Page 76 of From the Embers
She tilted her head back to stare at me, still holding the ridiculous jar of M&M’s and filling my soul with new life. “Eason, you just got home. Are you sure you want to go out? I was going to cook something simple so you could relax. You have to be exhausted from traveling all day.”
I absolutely was, but I had big plans with Bree that night. “So, here’s what I’m thinking. If we stay here, have a lazy and quiet family night, those three are going to be jazzed by the time bedtime rolls around. We’ll end up spending hours answering questions, giving goodnight kisses, and refilling water cups. Luna isn’t going to want to let me go, so I’ll have to lie down with her. We know from experience, once I get into a horizontal position, there is no coming back for me. I’ll be asleep and the night will be over before it ever got started.”
I slanted my head the other direction. “Orrrr we go out for hibachi, where the chef cooks in front of us, making them think grilled chicken and broccoli are cool. Then we go to the arcade, let them run themselves ragged while we enter into a not-so-friendly Skee-Ball tournament where the loser owes the winner wicked things with their mouth later on. Then we take the kids to the bounce park, let them jump until their legs give out, and then come home with three exhausted kids who will pass out before we even get them in bed. Leaving us completely alone, for you to make good on the loss you suffered earlier in the evening.” I smirked.
“Wow. Someone gave this some thought.”
I lifted one shoulder in a half shrug. “What can I say? I had a lot of spare time while separating four thousand red M&M’s.” It was a lie. I’d ordered them online, but that was one secret she didn’t need to know about.
She let out a loud laugh and shook her head. “Yeah, fine. I missed you more than a little bit.”
She didn’t have to tell me. I saw it in her eyes every day that I was gone. I heard it in her voice every time she whispered, “I love you.” And I felt it in the way she was still holding me tight, her lithe body sagging in my arms.
Bree and I tag-teamed getting the kids ready to go. Luna and Madison hung from my legs as we walked up the stairs. Then, while Asher got dressed, he insisted I stand outside the door so he could fill me in on all things Abigail, the girl who made his stomach hurt.
I loved being in LA and San Francisco. The sun, the energy—there was just something about knowing I was walking the same streets, visiting the same restaurants, and on more than one occasion, running from the same paparazzi as all the legends who had come before me.
But there was magic in watching the kids clap when the chef made an onion volcano and hearing Bree laugh as I purposely lost Skee-Ball, throwing each ball in the ten-point chute because I had every intention of ending my night with my mouth between her legs. I’d dreamed of a life in the spotlight, but there was immeasurable happiness to be found in cranking up the radio and singing at the top of my lungs in order to keep the kids awake on the drive home.
My plan to exhaust everyone had worked a little too well, because when I came back into the bedroom after reading the girls a story and locking up the house, Bree had pulled an Eason Maxwell and was sound asleep on her side, the barest hint of black lace showing on her shoulders.
After the day we’d had, and with finally being home, I couldn’t even be disappointed. I’d let her sleep for a while. Middle-of-the-night sex definitely had its merits.
As I stood there staring at her, I chuckled at the jar of untouched red M&M’s on her nightstand. I only knew they were untouched because she still hadn’t found the engagement ring inside. She’d get there though.
Maybe one afternoon while I was in the shower, she’d go for a handful and scream.
Maybe she’d sneak a few first thing in the morning and I’d wake up to find her staring at me with tears in her eyes.
Maybe she’d find it next week when I was back in California. A long-distance proposal wasn’t ideal, but the element of surprise she so fiercely hated would definitely be worth the payoff.
Was it too soon? By most people’s standards, probably. But not for me. I’d found her. The one. There were no nerves or fears. No second-guessing or cold feet. I knew down to the marrow of my bones that Bree had been born to be mine. Our bond might have been forged through tragedy, but our love flourished through patience, genuine respect, and understanding.
