call out. I hear a screech and then footsteps as they race down the stairs. I barely have time to drop my bag to the floor before she’s flying into my arms. I catch her easily as she wraps her arms and legs around me.
“I missed you so much!” she says, burying her face in my neck.
“I missed you too, baby,” I say, moving us to the living room, and sitting on the couch that we picked out together.
She pulls back, and her smile lights up her face. “I can’t wait to show you everything. Come on.” She tries to stand, but I hold tight.
“I want to see it. I promise you, I do. Right now, I just want to hold you.”
“How can I argue with that?” she asks, snuggling back up to me.
“Tell me what’s been going on?”
“Just getting the house in order. I have all of our things unpacked. The bedroom furniture was delivered, and the bed looks so damn comfortable. I can’t wait to sleep in it tonight.”
“Where have you been sleeping?” I ask her.
“In my old bed in one of the spare bedrooms. I just didn’t feel right that you weren’t here.” She shrugs.
I kiss her hard, needing her to feel how much I love her. “What else?” I say, panting as I pull away from her kiss.
“I found office furniture that I love, and it was delivered last week. I got it all set up and organized, and I’m ready to dive into the foundation. I’ve been working with John, and all of the paperwork has been filed and approved. The Latham Reeves Foundation is official.”
“You’re going to do amazing things, future Mrs. Reeves.”
She grins. “Fiji.”
“What about Fiji?”
“That’s where I want to get married. I just want it to be our parents, and if Nixon and Tessa can make it, that would be great. And anyone you want to be there.”
“You. All I want is you. You have my schedule, and you said your Amex arrived, right?” I ask. She nods. “Good. Make it happen. Just tell me when and where, or if you want me to handle it, I can do that too. Just tell me what you need, baby.”
“You and me in Fiji.”
“How did you come to decide on the location?” I ask, running my fingers through her hair.
“I typed in destination weddings, and it popped up. The images are beautiful.”
“How soon can we make this happen?”
“Well, with the season, it’s going to be difficult, especially if we want Nix and Tess to be there.”
Damn. “So, what you’re telling me is that I have to wait until after the Bowl game to marry you?”
“Probably.”
“That’s too far away.”
“It’s a few months at best. That will give our parents time to plan to be off work, and us time to plan it all out.”
“What do you need from me to make this happen?”
“Nothing. I found an amazing resort. I can show you pictures later. If you like it, I’ll call and set it up. Then I just need to tell our families, Nix and Tess, and find a dress.”
I can’t help but think about the last time she was in a wedding dress and how it all ended. “Do you have one in mind?” I ask her.
“Simple. Elegant. Flowing,” she replies wistfully.
“Anything you want, baby. I can’t wait to marry you.”
“Me too, Coop. Me too.”
We spend the next hour talking about life and getting caught up. She tells me more about what she’s been up to and her ideas for the foundation, while I tell her about camp and how stoked I am about the team this year. “I really think we have a Bowl team,” I tell her. All the guys are on point this season.
“I know you’re going to kill it.” She kisses my chin. “Now, let’s take a tour. I’m dying to show you what I’ve done while you were gone.”
We start in the kitchen as she shows me how she has it all organized, and we go room to room. There are pictures of us from when we were kids to now all through the house, and it tells our story.
“This room,” she smiles up at me, “I’m not sure about. If there is anything that you don’t like, we can change it.”
“I’m sure it’s perfect,” I say as we stand outside the office that we decided would be mine. “Open the door, Reese. The suspense is killing me.”
“Remember, we can change it if you don’t like it.”
“Baby….” I lean down