39
It takes me a second to realize you're choking, and I spring into action, grabbing a hand towel and patting your back until you calm down.
"What the hell, Edward?" you croak, wiping your mouth and holding onto the counter with one hand for stability.
"Are you okay?"
"You can't do that." You wave the towel. "You can't keep springing shit on me like that."
I apologize.
"You're drunk. We're both drunk," you explain. "I don't think right now is the appropriate time for this particular conversation."
"Drunken words are sober thoughts," I argue weakly. "I'm sorry I sprang it on you, but I've been planning on asking you for a while."
You give a deep sigh and run a brush through your long hair. I could watch you do that every night. I want to.
"Not tonight, Edward. I've been drinking, and this is a heavy topic. I'd rather have a clear head when I consider this big change." You give me a minty-fresh kiss. "Let's go to bed, and we'll talk in the morning. Please."
"Okay."
…
I wake up in the middle of the night and reach for you but find your side of the bed cold and empty.
My stomach drops, and I'm scared my worst fear has become a reality. That I've finally pushed you too far, and you've left me.
I throw on some pajama pants and set off to find you. Ready to chase you down and beg you to stay.
Coming to a screeching halt at the bottom of the stairs, I realize my panicking was for nothing. You're sitting on the floor at the coffee table, surrounded by take-out boxes from the restaurant.
"There you are." I smile and take a seat next to you.
"Sorry. I couldn't sleep and was craving leftovers. Are you hungry?"
"You know me. I can always eat."
You're watching reruns of Big Mouth, your guilty pleasure, and giggle in between bites as we munch.
"Something on your mind, babe?" you ask when you notice I'm not watching the show and playing with my food more than eating it.
"Honestly?" You nod. "When I woke up and you weren't there, I thought you left. That I scared you off."
You set your fork down and climb onto my lap. "You know by now that I don't scare so easily." You press a kiss to my lips and pull away with a timid smile. "Did you mean it?"
"Yeah, baby, I really did." I bounce you on my legs.
"Okay."
"Okay?"
You nod. "Okay. I'll move in."
"Okay."