“He does.”
“We’ll have to take him to Universal Studios.”
“We?” I remember everything we said last night, but I figured it was just a high from great sex.
With Joey, it’s always great sex.
Amazing.
The best.
“Yes,we. Is that a problem?” He walks over to my side of the bed, still shirtless, and hands me the coffee. I take it and look at him warily.
“You don’t want kids, and Jerome and I are a package deal. I don’t want someone who only wants me when it’s not just me they’ll be getting.”
“I want you. Make no mistake about that,” Joey practically growls. “And I like your kid. And I get that his father is a piece of shit so he will need a father figure in his life. I may not be the best choice, but I want to beyourchoice.”
And my heart skips a beat.
“About last night—”
“We will repeat last night every night.”
I glance down at my coffee, and when I look back up, Joey is down on one knee with a ring in his hand. I grip the coffee mug tight as I gasp, careful not to drop it and burn myself.
“Darling, I want to marry you. Again. For real, this time. This time both of us wanting it, not being forced into it. I look at you, and I see sugar.” I scrunch my nose up at his words, which makes him smile. “You seem sweet, like sugar. But you can also be lethal as sugar is when misused. Scott discovered that. Never abuse something so sweet. It will destroy you. I never want to do that to you.
“I take you, and I take your son as one package. I’ve always liked your son. You know that. I never wanted a child, but with you, it seems I want things I didn’t know I needed.” He pauses, his words sinking in. I glance down at the ring—a ring that’s perfect in every way. It’s simple, yet it’s a statement piece—a large diamond on a simple gold band. Elegant perfection.
“I want to tell you we will take it slow, but I know we can’t do that. I can’t stay away. I try. Fuck, I tried so hard, but I keep finding my way back to you. And I think I will always find my way back to you, Adora. So I want to know, will you marry me? Again?”
I step away so I can place my coffee on the bedside table. As I turn back to him, the door bursts open, and Jerome stands there. He smiles when he sees us and runs straight to Joey, who is holding the ring on one knee.
“Joey! Joey! They’re singing. Aren’t you coming back out?” I smile at Jerome, who does not notice me until Joey looks back at me. “Joey cooked me pancakes, Mummy. With chocolate. They are so good.” Jerome smiles before he runs back out.
I bite my lip as I look down at Joey. “Joey.”
“Don’t say no. You know that’s not what you want.”
Stepping up to him, I grip his cheeks and look him dead in the eye as I bend over until we’re face-to-face. “I would marry you in this lifetime and the next, Joey Rossi.” I kiss his lips, and he wraps his arms around me, pulling me in. We kiss until I feel tears streaming down my cheek.
He pulls back and asks, “So that’s a yes?”
“That’s a…hell yes,” I say, and he smiles.
“So all I need to do is fuck you to get what I want. How about we start now because I need you to move back in with me.” I throw my head back and laugh. He doesn’t laugh, though, because he is dead serious.
“My pussy is sore.”
“I can fix that.” He smirks before those sinful lips land on me once again.
* * *
ONE YEAR LATER.
It’s our wedding day.
Joey tried to get married as soon as possible, holding me to what I said, but I pushed and pushed it back. I needed to make sure this time I wasn’t jumping into anything I didn’t want, and I wanted to make sure Joey was all in as well.