“Sometimes you sound like a girl.”
“I know. I can’t help it. You bring out my girly side.”
Trailing my fingers up and down her arms, I know I have to be careful or she’ll fall asleep here. It’s happened so many times, and while I don’t care, I have another present for her.
“Daisy?”
“Hmm?” she says, close to sleep. I sit up slightly and roll her over to face me. I can’t resist the small pout on her lips and lean down to kiss it away. She deepens the kiss, but I pull away, leaving both of us breathless.
My fingers ghost down the side of her face as she looks at me with her vibrant green eyes. “You’re so beautiful.” I tell her this every day. I never want her to think that I don’t find her the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen. “I’m so lucky to have you in my life. I think we need to make this permanent.”
“We live together, Ethan.”
“I want to share everything with you, Daisy.” She sits up, matching my position. “I know I’m not doing this right and it’s not how I planned this out in my head, but some things are best left unplanned, right?”
She nods, pulling her bottom lip between her teeth.
“I wish I had the opportunity to ask your dad or grandfather for permission, but I think your grandpa would be okay with this question…” I roll over her legs and onto my knee. She moves so she’s facing me. I pull the ring out of my pocket that I picked up earlier. I put it in my pocket, hoping to move it to my nightstand so I could propose in the morning, but right now feels right and I don’t want to wait.
“Daisy, when I look at you I see my future. I see you as my wife, partner and cheerleader. I see you as the one who will keep me grounded and be the first to remind me that I’m being stupid. I want to be there when your career takes off and hold your hand when we find out we’re starting a family. I want you to be the first one I kiss when I finally win a batting title or the World Series. Most importantly, I just want to be with you. Daisy, will you marry me?” I hold the platinum band with a three-carat solitaire surrounded by diamonds between my fingers.
By the time I finish my speech, her mouth is covered and she’s crying and so am I. “Yes, Ethan, oh my god, yes!”
I take her hand and slip the ring on before pulling her into my arms. Our lips meet and our kiss deepens as I set her back onto the couch. I pull her shirt off and mine quickly follows, building a pile in the middle of the floor. With a flick of my thumb, her bra is off and my mouth waters at the thought of sucking on her breasts.
“You’re breathtaking,” I tell her as I stand and kick off my shoes and pants. She copies me, tossing the rest of her clothes onto the floor. My erection bounces against my stomach when I take off my boxers, causing her to laugh.
“I’ll show you,” I say, as I climb on top of her, centering myself, I look into her eyes. I see nothing but love and lust in her green orbs. I place my hands on the arm of the couch and push into her, watching her mouth drop open. She squirms underneath me, digging her nails into my back.
“Ethan,” she mewls, bringing her knees up over my hips. I have never felt so connected to someone as I do with her. Each thrust brings out a moan from her, spurring me on. As much as I want to go slow, that will have to wait for when we go to bed because Daisy is rocking her hips against mine, pushing me closer to the edge… an edge that I’m willing to fall over every time with her.
“Merry Christmas!” my mom yells as she enters the house. She runs right to Daisy and pulls her into her arms before she comes to give me a hug. I already know how I’m going to rate in this family now that my mom has met Daisy. Shea, though, loves her Unc and comes running into the house and into my arms, followed by Shana and Mike.
My plan was to pick them up, but they called us from their rental car saying they were here and to just unlock the door. I know my mom wanted a grand entrance that wasn’t awkward for Daisy. I step outside with Mike to help my dad with the luggage. We hug and he loads my arms full of suitcases.
“Are you moving in?”
He scoffs. “No, these are presents.”
I look at him questioningly. “What’s in my closet then?” I’ve been receiving Shea’s Santa presents for months now.
“These are for you, Daisy, Shana and Mike. Any excuse to shop… that woman will do it,” he says as he reaches for more.
As soon as I step in the house my mom is standing in front of me. “Ethan, she’s beautiful and lovely. I just love her.”
“I love her too, mom,” I say, kissing her on the cheek and winking at Daisy, who is blushing like crazy.
I carry all the bags to the extra bedroom where Mike and Shana will stay with Shea. My parents are going to sleep on the couch that pulls out into a bed. I never thought I’d host everyone at my place or I would’ve bought something bigger. Maybe that’s something Daisy and I need to look at once the holidays are over.
Before I know what’s happening, my mom has the eggnog open and has poured everyone a glass. She holds her glass high in the air and clears her throat. “I’m a blessed woman,” she starts with tears already in her eyes. “I have the best family and I’m so happy to bring this beautiful young woman into our lives.”
“Forever,” I add with a smirk.
Both mom’s and Shana’s mouth drop open and Daisy looks at me, smiling.
“Ethan?” Mom’s voice is happy, yet scolding.
I shrug and hold up Daisy’s hand, much to the cheerful delight of everyone in the room. “Daisy and I are getting married.”
“When?” Mom asks.
We had talked about a date into the wee hours of the morning the night I proposed, finally settling on one that would work for both of us. “We know its short notice, but we’re going to get married in February before I report for spring training. We don’t want anything big and Daisy wants to get married on the beach. So we thought we’d all take a trip to the Keys and have us a little party.”
“Are you pregnant?” Shana blurts out. Both Mike and my dad glare at her. She shrugs. It’s an honest question.
“No, I’m not pregnant. There’s just nothing keeping us waiting.”
“Here’s to my son and his beautiful bride. I’ll be very happy to spend some time down south in the winter.” My dad laughs as he gives us a toast.
Mom comes over and pulls us into a hug, congratulating us. Shana and Mike are next, followed by my dad. It doesn’t escape my notice that he hugs Daisy for a long time and when he pulls away, she’s wiping tears. I look at her, but she shakes her head, leaving me to talk to my family while she disappears down the hall.
“I’ll be right back.” I hand Mom my glass and follow Daisy down the hall, finding her in the bathroom.
“Are you okay?” I rub her back while she dabs a tissue to her eyes.
“Yes, your dad said something that made me cry.”
“What?”
Daisy turns, resting her hip against the sink. “He said he’d happily walk me down the aisle if I felt like I couldn’t do it myself.”
In this instance I feel my throat swell up with emotion. “Wow, what’d you say?”
“I told him I’d think about it.”
“You do whatever you’re comfortable with, babe.” I kiss her chastely and wish I could close the door and have my wicked way with her, but we can’t. In fact, we won’t be able to be together as long as everyone is here.
When we come out of the bathroom, my mother and sister are putting more presents out and Shea is picking up every one they put down, trying to read the names. I go and scoop her up and bring her over to the couch so she can get to know Daisy.
“Daisy is going to be my wife. That will make her your aunt.”
“What do I name her?” Shea shrugs.