burst into laughter. “You might not have talked, but I bet he’s told you plenty.”
“Huh?”
“Does his hand linger on your stomach when he’s locked inside you?”
“Hmmm.” I thought of all the times his hand had been warm and grounding against my middle while we were tied together. “Yes?”
“Any dirty talk about breeding?”
I wheezed. “No!”
“Aw, damn. That would have been a dead giveaway. The hand is still a good sign, though.”
