“Baby, it’s your money and if you want to donate it to a cause you know will help, well then, I say go for it,” he responds, his smile just as big as mine.
“You think it’s a good idea, really?” I ask again.
“I do, you’re right, a lot of neighbors could benefit off of it and it’s a good cause.”
“Also, there’s another thing. This one you may like more than the first one. I think I’m ready to go down to part time hours. I know I just started at the clinic, but if I ever want to see you, and believe me, I want to see you so much it hurts, then I should reduce my hours. I put an application in at the Pediatric Center, and I’d only be working three days a week to help the other P.A. that’s there,” I tell him, with so much excitement it’s bubbling over. This is something I’ve been working on while on my lunch break.
“Fuck, baby. I think that’s your best idea yet.” His face is full of mirth and I know it’s probably because both of us miss each other so much through the days.
“Thank you, Levi,” I say and then my lips are melding to his. He brings me closer and I’m straddling his waist.
“Love you, Peyton. I’ll always want you happy.”
“I love you.” It’s not long before I’m in Levi’s arms and he’s carrying me back to bed.
30
Levi
Today, I finally got to do what I’ve been wanting to do since Peyton moved back home from college.
Shortly after we came back downstairs and had a bite to eat, we saddled up and rode to the place I wanted to make her mine, officially.
When she saw the creek and the crumbling church, she took her phone out and took a million pictures.
“I know where I’m going to put this up in the house,” I smiled, and waited until she finished up. We let the horses graze. Snickers and Rocky have become quite the pair, not only are they stable buddies, they’ve been in the same pasture during the day, too.
I even sent Peyton a picture of them when they were running while she was at work.
“You get it framed and I’ll hang it up, baby,” I meander over to the creek and find a rock to perch on while I take her in as she moves around taking photos here and there.
“I’m done. I promise, but I’m probably going to want to come back and soon. Especially in the spring,” Peyton says, as she comes to sit next to me.
“Anything you want, Peyton, you have to know by now. I’d give you the world if I could.” I tell her, taking out the ring that’s in my pocket.
It’s rose gold in color, double shanked with a pave design surrounded by a halo diamond. It wasn’t easy keeping this from Peyton for as long as I did.
I grasp her hand, holding it in mine as I slide it on her finger and say, “Peyton, I want you more than I want my last breath. You’re my world, do me the honor of becoming my wife.”
“Yes!” She screams out loud, her voice echoing even with the creek in the background. Her arms come around my neck, she never even looked at the ring, Peyton’s eyes never left mine and fuck, what that does to me.
“I love you so much, Levi Heart, so so much,” she murmurs against my lips.
“I love you, Miss soon to be Heart.” We take our time, taking slow sips of each other’s lips, there’s no rushing today. It’s all about her, me, and the beauty surrounding us.
Once we slowly finish our kiss, I get up and go to the horses. While Peyton was tacking up Snickers, I was busy packing the saddle bags with blankets, drinks, and snacks. As much as I’d love to sleep out here tonight under the stars, it’s getting too cold for that, especially with the forecast calling for a heavy snow this evening.
Making my way back to Peyton, I see she’s finally taking the time to appreciate her ring. In a perfect world her parents would be here, hell mine would be, too. Though, once they retired, they hit the road for none other than Arizona. Till this day, I’m still not sure what the hell my parents were thinking.
“Levi, we have to call your parents or, wait, do they know already?”
“Baby, mom helped me find your ring. I was on the phone and she was already scouring the internet looking for what she thought you’d like. It took us a couple of hours to narrow it down, but we can call them just the same. I know they’d be happy to hear from us.”
I spread the blanket down on the ground, then I pick her leg up and slowly take her boots off of her feet before picking her up to place her on the blanket.