“Deal. I think we can manage to avoid Elvis.” He kisses me, and we enter the kitchen in laughter.
A few glossy real estate brochures lie on the counter.
“You buying a new vacation home?” I pick up one of them. Mostly properties in Malibu, some in Florida.
Emmett runs his fingers through his hair. “More like a retirement home.”
“You’re going to retire? Seems a little extreme just to spend time with the baby… What are you going to do with yourself when the child starts preschool?”
He looks horrified. “No, no. I’d go stir crazy without anything to do. It’s for your dad.”
I look down at the brochures, then back at Emmett. “I don’t understand.”
“You said you wanted to buy him a beach cottage in Florida, and I thought, why don’t I do it? Your dad sounds like an amazing guy, so…” Emmett shrugs. “Plus, honestly? I figured it’d help me get some Brownie points.”
I laugh. It’s great that he already likes Dad for the amazing person that he is, and touching that he’s spending time and energy on making my dream of getting Dad a retirement home on the beach come true.
“That’s really sweet, but it’s not necessary,” I say. “And you have all the points you need, trust me.”
“Good to hear. But I’m entitled to do something nice for the man who single-handedly raised the love of my life. Besides, think about it. It’d be difficult for us to move to Florida, right?”
“Well, yeah, with the firm here in L.A. and all.”
He nods. “And your dad is probably going to want to hang around and see the baby. Not to mention any other kids that might come along.”
Other kids…? I’m still getting used to the idea of this one. “He will definitely want to see the baby.”
“And he wants to live on a beach. So a home in Malibu seems perfect.”
Emmett knows exactly how to make my insides feel like squishy marshmallow. This is so thoughtful—especially since he put in all this effort while envisioning an ideal future he’d like to share with me. “I don’t know what to say. This is just…amazing.”
“Nothing compared to all the happiness you’ve given me.” He hugs me, takes my hand and kisses the ring. “I’m going to do everything in my power to ensure you’re happy.”
I cradle his face between my palms. “We’re going to be the happiest people in the world.”
Chapter Fifty-Four
–Sasha: So. How did it go?
–Me: Perfect! I’m so happy!
–Sasha: I knew it! I take cash or PayPal.
–Me: What are you talking about?
–Sasha: Our bet! Remember?
–Me: Oh, that. Well, actually, YOU need to hand over the money.
–Sasha: Did you trip, fall on your face into a mud puddle and bloody your nose? Because that’s the only way my method would fail.
–Me: LOL, no! I never got to do it. It’s sort of silly to talk when you’re practically naked, you know?
–Sasha: Poll any red-blooded man, and he’ll tell you there’s nothing silly about a virtually naked woman.
–Me: Whatever. Point is, I got him without having to take off the coat.
–Sasha: You’re kidding.