Chapter 17

The doorbell rings, and Presley hurries to open it, finding Ziggy standing on our doorstep with an excited grin. "Hey, Presley! I"m so ready for some quality time with little Sawyer," he exclaims, his eyes sparkling.

"Thanks, Ziggy, you"re a lifesaver," she says, giving him a warm hug. It's comforting to see them interact, a reminder of their strong friendship.

"Alright, where"s my favorite little man?" Ziggy asks impatiently as he sets down his bag and removes his shoes.

"Right here," I reply, carrying baby Sawyer into the living room from the kitchen. I flash Presley a quick smile before focusing back on the baby in my arms.

"Hey there, little man!" Ziggy coos, taking Sawyer from me and holding him close. A joyful giggle escapes Sawyer"s lips at the sudden attention, and Ziggy bounces him lightly in his arms, causing another wave of laughter to ripple through the room.

"Watch this, Ziggy," I say with a grin. I produce a small plush hockey puck toy from my pocket and dangle it above Sawyer"s head. At the sight of the toy, Sawyer"s eyes light up, and he reaches out with chubby little hands to grab it. As he succeeds in grasping the toy, he squeals, making all three of us laugh in unison.

"Good job, buddy!" Ziggy cheers, ruffling Sawyer"s soft hair as I retrieve the toy for another round. It"s a simple game, but the joy it brings to Sawyer is infectious.

"Alright, Pres," Ziggy says, snapping me out of my thoughts. "You go get ready for your big night out. We"ll be just fine here."

"Thanks, Zig," Presley replies, squeezing his arm affectionately before retreating to our bedroom.

While Presley disappears into our room, Ziggy and I continue to entertain Sawyer with the plush hockey puck. His laughter fills the room, warming my already overflowing heart.

"Man, he"s really getting the hang of this," Ziggy comments as Sawyer once again grabs the toy with impressive precision. "He"s gonna be a hockey star just like his dad."

"Wouldn"t that be something?" I muse, grinning at the thought. However, deep down inside, I know the world of hockey can be tough and unforgiving, and I silently hope Sawyer finds his own path in life.

A few minutes later, the sound of high heels clicking on hardwood flooring catches our attention. We look up and see Presley emerging from her bedroom, looking absolutely stunning in a sleek black dress. My breath catches in my throat as I take in her radiant beauty.

"Wow, Pres... You look incredible. I'm glad you agreed to be my Holidates event tonight. The last one I'll ever go on," I manage to say with a wink.

"Thanks, Weston," she replies, her cheeks flushing slightly. "You don"t look too shabby yourself."

"I do clean up pretty well, huh?" I tease, trying to play it cool, but secretly thrilled by her words.

Just then, we hear the rumble of an engine outside, and it must be our limo pulling up in front of the house.

"Looks like our chariot awaits," I say and offer Presley my arm.

"Indeed," she responds with a grin, looping her arm through mine.

We step out of the house and into the luxurious limo, settling into the plush leather seats. As we drive through the city, I stare out at all the bright lights and bustling streets and am glad to be going out with Presley tonight.

"Where are we going?" she asks.

"Trust me, you"ll love it," I reply with a knowing grin, not wanting to spoil the surprise.

When we finally arrive at the fine dining restaurant, Presley"s eyes widen in awe at the elegant decor that creates a romantic atmosphere. The chandeliers sparkle light throughout the room, and the impeccably dressed waitstaff move about gracefully, attending to guests" needs.

"Wow, Weston, this place is amazing!" she exclaims, clearly impressed by my choice.

"Only the best for you, Pres," I say.

Just then, I spot the paparazzi lurking nearby, their cameras at the ready. My initial instinct is to hurry inside to avoid them, but I think of how proud I am to be with Presley.

"Hey," I whisper to her, nodding towards the photographers. "Paparazzi. Do you want to avoid them?"

"No," she replies, her strong, assertive voice full of confidence. "Let"s face them head on."

"Are you sure about this, Pres?" I ask hesitantly, my heart pounding in my chest. The last thing I want is for her to be dragged into the unforgiving world of celebrity gossip.

"Absolutely," she says, grabbing my arm and stopping me in my tracks. "We"ve got nothing to hide, and we"re happy. Let"s show the world that."

