When Love Comes

March 3, 2023

December 2022

When she'd told him about getting a house as they were eating dinner the night before he had to admit it made him question what it meant for them. He was excited for her cause he knew she'd talked about getting a new house basically since he'd met her but once they'd gone to bed and he had to time to think, he'd gotten in his head a bit. He'd hoped a good nights rest and even time to think at work would help but when he realized it wasn't he decided to talk to her about it. 

"Hey, let me talk to you right quick," he said as they sat on the couch reading in silence. It'd become a routine for them to grab a book and read at least once a week. They'd get comfortable on the couch after dinner, put on some light music and read either together or on their own.

"What's up? Everything okay?," she asked looking up from her book. He waited a moment, trying to figure out the right way to approach the topic but when he looked in her eyes and saw the worry he figured honesty was best.

"I'm happy for you getting your dream place, I just want to know if you getting this new place is a way for us to not move forward, did you even think about us getting a place?," he asked.

He watched as she stared at him before she bookmarked her page and put her book down.

"Babe, I love you and of course I want to move forward, I see a future with you, but do you really think we're ready to move in together? We've both been honest and said until we're married or at least engaged we didn't want to take that step," she said.

He took a moment to think before responding. They had talked about their expectations very early and periodically the conversation would be brought up again. They'd agreed that they wanted to be engaged or married before moving in together. 

He thought about his past marriage and then his daughter. Whoever he moved in with would be combining houses with him and his daughter was a big part of his. Her and Crystal were inseparable so he wasn't nervous or scared for that part but he was nervous about it being the only woman he's lived with since his ex-wife and that hadn't worked out well. Crystal on the other hand had never lived with a man before so he knew it would be a big adjustment for her as well.

"I love you too and truthfully, no I dont think so. I just want to be sure this new home isn't you pulling away and making roots without me," he said. He wasn't insecure and thinking she would break up with him or something dramatic but it did feel like her getting a new home was a step backwards instead of forwards. He expected them to be engaged by the next year, hell he was already thinking of rings. He knew they were still working on them both as a couple and as individuals and deep down knew now wouldn't be the right time.

She sighed as she moved closer to him and grabbed his hand.

"Ren, this is something I need to do, I've always wanted a house like this and I want to reward myself for all these years of hard work. This is not me pulling away from you, you are stuck with me, I'm still very much in this, the next house I get will be our home" she said as they maintained eye contact.

"Our home huh?," he asked smiling at her.

"Yes, our home," she said.

"I really like the sound of that, I want you to know I am so excited for you, I just needed to be sure of what this meant for us," he said.

"I know you're one of my biggest supporters, I love how much you communicate with me. I'd rather you tell me now then I moved and you're still feeling out of sorts. I know you support me from how excited you were last night, this is just something I gotta do by myself and no I don't want you paying for anything," she said making him chuckle. He did have the habit of paying for or trying to pay for everything when it came to her.