Remy’s eyes were starting to droop. She was tuckered out from the day’s activities.
Gladys. That woman was a ball buster, and I thought she was one of the best people I’d met. Loved that my girls had her and the Ravage MC while I wasn’t around.
“We’d better go,” Ensley said, standing from the table and picking up Remy in her arms. Normally, I’d reach over and grab Remy so Ensley wouldn’t have to carry her, but today was different. Ensley just didn’t know it yet.
I rose from the table and leaned into Ensley. “Need a word with Gladys alone.”
Ensley had a sharp intake of breath. “What? Why?”
“You trust me?”
“With everything.” That meant the fucking world to me.
“Take Remy to the entrance, but don’t go out. Wait for me.”
“Please.” She looked at me wide-eyed, and I smiled. “Babe.”
She huffed out a breath. “Looks like she likes you. Don’t mess it up.” Ensley leaned over and gave Gladys a hug, Remy kissed her cheek, and they were off.
I took my seat once more.
“So, what do you need to tell me that you haven’t already?” It was true, we had a very long conversation, but this was something I had to ask without my woman here.
“I’m gonna ask Ensley to marry me. I’d like your blessing.”
She folded her hands, set them on the table, and leaned forward a bit. “Why do you need that from me?”
“Ensley loves you. Can’t ask her biological parents because her mom’s an asshole and dad’s dead. Anyway, they don’t deserve my girls in their lives in any way. You, though. You are the one who deserves the respect as her parent.”
A tear welled up in her eye, and it rolled down her cheek. She sucked in a deep breath. “Yeah. I like you. But still I’ll cut it off. Remember that.”
To this I laughed. “I’m pretty sure a woman telling me she was going to cut my junk isn’t gonna slip my mind anytime soon.”
I rose from my chair and pulled out Gladys’, who stood up. “Thank you. Means the world to me that you entrust me with Ensley and Remy. I’ll always be there for them. Always. And you’re comin’ to the wedding.”
Gladys wrapped me in her arms surprising me, which wasn’t like me because of my training. In response, I wrapped my arms around her too. Her little head came up to my lower chest. Damn, the woman was small.
She pulled away and tapped my chest. “Go get your girls.”
To this I smiled. She gave me her approval.
Now to ask Ensley…
* * *
The night was beautiful, the heat going out of the day and leaving a rather tolerable Georgia evening. I hadn’t planned on it being this nice, considering how used to the weather I’d become, but I’d take it.
I’d never seen myself as a romantic man. Even when I was younger it was nonexistent. Sure, there were a few times I got flowers for a lady or something like that, but it was never like this.
This—this had to be perfect.
Remy was sleeping over at my parents’ house, giving Ensley and me some much needed privacy. Loved my little girl, but I wanted just Ensley for this.
Lifting the outside furniture, I maneuvered it this way and that creating one large area of cushions with pillows all around. It was almost like a cocoon having only one area open for us to climb into.
The other small opening had a table where I had a bottle of red wine, a glass, a bottle of beer in ice and some snacks. I was not a wine drinker at all, but I’d found that Ensley loved a glass every now and then.
Every day we were learning more and more about each other. I could say with certainty that every part I came to know I loved. This woman was everything to me, and tonight she’d know it.
The twinkling lights above the furniture were a pain in the ass to put up. Dryerson helped me get them up. We zigzagged them across the space, connecting them to beams used as an arbor. The tricky part was the mechanism to move the lights took a bit to get done because it was a brand new program on my laptop I had to create.
After getting the electrical sorted and having to put a new GFI outlet in, it was done. Everything was ready for Ensley to get home.
She’d gone out with Katie and Austyn to get their “toes done.” I assumed it meant getting them polished, but whatever; it was the perfect excuse to get her out of the house, call Mom and Dad, take Remy over there and get back to create this.
Looking at my phone, Ensley wrote me a text saying she’d be home in ten minutes. Killing the lights outside, I made my way inside and shut the sliding glass door behind me.
I loved this home, but what I loved more were the touches that Ensley put into the space. Now, don’t get me wrong, I couldn’t give two shits about the pillows or blankets around. What I loved was her stamp. It was her saying that she lived here.
The pictures she started putting into frames and putting them on the walls were priceless as well. The three of us. Yes, Ensley was making this a home for the three of us.
There wasn’t a single nervousness in my body. I was happy for this. Excited even.
The door opened, and Ensley walked in saying, “I’m home.” Fucking loved that too.
“Hey, babe. You have a good time?” I asked while she shut the door and tossed her purse onto the side table, looking around the space.
“Yeah. Where’s Remy?” she asked, puzzled. Our little girl was with us most of the time, so I expected this question.
“My parents are keeping her for the night.”
Her brows lifted. “Really?”
“Yeah.” I moved to her and pulled her into my arms, kissing her hard. She fell into me, and I took what I wanted, giving her everything in return. I’d give her my everything for as long as I walked this earth.
Reluctantly pulling away, I grabbed her hand and moved. “Come with me.”
“Where are we going?” she asked when we passed the hallway to our bedroom, thinking that was where we were going. Which we were, later.
Opening the sliding glass door, the backyard was dark. We stepped out, and I pulled her into my arms, pulled out my phone, and hit the buttons to turn on the lights.
Her eyes widened as all the twinkling lights came to life. She gasped as she took it all in, saying, “It’s beautiful.”
I kissed the top of her head and led her to the couches I’d pulled together. “Hop in.”
She did, moving to the corner where she gazed at the lights and then at me. “This is really awesome, Micah.”
I climbed in and pulled her body into mine, holding her tight. “Worked on it today while you were out. Thought you’d like it.”
It was true. Even the smallest thing I did for Ensley, she loved it. A note on the counter telling her where I was, she loved. Me changing the toilet paper roll, she loved. She was one of a kind and all mine.
Reaching in my pocket, I pulled out the ring that had been burning me all day, ready to go on my girl’s finger. Lifting her left hand with my right, I slid the ring down Ensley’s finger.
“Love you, Ensley. Want you with me forever. You are everything to me and so much more. You’re my past, present, and future.”
I heard Ensley hiccupping like she was crying, but it was confirmed when she looked up at me. “I love you. Yes. I’ll be your forever.”
Somehow in a rush, I had Ensley on her back with me on top of her, kissing the life out of her. It was a frenzy, and we couldn’t get close enough. The lights were bright, though, and I pulled away just a second. “Hold that thought.” I pushed the button on my phone, and the lights shut off, then started to move. This was the tricky part of the installation. It only took a few moments, and I was back with my girl who was looking up at the night sky.
“The stars are beautiful.”
“Not as beautiful as you.”
Then and there I made love to my future. My everything. My Ensley.
Keep reading for the epilogue!