First Crush, My Forever

Chapter 90

  "I'm just going to sit at the dining table and grade the essays." Dani pulls back after a couple minutes, her hands still lingering at my waist.

  "If I go to the office, I'll get too comfortable, possibly doze off and not finish. Oh, did you finish your writing assignment?"

  I nod. "Alright. I'll bring you something sweet when I'm done here. And yes, I did finish it. I might even let you read it later."

  She smiles, kisses my cheek, and walks off with her water. I wait until I hear her pull out the dining chair and the shuffle of papers before I move. I wipe the counter down a few more times even though it's spotless. Just making sure she's focused.

  Once she's settled, I slip out of the kitchen and head straight upstairs to the home office. I keep the lights off, moving by memory. My letter is exactly where I left it, tucked inside my laptop in the desk drawer. I grab them both, then head back toward the kitchen just as I hear the dining chair scrape again.

  Shit.

  I freeze.

  Then I hear the bathroom door click shut. She's gone into the half bath.

  I take my chance.

  I rush to the table, heart pounding, and flip through her stack of short essays. I slide my letter at the very back, behind the last paper, pressing the edges to line up like it belongs there. She'll think she's nearly done, then find it. No announcement. No warning. Just there when she gets to it.

  I back away quickly, like I didn't just put everything on the line.

  I head back upstairs, walking slowly, steadying my breath as I go to our bedroom. In the closet, I dig past sweaters I never wear and pull out the little ring box I hid. I hold it in my palm for a second, then tuck it into my pocket. My hands shake a little as I head back down.

  I walk back downstairs, past the dining table without a glance, forcing myself not to check if she'll notice anything. I sit at the island, open my laptop, and pretend to work. But I'm not reading anything on the screen.

  I'm watching Dani.

  She's back at the table now, pen in hand, focused on grading. She's reading something, brows furrows like it always does when she's focused, bottom lip caught between her teeth. She flips a page. Then another.

  I know the letter's at the end, and it'll be a while before she gets there.

  So I wait. Heart tight. Fingers twitching. To keep myself busy, I grab her sweet treat I mentioned earlier.

  I slip three cookies onto a small plate, the last of the chocolate chip ones we made a few days ago. They're still soft in the center. I warm them up just enough and grab a glass of milk from the fridge. My hands still shake a little, but it helps to do something with them.

  I walk them over to Dani, who's hunched over her papers, brow still furrowed, red pen moving steadily.

  "Brought you something sweet," I say, setting the plate and glass beside her.

  Before I can step away, she grabs my wrist.

  "Come here," she says softly.

  I bend down, and she cups my face with both hands, her thumbs brushing against my cheeks. She kisses me slowly, lips warm and familiar, then murmurs against my mouth, "Thank you, baby."

  Her voice has that tired, tender edge. Like she's been holding it together all day and this, this tiny bit of kindness, loosened something in her.

  I smile as we part, brushing my nose against hers. "I'm gonna check on KK real quick."