Total pages in book: 79
Estimated words: 76749 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 384(@200wpm)___ 307(@250wpm)___ 256(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 76749 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 384(@200wpm)___ 307(@250wpm)___ 256(@300wpm)
I’d had practice today and Sheridan had gone to work at her new downtown office space. She’d come a long way with Annie’s Closet since December, and since Annie was feeling a lot better these days, she was working there part-time as a consultant.
Lingerie for all. That was the Annie’s Closet motto. There would be beautiful items for women in every size, but also those who had been left behind by most clothing manufacturers. Breast cancer survivors. Colostomy bag users. Trans women. I was enormously proud of Sheridan for promoting inclusivity, and based on the research she’d done so far, the market was hungry for it.
“Food is ready, Mr. Lars,” Rosalina said. “I go now.”
“Thanks for all your help. Are you doing anything for Valentine’s Day?”
She picked up the box of chocolates I’d given her when she arrived and put on her coat.
“I stay with granddaughter. Son and daughter-in-law go out to dinner.”
“That’ll be fun. Do you have to cook dinner for her?”
Rosalina smiled. “Yes, but I like cook dinner. Good luck tonight, Mr. Lars.”
“Thanks. I’m going on the road tomorrow, but I’ll see you when I get back.”
After she left, I checked my watch and saw that Sheridan was due at my place in ten minutes. I exhaled hard, double-checking the twinkle lights I’d strung across the chandelier over the dining table, the long-stemmed red roses waiting on the kitchen counter, and the bottle of champagne chilling on ice.
Everything was ready. I was ready. But still, I was nervous. Sheridan had told me Hugh always said Valentine’s Day was just a commercial holiday, and he’d never gotten her anything to celebrate. She deserved to be treated like a queen, and I hoped she’d feel that way when she walked into my apartment.
Loki was perched in the windowsill, and as soon as I went over to pet him, the doorbell rang.
“You ready?” I asked my cat, who stared back at me nonchalantly.
“Hey,” Sheridan said, grinning when I opened the door.
“Happy Valentine’s Day,” I said, stepping aside to let her in before giving her a kiss.
“Happy Valentine’s Day. It smells amazing in here.”
“Rosalina made pasta and salad.”
“That sounds wonderful. I worked through lunch.”
“You look beautiful.” My gaze roamed down her outfit—a formfitting dark gray dress, black stockings, and black booties. “Wow.”
“Thank you.”
I held out a little black box wrapped with a red ribbon. “I hope this will match your outfit.”
She smiled warmly as she slid out of her coat. I traded her the coat for the gift box.
“I have something for you, too,” she said, reaching into the pocket of her coat.
We walked over to the couch together and I looked at her expectantly, waiting for her to open her gift. It was the first time I’d bought anyone a present for Valentine’s Day, and my heart pounded nervously as I waited to see what she’d think.
“Oh, I love them!” she cried. “Lars, they’re beautiful.”
I’d gotten her star-shaped diamond earrings. Round diamonds were too boring for Sheridan; in my eyes she was bright and beautiful, just like stars.
She immediately took off the earrings she was wearing and put on the new ones. I smiled, relieved and thrilled in equal measure. I was still working with David on identifying and working on things that were hard for me as a person on the autism spectrum. Reading people’s feelings was something I struggled with. It helped that Sheridan was a straightforward person, and we prioritized communication in our relationship. But still, I wanted tonight to be perfect.
I opened my gift from her—custom-made cuff links shaped like hammers, for Thor.
“These are wonderful,” I said. “Thank you. I will wear them after every game.”
I kissed her again, inhaling the sweet scent of her perfume. It made me want to skip dinner altogether.
“I’m too hungry to think about sex right now,” she said, reading my mind.
I smiled. “I am hungry, too. Let’s eat.”
“Lars!” Sheridan cried as we walked toward the kitchen. “You did all this?”
“Rosalina cleaned, but I put up the lights and set the table.”
She kissed me again. “This is amazing, thank you. It was a crazy day at work today, and it feels so good to come home to this.” She gave me the dazzling smile I loved so much. “Well, to your home.”
“Your home is my home these days,” I said. “I think Loki and I should just move in with you.”
“Maybe? If we can’t find a house we like soon, you should. I know it sucks having so much of your stuff here when you’re at my place so much.”
“It’s not a big deal. But I do love your apartment, and I think Loki would, too.”
She told me about her day at work as we ate. Our dynamic was the same as it was on our first date—she did more talking than I did. I liked that, though. I’d seen a picture of a cherry tree recently, and it had reminded me of us—I was the strong, solid trunk, supporting the branches that were Sheridan as they flowered and spread their beauty into the world.