“I can’t. You can’t.”
“You can, and I already did.”
“But.”
Luke took the bag from my nerveless fingers and put it on the back seat with his. “We’re gonna be late. Just drive it, and we can argue about it on the way.”
“Are you sure?” I asked as I took the keys. “What if you need to auction this off to buy groceries?”
He laughed and shook his head.
A part of me wanted to ask how much his net worth had dropped with his parents taking away their money, but most of me didn’t care. To me, there was a lot more to wealth thandollars, because I’d been wealthy all my life. Now, I was rich. Luke was the most precious and priceless thing in my world, and amazing, and mine, all mine.
What worried me was his generous heart putting him in a financial bind.
We settled in the front seats while I ooed and awed over the sleek interior.
“Asher.” Luke cupped my cheek. “I wouldn’t have done this if I couldn’t afford it. Okay?”
“But if you’re not super rich, will you have to give back the cape?” I stared, straight-faced, until I couldn’t hold it in any longer and laughed.
“Too cute, Asher. But yeah, even without the cape, I’m actually really good at what I do. I’m not worried about losing the Dorset family money, and I’m still very much a millionaire and plenty capable of buying you things like this.”
I smirked. “Boastful much?”
“Brat.” He kissed my nose. “Let’s get going.”
On the trip down—which, holy shit, the Bronco rocked—he told me what exactly he’d given up with his decision to leave his old life behind. I kept my shocked comments to myself and let him get it all out. The cars, properties with vacation homes, and artwork he’d no longer have access to. He seemed slightly more … sad wasn’t the right word, but maybe bitter over the car collection since he’d been the one who cared the most about it.
His excitement rebounded, though, as he detailed his vision for rebuilding the collection. Luke talked about his plans of moving into the country, or at least some acreage where he could start over, a place more to his tastes than what his parents had wanted for him.
His stuffy apartment, no matter how roomy, didn’t seem like him at all, so the news of wanting to move wasn’t shocking. Ididn’t weigh in, just listened and hoped he’d want me to move with him.
Before long, I pulled to a stop on the driveway outside the house I grew up in. The deeper this thing with Luke became, the less this felt like my home. It would always be a place I could return to, but home was now the person beside me.
Ben came out with a curious lean, but when he saw me, he rushed forward.
“Good Lord, look at that,” he praised the Bronco. “We didn’t know who had pulled up.” He smiled for Luke and accepted my hug. “Let’s get on inside before Nathan sees this, or you’ll never get in there before the younger ones hit the hay.”
We followed him inside with our bags, ready to stay for a few days. I’d had several long talks with Momma since Luke’s grand gesture. Afraid she’d have been mad at him for his part in my decision to end us, she’d surprised me with her eternal wisdom and insight.
That man was gonna make it right. Never had a doubt,she’d said.
“Hello, sweeties,” Momma sang as we stepped through, then added, “Both of you. Get in here.”
My family was such a stark contrast to Luke’s. Even though his brother and sister didn’t care about their brother’s sexuality orclasslessboyfriend, they were still raised in a much different household. Reserved. Their hugs were short and to the point, where my family held on, had mini conversations while wrapped together, and danced a bit with laughter as our music.
There was constant noise and jokes and so much joy. I snuck glances at Luke the entire time we were there. He was so at home here, and I fell in love with him even more.
“When can I expect grandbabies,” Momma said as she bumped into my shoulder.
“Jesus, Momma. Let me get married first, and then we’ll talk.” She lifted an eyebrow because of course, marriage wasn’t a prerequisite to babies in this household.
Luke and I had come together so unconventionally. Him with his hidden sexuality, and me pretending to be something I wasn’t. I kinda wanted our next chapters to follow more traditionally. Not everything would—we were us, after all—but some things we could plan for.
Momma wrapped her arm around me as we watched Luke help Elias with a new LEGO set.
“He’s a keeper, then? You made your choice?”