He pointed at me. “Sit forwards, I’ll show you.”
He got in behind me, pulled me right back against his chest and wrapped his arms around me. I loved it, loved him and how safe I felt when he was with me. He was my peace, my happy ending and nothing could kill me the way it did when Dad died when I had Kai. We could go home right now and this still would’ve been the best day of my life.
Planting a kiss on my shoulder, he said, “Sit forwards.” He reached over and poured some oil onto his palm. When his hands touched my back I closed my eyes. He worked slowly, rubbing every inch of my back and shoulders with a touch that was both soft and firm. I was in heaven.
“I love you,” he whispered, kissing my neck. “I don’t say it enough, I know that, but never doubt how much you mean to me. Even after I made my peace with Isaac’s death I was hardened to emotion but you changed that. I have never loved anyone so much or so hard. I’d do anything for you.”
I felt a tear trickle down my cheek. “Kai…”
“Shh,” he whispered. “You want a mushy moment so don’t stop me because I’m on a roll here.” I laughed, still crying. He ran his hands along my arms and curled his chin around the base of my neck.
“You make me a better person, you make me want to settle down and do all of the big commitment and responsibility shit I’ve avoided for so long. None of that scares me anymore because it’ll all be with you. I know things won’t always be easy but I promise you I won’t ever give up on us, I’ll fight to the death to give you the life you deserve and I’ll try every day to make you happy.”
“You don’t have to try to do that,” I said.
“You’re my world.” He gripped my hands and murmured against my neck, “Marry me, Tegan.”
I froze. That I expected even less than the bath surprise.
“So I pour my heart out for five minutes and propose and you can’t even say one little word?” His lips brushed my ear. “That word is yes.”
I closed my eyes, tightening my grip on his hands. A sob escaped my mouth and I knew it was pointless to even try to stop myself getting all emotional and blubbery. Turning around awkwardly, I placed my hands on either side of his face and kissed him. “Of course I’ll marry you. There’s no one else I want to spend the rest of my life with.”
His smile was so pure and so genuine that it made my heart skip a beat. I was determined to give him everything he deserved, too. We’d both made mistakes but we were going to be happy, we deserved happiness.
I managed to squeeze my legs either side of his and mould our bodies together. “I tried to find a ring but none of them were pretty enough to be you.”
I loved what he saw in me. “Let’s find one together. Something that’s perfectly imperfect, something that’s us.”
“Hey, I’m the one doing the mushy stuff tonight.”
Grinning, I added, “Fine, get me the biggest diamond the shop has.”
“I love you, Pennells.”
“Love you, too, Chambers. Forever.”
He kissed me until the bath water ran cold and our fingers looked like prunes.
Epilogue
Kai
“Are you nervous yet?” James asked, handing me a beer. It was eleven in the morning on my wedding day and I was about to drink my third beer. We’d been together for three years now and I’d proposed to her about six months into the relationship. We’d finally saved enough to have the wedding we – she – wanted.
Lucas pushed the plate of sausages and bacon we’d had ordered to the room towards me.
“Nervous about screwing up the words.”
“Or saying the wrong name,” Adam added.
“Oh, fuck sake, now I’m going to! Tegan. Tegan. Tegan.”
My arsehole best man and ushers laughed. She would kill me. Worse, she would do something to my dick that made my eyes water just thinking about it. Tegan Zoe Pennells. The fucking registrar was going to say it first anyway, all I had to do was repeat.
“Are you not nervous that she won’t turn up?” James said, smiling around the neck of the bottle.
That was one thing I was sure of; she now knew exactly what she felt and what she wanted.
Since clearing her head and turning her life around she’d been left with a lot of guilt. Her guilt over me was completely misplaced. I knew the score; she’d been clear about what we were and what she wanted from me. I’d told her she had nothing to be sorry for, but not too often, I really enjoyed the make-it-up-to-you blowjobs.
“No. There’s no way she won’t be there. Anyway, you fuckers are supposed to be supportive.”
“Hey,” James said, “we are. Drink your beer.”
Lucas shoved the plate even closer. “And eat.”
I ate and had another beer and then it was time to get married. James, Lucas and Adam escorted me to the ceremony room where the registrar, my parents and Alison were already waiting.
“Are you ready, Kai?” Alison asked.
“Is anyone ever ready for Tegan?”