Only Annie | Eric Coulter

7 - Naked

* * *

"Hey, you there

Can we take it to the next level

Baby, do you dare?"

* * *

|| A N N I E

Jaxon's smiling.

I've never seen him smile like that. Not a grin, not a smirk, but a genuine smile. His eyes are brighter somehow, and his movements less skittish. 

I admit that I'm surprised, considering it's Eric that had just talked to him. This, in return, naturally sparks up a question. What did they talk about?

"Boo."

I jump in utter surprise, so deep in my thoughts that I don't notice Eric sneaking up from behind me. I gave him a slap on the arm, eyes wide in shock. "Damn it, Eric. Stop doing that."

His laugh reverberates throughout the almost empty daycare. He's a bit more expressive and carefree since not many people are present. I raise an eyebrow when he takes my hand and pulls me out of the room.

"Care to tell me where we're going?"

"Home. I'm starving."

"We can always go to the mess hall, you know," I say, dragging out the words for emphasis. I give him a once-over, and it clicks, "You want me to cook, don't you?"

He has the audacity to shrug,"You cook better than the kitchen staff."

 "I'm going to take that as a compliment, Coulter."

"You know it is, Louise."

...  

|| E R I C

"Why are you staring at me like that?"

The words barely register in my brain. The sandwich in my hand is halfway to my mouth, and the longer I stare at Annie, the faster my brain cells died.

"Huh?" 

Annie smirks, "Eric, are you high right now?"

At that, my senses come back in waves, and I cough violently. "What the fuck? No, I'm not."

"Then why are you staring at me like that?"

"You're beautiful."

Annie puffs out her cheeks, shaking her head as a laugh bubbles up from within her. "Yep, you're high. How many fingers am I holding up?"

She's holding up her right hand, all five fingers up, and so I reach out and clasp mine with hers. I find her eyes, and with all honesty, I mumble, "I'm serious."

She's silent as I set both of our hands down on the table. 

"Anika Louise," I start, heart beating faster with every word, "I want you to be mine. Only. Exclusively. I want to kiss your lips without you getting conflicted over it. I've been in love with you for the longest fucking time, and I can't wait anymore."

Her eyes shift to mine as I say the words that have been plaguing me for the past year, "Will you be mine?"

...  

A/N

Happy New Year, guys! 

Short and unedited as fuck.