32. DTR

THIRTY-TWO

Igroaned around a mouthful of the chocolate croissant. It was warm and just the right amount of melty. The flaky goodness sent all kinds of satisfaction though my body.

"You've single handedly outdone every other birthday I've ever had." I nodded to the flowers decorating most of the counter and every free space throughout the house. It would be Lottie's literal hell with her allergies. But me? I was in heaven, surrounded by the floral scents and bright colors. "How does it feel to accomplish that in less than 24 hours of being together together?"

Parker laughed at my childish way of addressing what we were. "Like it should have been this way the whole time." The look he gave me was so full of meaning that I had to look away.

I watched Parker clean Lily's bottles while she snoozed against his bare chest in her wrap. Lucky girl. I was sure a thing like that didn't exist for a full-grown woman, but my biology was telling me to google it and find out. I was far from touch deprived after my morning wake up call, but damn, I was quickly forming an addiction to Parker's caress. He knew it was my love language, and I couldn't help but notice every time he unconsciously found a way to be touching me in some way.

"Together together though?" He pulled me out of my daydream of bathing in his touch. "I'm not sure that tells me enough about how you're feeling when it comes to us."

"Sounds a little childish, huh?" Here he was feeding my love language, but I still struggled to show him how I felt in the way that made him feel love.

"It does." His eyes twinkled in that Parker way that made everyone like him. "It doesn't sound anywhere near as… exclusive as I want to be with you."

I covered my mouth, feigning shock. "Parker James, are you asking me out?"

He tossed Lily's burp rag over his shoulder and kissed the top of her head. "I might be." He shrugged with a small smile.

"Then you might want to ditch the shy act and tell me what you want." I used my finger to make sure I cleaned every speck of chocolate off my plate, savoring the special birthday breakfast, then walked to place the dish in the sink. "I like a man who knows what he wants." I leaned back on the counter and watched my words sink in.

"I don't know if you're ready for the full extent of what I want from you." He braced his hands on either side of me. His stare met mine unflinchingly. "But yeah, I think I'm asking you out."

"You think?" I challenged.

"You're so difficult. Yes, Delilah. I want you to be my girlfriend. I want to hold your hand, and kiss you in public, and let everyone know you're mine."

"How barbaric," I teased.

"You haven't even seen barbaric, Peach."

I looked him up and down, as if thinking over his proposition. "Okay, I accept." I lifted up on my tiptoes to kiss him quickly before I ducked under his arms to sneak another croissant from the paper bag.

He chuckled. "You accept?"

I nodded with my mouth full. "Yes, but I hope you know what you're getting yourself into. I'm very high maintenance."

"Oh you are, are you?"

"Very. I've had time to think about what I want in a relationship over the last couple years, and I've become very picky. Needy."

"Hmm." He smiled.

"Yes. In fact, do you think you could run me a bath and light that candle in the bedroom for me?"

"Anything else, your majesty?"

I tapped my chin. "Well since you asked, a book and a foot rub would be amazing. Since it's my birthday and everything."

"I'm afraid to ask if that's all." He faked a stern look, but I knew he was only making fun.

"For now." I nuzzled Lily's outstretched hand against my cheek. "I hope you don't regret asking me to be your girlfriend. I'm afraid I'm not returnable. You signed the dotted line."

"I did, but it's okay. I don"t think there's a world in which I'd regret anything when it comes to you." The light mood changed with his sincere sentiment.

As much as I appreciated his words, they also scared me a little. I fidgeted with my hands for a second before saluting him and running up the stairs without another word. I slumped against the wall when I reached the bedroom.

The man said he'd never regret anything about me and I saluted him. What the fucking fuck, Delilah?