“Exercise?” I quipped. “Yes, it’s known to have its benefits.”
“Prick,” he said fondly, nudging me with his shoulder. “I meant holding your hand on my old road. We never did this back then.”
Oh. “I guess we didn’t.”
“I like that we don’t have to hide now. I want everyone to know I’ve got you locked down.”
I snorted. “Such a cheesy phrase.”
He winked. “You love it though.”
I did, because I loved him.
Twigs and leaves crunched under our boots as we made our way through the woods. As we retraced paths from years gone by, we talked about our future. The houseswe were going to view the following week. Dominic’s work Christmas party, which I was going to be his date to. Whether we were going to do stockings for each other on Christmas morning.
The answer to that one was yes, obviously. I wasn’t bothered, but Dominic was insistent. I’d have objected more, but it was kind of cute how into it he was. He’d spent ten years dreaming up new traditions for us as a couple, and I wanted nothing more than to make each and every one of them come true for him.
When I looked up, I realised suddenly where Dominic had led us. “What are we doing here?”
Dom shrugged as we walked alongside the now disused train track. “Feels like this place is important. It’s where we first agreed to be together. Where you came when it all went to shit.”
I squeezed his hand. “Let’s not focus on that.”
“I’m not,” he said, coming to a halt and facing me. “But I thought maybe we could make a new memory here. One to replace the last one you have.”
I curled my hands around the collar of his jacket. “If it’s sex, I’m going to have to disappoint you. There’s a good chance my balls will freeze and drop off if I get them out in this weather.”
“Probably as statistically likely as mine exploding,” Dom deadpanned. “But no, that’s not what I meant. I got you a present.”
“But Christmas isn’t for another few weeks.”
“Humour me.” Dom nuzzled his nose against mine. “I’m too excited about this to wait.”
My heart skipped a beat. “Wait, are you?—”
“No,” Dom said hurriedly. “Not yet, at least.”
“Good.” I relaxed. It wasn’t that I didn’t want to marry Dom. I’d marry him tomorrow if I could. But we’d agreedwe should wait a few months. Our first romance had been a whirlwind, and there’d been nothing slow about it this time around either. Neither of us wanted to rush to the altar. Didn’t mean I wanted to waittoolong though. “Soon, yes?”
“You got it, Shadow.” Dom reached into his pocket and pulled out an envelope. “Here. Open it.”
He was bouncing on his heels as I took it from him. Two rectangles of cardboard fell out. I read the inscription before a laugh of disbelief left me. “You didn’t.”
“It’s the same date we originally saw them on,” Dom said excitedly. “I can’t believe I managed to snag them. You have no idea how hard it was.”
“I do, actually,” I said, more laughter bubbling in my chest. I took my phone out of my pocket and thumbed through until I found the email. “Merry Christmas, love.”
Dom’s jaw swung comically wide as he stared at the screen. “Wait, you got me tickets too? For the same date?”
“Yep.” I shook my head. “Guess great minds do think alike.”
“Fuck, I love you.” Dom was laughing as well now. “This is brilliant.”
“I love you too,” I said, brushing my lips against his. “You were worth the wait, Dominic.”
“Ditto. I’d wait another decade if it meant a shot at being with you.”
He would. He meant that with every fibre of his being. Dominic had never had any trouble visualising our future, but I had. God, I was so fucking grateful I’d woken up when I did. That I’d seen the happiness that was just within reach.