She looks us over and beams. “I love you three.”
Hunter looks away from the movie and takes her hand, kissing her fingertips. “Even when we’re rough with you?”
“Even when you’re rough with me. Even when you punish me,” She assures us. “and I deserved it, teasing you like that.”
He chuckles. “As long as we’re on the same page.”
Lief rubs her arm and kisses the top of her head. “I don’t have to ask if you’d touch me even when you’re not supposed to.”
“I think I made myself pretty clear.” She strokes his chest.
He kisses her temple and whispers something in her ear that makes her smile. Then she claps her hands together. “So, today there’s no work talk, no school talk, just us being all cuddly and enjoying Halloween.”
“I’ll need to rake the yard,” Lief murmurs.
“Oh yeah. Lief has to collect all the leaves.” Hunter chuckles.
“That’s a terrible joke.” I grumble.
“Word play is never terrible,” Valerie says with a light laugh.
While we cuddle, I completely ignore the movie. Even when Valerie taps me with her toes. “Hey! You’re missing the best parts.”
“I’ve seen this one.” I assure her.
And right now I’m looking at something much more important than a movie. I click on another jeweler’s website and look through the rings. I want something that is perfect for Valerie. Something that will make her smile when she looks at it.
We said we were going to wait until she graduates, but I know that’ll be the beginning of December. Getting everything sized, getting a nice cottage in Denver, preparing everything with our jobs and her schooling is going to take time.
I want it ready sooner rather than later.
“Chase!”
Valerie steals my phone, but puts it on the side table face down as she takes my chin in her hand. “If you don’t like the movie, we can change it. But no work stuff.”
“Yes, baby doll.” I assure her.
But an hour later, when she’s with Lief in the kitchen, Hunter sits next to me and looks over my shoulder. “You should be careful. She could have seen that.”
“She wants forever too, Hunter. She told me that. I asked her what she wants for the future and she wants us.”
He nods. “I get that, little brother. I’m not telling you to not look. I’m telling you that you have to be careful. We need to ease her into it or we’ll startle her. Think of the issue with her parents. Unless she hinted at being married ...”
“You’re worried she’ll say no?”
We both look to where Valerie is getting things ready with Lief, a huge smile on her face. I know she wants to be with us. And if she really wants forever, she should expect marriage right?
I take a slow breath. “I’m not waiting until our back is against the wall to propose. We agreed to wait until December, but we know our odds for surviving this kind of life. I don’t want to regret a single thing with Valerie.”
Hunter nods. “I think we’re all in that boat, Chase. But if you keep looking at your phone, you’re going to make her pout.”
“True.”
“Let’s give her the best Halloween she’s had. It’s her favorite holiday after all ... and she’s going to be dealing with us on Christmas.”
I chuckle. “She’s never going to need to buy lingerie again.”
“And if we’re lucky, she’ll have three engagement rings on her finger.”