Tap Tap Tap / Peterick

Chapter 22

I thought I was done falling, but as you spend more time with the one who has changed your life forever and for the better, it's almost like you never stop falling. I don't think it's possible to stop falling in love with Pete.

Every single day, it's like I find something else I love about him. Something I didn't notice yesterday, but today it's the greatest thing ever, until tomorrow when I find something else, and fall in love with Pete all over again. It's an endless cycle, and quite frankly, it's one I'm not sure I want to break.

Everything with Pete came so effortlessly. It's like all my life had been building up to this, to who I was with him. I had never felt this way before. I had never felt so confident, so sure of myself. It started out as foreign feeling, but as the months passed, I wondered how I ever could have survived without Pete. It seemed unreal, like I didn't exist before I met him. I don't think I did.

We went to Kayla's engagement party, and we were going to her wedding sometime next year. Christmas was right around the corner, and to say I was excited would be an understatement, because I knew Pete was going to spoil me. Presents aren't everything, but the look in Pete's eyes when he gave someone something special, that was everything.

Pete was everything, and to him, I knew I was everything. Everything was perfect. Everything was finally right in my life.

-

Christmas morning!

"Wake up!" Pete shouted enthusiastically, pulling me from my deep sleep. I peeked my eyes open to see Pete standing there, a huge grin plastered on his face. I was tired as hell, but I couldn't help but smile back at him. His smile was just so contagious.

"It's Christmas!"

I blinked my eyes, a yawn taking over my entire body, followed by a much needed stretch. "It's also super early."

Pete just rolled his eyes, yanking the cover off of me. It was then that I realized our apartment was absolutely freezing. I had no idea why Pete liked it this cold.

"Oh come on, babe! Get up!"

A groan escaped my mouth, but I didn't complain, and pushed myself to a sitting position. I did, however, shoot Pete the meanest glare I could muster up, but that wasn't even that mean. Pete just laughed.

"I think Santa came!" He cooed, wrapping his fingers tightly around my wrist, dragging me to my feet. I couldn't help but laugh as Pete's inner child came out. It was kinda cute. Just kinda, though, because it was still way too early.

He pulled me into the living room, and underneath the three laid four presents. I know 3 of them were the ones I got for Pete, so the little box in the corner, that one was for me.

"Sorry I could only afford one gift, but I think you'll like this one." He said with a wink.

We took our places in front of the tree, and Pete insisted that he wanted me to open my gift last, so I began to hand him the poorly wrapped presents.

Pete ripped the paper off with excitement in his eyes. His smile grew wide when he laid eyes on the first present. It was a framed picture of me and him. It was his favorite picture.

The next made him laugh. It was a pair of socks, but inside was a coupon for a free blowjob. It was meant to be a joke, but Pete promised me he'd cash it in later. I didn't even complain.

The last one was the one I spent the most money on. It was a watch. A watch I know he had been eyeing for quite some time now. He said he loved it, and kissed me, and said he loved me.

"It's your turn!" He squeaked, reaching over and grabbing the small box. "Now, when you open this, you can't freak out, okay? You'll just have to let me explain."

My heart began to beat faster. "Okay."

He handed me the box, and I ripped the paper off slowly. I sucked in a deep breath before I opened the box, and I was greeted by a silver ring, the words "Tap Tap Tap" engraved on it. I swear I could've cried.

"It's not an engagement ring, I promise." He rushed out. My heart sunk a little, but I was glad. I didn't want to get married until it was legal, and neither did he. It was a topic we both agreed on, and honestly, we hadn't even been dating for that long of a time.

"It's a promise ring. You know I love you, and I know you love me, this, what we have here, it's not just a fling kinda thing. This is it for me. It's you, and I love you, and I'm promising to always feel this way. It's just a promise ring. I want you to always know how I feel."

Tears sprung in my eyes, and my heart nearly jumped out of my chest. I flung myself into Pete's arms, burying my face into the crook of his neck. It was warm.

He in response wrapped his arms tightly around my middle, sighing what sounded like a sigh of relief.

"I love you so much." I whispered, and he nodded his head quickly, not saying anything. He didn't really have to say anything. Words weren't needed.

"So, you wanna put it on or..?" He laughed breathlessly. I pulled back, a huge grin plastered on my face. "Absolutely."

Pete slid the ring onto my finger, my heart growing more and more fond of it as the seconds passed. Once it was on, I held my hand up in front of my face, admiring it and everything about it. It was perfect. Pete was perfect.

"It's beautiful, Pete, really."

Pete's eyes lit up. "I thought you'd like it. I even got the tap tap tap because I knew you'd just love it. You love it, right?"

I smiled, shifting my eyes from the ring to him. "Are you kidding?! I absolutely love it! It's perfect. You're perfect, Pete."

Pete looked so relieved. I wondered if he thought for some strange reason that I'd reject him. I don't see why he would even begin to think such a thing, because he knows how much I love him, and how much he means to me.

"I just, you're all I've got and it's Christmas and I just want to make sure you want this."

My heart sunk a little at his words, flooding with sympathy for him as I realized this was his first Christmas that his parents wanted nothing to do with him. I felt so terrible.

I wish Pete's family felt different about him, I wish they saw what I saw in him. An amazing human, regardless of who he chose to love. I also kinda hoped that they'd come down, forgive him, call him, something.

I know it sounds stupid, but being with Pete's family on a Christmas morning was always kinda one of those hallmark family Christmas card kinda thing I wished for. It was stupid, it was cheesy, but it was just something I liked to think about sometimes.

"I'm sorry, pete." I whispered, but he shook his head immediately. "I love you, and I'm never going to leave you. I wish your family would feel the same."

I crawled into Pete's lap, resting my head against his chest, listening to his heart beat. He sighed, and his heartbeat slowed down. I would never leave him.

"Let's not think about them, okay? It's Christmas, and I want to think about you and me and everything Peterick."

"Great. Now let's go see Meagan."