Angelo zips me up, and then I lay my hair back down as he picks up my heels and sets them in front of me. With a hand on his shoulder, I step into them. Then he plants a soft kiss on the inside of my knee, and I want nothing more than to feel his lips on other parts of my body.
With a pat to my ass, he moves away, and I’m reminded he has spent three days telling me he wants to take me on a real date tonight.
“Angelo?”
“Tatum?”
“Has Jordan called?” I ask, thinking about the missed call from Melanie on my phone and knowing Jordan should be calling any day now.
“Three days ago.” He smirks. “And, baby, we have a reason to celebrate. My appeal is going through.”
“You waited three days to tell me?” I gasp.
“I’d have waited until dinner, but the way you look and the way you’re looking at me, I figured I wasn’t gonna get you out of here if I didn’t answer you. Now let’s go.”
We step through the doorway, and I go to take the first step down to the gym, only to be scooped up bridal-style and carried down to the bottom by my muse, my reality, my man.
“Angelo, I’m pregnant. I can navigate stairs.”
“Those sexy as fuck shoes, Tatum, are not stair-friendly.”
I sigh, loving the way this man wants to take care of me and our baby.
The truck ride is short before we stop at Caldwell’s. The memories between us here are mixed.
“No more bad, Tatum.” He throws the truck into gear. “You’ve taught me that. Tonight and from now on, we have nothing but good.”
He gets out of the truck and comes around to open the door for me. With my hand in his, we then step inside the bar, where I look around and see balloons and a congratulations banner.
I gasp when I hear a familiar squeal, and then my mom rushes at me with Melanie at her side. They both hug me tight, and it’s only then that Angelo releases me so I can wrap my arms around them.
“Surprise, Tatum,” Melanie whispers. “Your man might be a beast, but he’s got heart.”
I laugh and whisper, “Biggest one I have ever met.”
I turn to look at him. Jagger and Tatiana are by his side.
“You did this?”
He gives me a slow, sexy wink as an answer.
I look back at Melanie and my mom. “He invited you?”
“Invited?” Melanie laughs. “He insisted.”
Mom and I talk once a week. She knows I’m pregnant. Heck, everyone does. And knowing Angelo’s past doesn’t concern her half as much as it does Melanie, which makes it easier.
“I know the young woman I raised,” Mom had said.
Melanie has seen me at my absolute worse. Her concern is understandable, but unwarranted.
I look around to find the room is filled with all the people in our lives here in Detroit.
Jared stands on the bar with a smile on his face. “I’m thinkin’, big guy”—he looks at Angelo—“that you seem to have gotten your head outta your ass. And, well, I’m known for marryin’ people off. We have a banner, balloons, friends, family, booze, and cake; you up for a wedding?”
I laugh and look at Angelo. His eyes connect with mind, no laughter in them, just the truth as to what he wants, and what I want without a doubt, too.
I let out a slow, calming breath and swallow hard.
Chapter Thirty - Six
I want this. I want her. I want us.
“Tatum, this wasn’t my plan.”
I shove my hand into my pocket and feel the velvet of the black box I brought, expecting she would say yes to my proposal tonight. It’s important to me that we’re married before the baby is born.
I haven’t had a traditional family, a conventional life. I want more for my kid than I ever had. That means I want life with Tatum together as husband and wife. I’m not the romantic kind. Too much of my life was spent like a caged animal at the zoo. But Tatum deserves the world and a proposal for the books... well, of our own making.
I’ll give it to her, I’ll give her anything, because she gave me back the ability to breathe.
I drop to a knee in front of her, pulling the box out. “Tatum Longley, you came into my life unexpectedly. Your request was to use me, yet I came away from it not feeling used at all, but feeling blessed. So very blessed. You changed my life, and you make me the man I want to be. I love you and want you to be my wife.”
Tears roll down her face as she nods.
Her tears no longer cause me anxiety. I can now tell the difference between tears of joy and those of sorrow. These are joy.