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I loved Tamra. I’m not sure who had more fun as I tried to convince her it was true and that we’d last. Tamra had stayed that night, partially because she’d lost her bet, but mostly because the wooing had worked. Jimmy would be proud.
I loved that I could express myself freely with Tamra. She never turned up her nose when I said something awkward. If anything, she’d double-down and add her own irreverent twist. She was adorably blunt in the bedroom, and it kept me on my toes, but never to the point I found myself sliding back into uncertainty.
For the first six months of our relationship, I was hyperaware that any misstep on my part could spell doom and vigilantly maintained my writing schedule. I’d feared that my success writing on a schedule with The Wedding Date had been a one-time fluke; however, my discipline helped me write more efficiently, and in my modest opinion, more powerfully too. It may have helped that I had endless inspiration in Tamra.
I waited to see how Tamra would react when I messed up. Because that was inevitable. But Tamra hadn’t quit on me. When I got wrapped up in writing on my night to cook dinner, she stepped in. No recriminations, just help. Her cooking had been punishment enough. Her culinary skills had improved a lot thanks to our time in the kitchen together, but I wasn’t the only one who could get distracted. The smoke alarm helped break me out of my writing fugue, but we were both able to laugh about it.
I was putting the finishing touches on a special dessert for her birthday dinner when I glanced at the clock. Only a few minutes until Tamra would be home. I had threatened to make vagina cupcakes and bring them to her at work today, but she said if I did, I’d end up with them smeared all across my face. Gina would have thought it was funny, but as far as the rest of Tamra’s coworkers knew, I was a nice, normal boyfriend, and I didn’t want to disillusion them too quickly.
Instead, I scoured Pinterest for cute birthday quotes to decorate the layered cheesecake she’d requested. I’d finally settled on, “I baked you a cake, I asked you to marry me, I made it awkward.”
I’d consulted long and hard with Jimmy on how to ask Tamra to marry me. I wanted something that reflected our relationship, but he convinced me not to post the cake to social media or bring it to her at work. Sometimes I still had to ignore my raw instincts.
The front door opened, and I quickly covered the cheesecake. I poured a glass of wine and met Tamra at the door, where she was taking her shoes off. She was so cute in her scrubs, her dark hair up in a ponytail. Today’s top had storks flying back and forth, carrying doctors and nurses in their beaks.
“Hi.” I passed her a glass of wine with a smile, then pressed a kiss to her lips. “Happy birthday.”
“Thanks. I’m glad that shift is over.”
“Busy night?” I asked.
“Yes. There are three new little ones who are going to share my birthday with me.”
“Wow. Bumper crop.” She smiled and took a sip from her glass. “In honor of this year’s birthday, I’ve made you an oldie but goodie for dinner. Asian turkey burgers with hoisin mayo.”
“Yum. That’s right, it was the first meal that I openly admired on my birthday last year. Grilled cheese didn’t cut it after seeing your photo.”
My shoulders relaxed. So far, so good. I just had to tamp down my nerves until dessert.
“Join me in the kitchen while I put the finishing touches on dinner?”
She came to sit at the counter after she’d changed out of her scrubs. Her eyes strayed to the covered cheesecake, but she didn’t comment. I was tempted to do dessert first but held back. Tamra was worth the wait.
After enjoying dinner together and talking more about her day, I put the last plate in the dishwasher, unable to hold back. “Ready for dessert?”
Tamra shook her head. “Still too full.”
I smiled to hide my agitation at the delay and refreshed our wine glasses. We sat down to watch a show together. Distracting myself with TV didn’t work. My gaze was drawn repeatedly to Tamra cuddled up next to me. I toyed with the curl at the end of her ponytail and tried to muster my courage. She snuggled into my shoulder, bolstering my confidence at the natural movement. Trust and love. Contentment washed through me.
Tamra excused herself to the bathroom when the episode ended, and I rushed to the kitchen to put the candles on the cake and light them. As she stepped over the threshold to the kitchen, the words I’d been holding back all evening tumbled out.
“Your birthday is reason enough to celebrate, but a year ago today, your birthday wishes brought you into my life. I’m hoping you’ll give us another reason to celebrate.”
I swallowed hard. She hadn’t seen the cake message yet, her gaze focused on me, searching.
“Make a wish? And let me know what it is, because my fondest wish is that you’ll agree to marry me.”
I held out the flaming cake, hoping that she’d appreciate the candles in the shape of a heart. And that my cheesy cake decorating skills would work magic.
Tamra’s smile crinkled the edges of her eyes, highlighting their sparkle as she nodded. She blew out the candles, then raised a dark brow. “What? You’re not going to sing for me?”
“I want you to marry me. That’s something I’d only do if I wanted to scare you away. My singing voice doesn’t make me attractive marriage material.”
Her laugh eased the vise that constricted my heart. I set the cake down on the counter and pulled her body forward until it was flush with mine. I inhaled, enjoying the hint of the soap she used in the shower that morning. Gently I leaned down, kissing her with all the longing I could infuse into the touch. She returned my caress, but it wasn’t enough. I needed to know. Leaning back to break our connection, I put it out there. I needed to hear the words. “Tamra Shaw, I love you. Will you marry me and be my wedding date?”
She huffed a quick laugh, her face suffused with happiness.
“Yes!”
Exhilaration chased away my nerves in a whoosh of relief that left me light-headed. Tamra threw her arms around my shoulders, pulling me close. Feeling her body pressed against mine fired up needs my anxiety over popping the question had suppressed. Her soft curves fit me perfectly, and all I wanted to do was sink into her warmth. I kissed along the arch of Tamra’s neck, enjoying a playful nip at the tendon there as she let her head roll back on her shoulders. Her greedy hands grasped my head, holding me in place while she captured my lips with hers. Moments, possibly days, but far less than the lifetime I needed, passed as we kissed.
My grin matched hers as we broke apart, breathing heavy. “Happy birthday. Though I’d argue you gave me the best gift. A year ago, you were eating grilled cheese, and I was missing out on life and everything we could be together. Now, I have you and a lifetime together.”
Tamra pressed close, looking up into my face with sincerity. “It’s been a fabulous year. One I couldn’t have imagined when I set my original goals.”
“What’s next for this year? World domination? Skydiving?” I asked.
Tamra’s smile broadened. “Our marriage and happily-ever-after.”
