Page 114 of Vandal Unbound

Vandal huffs. “The passenger door only opens if you put your hip into it like you’re trying to break into your own car.”

I stroke the dash and emphasize, “She hascharacter.”

“She has rust and not a lot of suspension left.”

I smile despite myself, because this is what it feels like to have somebody who takes care of you. Vandal has bulldozed his way into the ordinary parts of my day, like he’s the man who was put on this earth to take care of me.

“Thank you for thinking of me, but I don’t need you to buy me anything,” I say as I indicate to pull over and park outside of the camp.

“Good, because I’m not buying you anything.”

“Now I’m confused. Didn’t you spend the last ten minutes trying to convince me to accept the truck?”

“I did. But as seeing you don’t want it, it’s not for you. I’m buying Elsie something safer to ride in.”

My mouth opens, then closes. “That’s cheating, and it’s a low blow.”

“So? Come on, Daze. You’re gonna love it. It’s white. Has bull bars and a huge crash test rating. Let me wrap the two of you up in it.”

I debate saying no, but in a sign that’s obviously been sent to make me accept, two lights suddenly flash on my dash. One is oil, and the other I have no clue about. “Okay. You had me at Elsie’s safety. Thank you. But I don’t expect you to buy me expensive things.”

“Yes!” Vandal says with too much exuberance. “I’m gonna pay for it on my way home tonight.”

I can’t believe I’m letting him buy me a truck without seeing it first, but I trust him.

“And while I don’t expect anything in return,” he adds, “you can show me how happy you are with it once Elsie goes to bed.”

I laugh at that. “I’m sure I can come up with something.”

“If you need hints, I had thoughts about taking you while you’re still wearing those exceptionally short and stretchy sleeps shorts, the pink ones.”

“You ripped the white pair, and I loved them.”

“Then you’ll be happy to know the replacement white pair is already on its way to our home, and I’ll order a new pink pair as soon as I hang up the phone.”

“You’re incorrigible.”

But I remember how good it felt. His big hands lifting my hips up off the bed. Of him building the desperation, trying to reach my pussy by stretching the leg of the shorts, of him rubbing and sucking on my clit through the fabric. And then the delicious rip of impatience, when he couldn’t wait any longer to fuck me.

“What I am,” he says, “is fucking hot for the woman I’m gonna marry one day.”

My heart leaps and my hands shake. I pull over to the side of the road near my usual parking spot to pick up Daisy. While we no longer need to walk quite the same given it’s safe to play and walk in Vandal’s neighborhood, we both like the walk back to the car after pickup.

“You mean that?” I ask.

“Every word. But I’m not asking right this minute, because even Sunny wouldn’t be so stupid as to ask a woman to marry him when he couldn’t even see her face. But I will. And I’ll ask Elsie too. But given the hassle I had trying to get you to take the truck, I’ll need better strategies to ask you to marry me.”

“Van,” I say, his name all breathy. “For the record, I’d say yes if you asked.”

There’s silence for a second, and then I hear him cough to clear his throat. “Good to know, Daze. So.” He seemingly shakes off the roughness in his throat. “I’m gonna pick up some groceries on the way home. Steak and veggies okay?”

“It’s tough to switch from talking about marriage to protein choices, but steak is a yes for me. Elsie has trouble chewing steak, so maybe chicken for her.”

“Chicken and steak. Got it.” Vandal chuckles. “I’ll see you tonight. Love you, sweetheart.”

It’s the first time he said he loves me. And I’m not even there to see his face.

“I love you too. With my whole freaking heart.”