“Good morning,” Ashe said as he pulled me against his chest, my face falling somewhere around his neck.
I stretched my leg over his, my eyes blinking from the spring sunlight that came through his window, yawning from the little sleep we’d gotten.
I had known coming here after work was going to make me even more tired than usual, but I’d wanted to spend every second I could with him.
Even if that meant hardly any sleep.
I nuzzled into the crook of his muscles. “Morning.”
“I hope you don’t have any plans today.” I glanced up at his eyes, and his hand cupped my butt as he added, “Because I have no intention of letting you leave my bed.” His hardness pressed against me, the tone of his voice changing.
“Mmm,” I groaned, my hips meeting his. “I can give you a few hours, but then I have some errands to run to get everything ready for tonight.”
“What’s tonight?”
“Gran’s birthday.”
His hands were suddenly on my face. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
I shrugged. “I don’t do anything crazy to celebrate. I just make her favorite foods for dinner and banana pudding for dessert—she loves that for some reason—and I always swing by the used bookstore to grab her a couple of paperbacks.”
He held my chin. “No.”
“No?”
He rolled me onto my back, hovering over me. “I’m going to take you both out for dinner.” When I didn’t respond, he went on, “You’re an excellent cook—I’m not trying to take that away from you. This is just something I’d like to do … if you’ll let me.”
There was so much love in his eyes that I couldn’t breathe.
I couldn’t form any thoughts.
I couldn’t even answer him.
“I realize I wasn’t invited.” He laughed. “Maybe I’m imposing. If I am, just tell me—”
“Not at all.” I swallowed. “This is just one of those moments when it feels like a dream.”
He pressed his nose to mine, rubbing our tips back and forth, his fingers on my ribs. “You’re very much awake, and you haven’t given me an answer.”
When I’d met this man, the leaves had started to change colors and fall from their branches. With my hand in his, I’d watched the first snow fall. And now, clasped once again, spring was whistling from behind the window next to his bed. Each season, he had continued to surprise me. I wasn’t sure if that was something I’d ever get used to—how his thoughtfulness and caring nature were a constant theme in our relationship. I’d certainly never seen that in all the years I’d lived with Vanessa.
But men like him really did exist.
I had proof.
“I would love that more than anything.” I took a breath, the tightness in my chest another reminder of how real this was. “But I don’t want you to pay—”
“I knew you were going to say that. I knew you were going to try and stop me, and there’s no way I’m letting you.”
“Ashe …”
His hand moved to my cheek, his thumb swiping my bottom lip. “How much would you normally spend on dinner and books for Gran’s birthday?”
Since I bought items I typically wouldn’t—like steak and twice-baked potatoes with cheese and sour cream, fresh vegetables instead of canned, and the pudding—it exceeded my average food budget. I’d planned on getting her some white wine as well—now that I was old enough to buy it.
“Probably around fifty, maybe sixty.”
“Take that money and go get her nails done instead. Wouldn’t she love that? Someone to rub her hands and make her feel beautiful for the day?”
I didn’t know if Gran had ever gotten a manicure. I couldn’t remember a time that I’d ever seen them painted. I trimmed them for her, her hands no longer able to grip the small clippers. I even cut her hair, keeping it in a short bob that only required me to scissor straight across.
“Ashe …” I shook my head, torn. It wasn’t his responsibility to feed all of us on Gran’s birthday.
“Please, Pearl.” He kissed my lips. “This is something I really want to do.” He framed my face with his palms. “You take Gran to the salon and give me the address, and that’s where I’ll pick you up and take you girls to dinner.” He leaned in closer, his lips inches from mine. “I just need you to say yes.”
There was a knot in the back of my throat. A burning as I tried to fight away the tears. “Yes.”
He kissed me again, soft, like a whisper. “Tonight is going to be perfect, just you wait and see.”
Less than twelve hours later, every word he had promised came true.
Gran sat with us at a small, square table, several candles lit between us in the middle, the dim lighting in the restaurant showing the flicker of fire across her face. One that had been grinning since I’d returned to our apartment this morning and told her I was taking her out. At the salon, she had gotten a cut and a blowout, a style much sleeker and more defined than I was capable of creating. Short light-pink nails sparkled from her hands, which had been massaged in lotion.
Ashe had chosen a steak house in his section of the city. Many of the cuts of meat I’d never even heard of before. I picked the one that had the smallest amount of ounces, Gran getting the same, and Ashe ordered several sides since they didn’t come with our meals.
Gran sipped her white wine through a straw, looking so tiny in the big, round leather chair. “This is the nicest restaurant I’ve ever been to.”
The same was true for me, of course, but I said nothing, not wanting to take this moment away from her.
She reached across the tablecloth, her eyes lit with love as she rested her fragile fingers on Ashe’s arm. “I don’t know how I’m ever going to thank you.”
He curled his fingers around hers, smiling back. “Having you here with me on a day that’s so special is more than enough.”
I knew it had only been six months. I knew we had some heavy decisions to make next year after we graduated. I knew many things could happen before and after that. But the way he looked at the woman who was the only mother I’d ever had—with admiration and protectiveness in his eyes—was something I would never forget.
“The only thing I wish for each year is for my dollface to be happy.” She continued to gaze at Ashe. “You’ve made that wish come true.”
She turned toward me, her smile even brighter, tears welling in her eyes. I couldn’t remember the last time that had happened. Gran wasn’t one to ever get weepy; she was the strongest woman I knew. “I love you more than anything in this world, baby.”
Ashe’s fingers were squeezing mine under the table.
A feeling filled me that I’d never felt before.
Never in my entire life.
Contentment.
“I love you,” I whispered to both of them, my voice not able to go any louder or I was positive the tears would drip.