Her unwavering confidence and support bolster my resolve, making me smile at her. This incredible woman by my side truly understands what it means to face challenges head-on.

"Alright," I nod and take a deep breath in. "Let"s do this."

As we step forward, hand-in-hand, the paparazzi swarm around us, their cameras flashing like a storm of lightning. Despite the chaos, Presley remains calm and poised, her smile never faltering. She leans into me, and I wrap my arm protectively around her, our unity and happiness on full display for the world to see.

"Looking great, Weston and Presley!" one of the photographers calls out, snapping away as we pose.

When the frenzy finally subsides, we continue on our way into the restaurant, our hearts still racing from the adrenaline rush. As we"re led to our private table in a secluded corner, I think how much Presley has already changed my life and my perspective on love and commitment.

"Thank you for being so strong and supportive," I whisper to her across the table, our hands intertwined. "You truly are an amazing woman."

"No prob," she replies playfully, a hint of sarcasm lacing her words, but the tenderness in her eyes speaks volumes.

"Seriously, Presley," I insist, giving her hand a gentle squeeze. "I feel like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders, and it"s all thanks to you."

She smiles, her eyes twinkling with happiness. "Well, I"m glad I could help, even if it was just by facing some paparazzi." She looks back down at her menu to scan the options. "Everything looks so delicious. What do you think you"ll get?"

"Man, I can"t decide," I admit. "Maybe the steak? Or the lobster? What about you?"

"Definitely leaning toward the seafood risotto," she replies, licking her lips at the thought. "But honestly, I don"t think we can go wrong with anything here."

"True that," I agree and chuckle. Our connection feels natural and unforced, the same as it has from day one when I met her.

With our orders placed and drink glasses in hand, we continue to chat effortlessly.

"Here"s to many more nights like this," I say, raising my glass in a toast.

Presley meets my gaze. "Agreed," she whispers, clinking her glass with mine.

As we sip our drinks, the conversation drifts towards our future. Presley"s eyes hold a sincere intensity.

"Weston," she starts, her tone serious yet gentle. "I want you to know that I"m here for you, all of you. Your career, the fame, the ups and downs – I"m in this with you."

Her words touch my heart. I reach across the table and take her hand, feeling its comforting strength.

"Thank you, Presley," I whisper.

Her lips curve into a soft smile, and I can see the depth of her feelings mirrored in her eyes.

"Of course, Wes," she says. "We"re a team."

My heart swells with love for this incredible woman who has not only accepted me but also every part of my life, including the challenges that come with it. I'm lucky to have found her.

"Pres," I murmur. "I don"t think I"ve ever been happier than I am when I"m with you."

"I feel the exact same way," she replies.

The meal arrives and our laughter and lighthearted teasing continue as we savor our dinner.

As the last spoonfuls of our decadent chocolate dessert disappear, I can feel my heart racing. I"ve been waiting for the perfect moment to surprise Presley, and now it"s finally here.

"Presley," my voice is slightly shaky with nerves, "I have something for you."

Her eyebrows rise, but she doesn"t say anything. Instead, she watches me intently while I stick my hand into my pocket and pull out a small velvet box. The sight of it causes her eyes to widen, but she remains silent, waiting for me to continue.

"Before you say anything," I say quickly, "it"s not what you think. It"s just... a little something that I wanted to give you."

She nods, encouraging me to go on, and I slowly open the box to reveal a delicate necklace with a charm – a silver hockey stick entwined with a pair of gold scissors, symbolizing both my career and her love for dog grooming.

"Weston, this is beautiful," she breathes, clearly touched by the gesture.

"Let me put it on for you," I offer, my hands trembling slightly as I unclasp the necklace and move behind her.

As I carefully drape the chain around her neck, the softness of her skin against my fingertips sends a jolt straight to my dick. She tilts her head to allow me better access, and I manage to secure the clasp despite my nerves. The necklace falls perfectly against her chest, complementing her stunning black dress.

"Thank you, Wes," she whispers, reaching up to touch the charm. "I absolutely love it."

"Presley, I truly believe that we"re going to be that couple that makes everyone else jealous," I confess, trying to express the depth of my feelings. "I wanted to give you something that would symbolize our journey."

"Weston," she says softly. "I love it, and I love you."