-Evangeline-
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I roll my eyes.
I grab a plastic fork from the sack and open his food. I scoop a forkful of rice and move it toward his mouth.
"Open your mouth," Mr. Winters looks at me astonished.
"I've never had someone tell me to open my mouth. I'm usually the one to say it," I roll my eyes.
"Get your mind out of the gutter. Either you open your mouth and take a bite, or I won't eat either," A smirk appears on Mr. Winters's lips.
"Then we both can be hungry for the sweet dish," He says compellingly. I rub my thumb on his bottom lip to open his mouth. I stick the forkful of rice into his mouth.
"Now, chew it," I demand. Mr. Winters looks into my eyes as he chews.
"Good boy," I say as I put his food on his lap, giving him his fork.
"Good boy?" He deep chuckles, "I'm the one that's supposed to call you good girl since you're going to be my pet this week," I roll my eyes, forgetting about that bet.
"There's not much I can do since I'm pregnant, so give your best shot," I say daringly.
"You'd be surprised what you're body can do even when you're pregnant," I stare at him with wide eyes as he takes a bite of his burrito bowl.
"What does that mean?" I ask.
"I can't answer that. It's still my turn to ask a question," He replies with a smirk and takes another bite.
"Well, then ask me a question, so I can question you," Mr. Winters's eyes look at the view as if he's thinking.
"Are you nervous to be a mother?" He asks, not moving his eye contact from the view. I sigh while looking at the food in my lap.
"Honestly, I am. More than anything, I'm terrified, but I know that once he gets birthed into this world and put into my arms with you by my side, everything is going to be okay. I'm excited to see what our little boy is going to be like or look like."
"I hope he looks more like you," Mr. Winters says, and I laugh.
"No, I think he's going to look like a split image of you. He'll definitely have your charm. We'll be fighting the ladies off for years because he'll pull them in like nothing," Mr. Winters laughs.
"Are you nervous to be a father?"
Mr. Winters scoffs, "Me? Nervous? Never. Well... to be honest, it feels like you're not pregnant sometimes. It's hard to think about wrapping the thought of being a father in a couple of months. It feels so unreal," I laugh.
"You are a father now, and I'm a mother now. Our child is just... still developing," Mr. Winters smiles, his precious smile.
"Since you already know about me, I might as well as know the basics of you, like, what's your favorite color?"
"Oh? That's getting a little personal now, isn't it?" He mocks in a high-pitched voice. I roll my eyes.
"You're terrible at mocking me," A small laugh comes from Mr. Winters.
"You want me to get more detailed and mention all your traits and aspects?" I roll my eyes.
"Hell no. I know I have a lot of bad habits that I know you would love to point out, but seriously though, what is your favorite color?"
"Royal blue," Mr. Winters says, looking at my blue dress, wanting to rip it off with his eyes. I nearly choke on my food, and he darts his eyes at the food in his lap, taking a bite.
"Is that why- never mind. I'll never get an answer," I take a bite of my burrito, finish it off, and look at the hanging tree.
"Oh! I almost forgot!" I stand up and walk to the tree, tracing my fingers over the carved marks, "This is where me and my brother measured ourselves over the years. Come here, I want to measure you."
"What happened between you and your brother?" Mr. Winters asks as he stands up and walks to me. I push him against the tree and grab a sharp rock from the ground.
"Woah there, if you wanted me against the wall, all you had to do is ask," I roll my eyes.
"Nah, I like forcing you against the wall," I lean close to him, "it makes you look vulnerable," I say softly.
"Vulnerable, huh?" He grips my thighs tightly below my cheeks and lifts me, bringing me to his waist as I wrap my legs around him. He spins me around and pins me against the tree while he looks into my eyes with his darkened and a grin on his face.
"This is more... vulnerable," He says with a deep, low voice. I cackle.
"If you're trying to make me feel vulnerable, I think you'd have to try harder then," I say, looking him dead in the eyes, "But, while I'm up here, I might as well as take your height," Mr. Winters looks at me, surprised.
"This was a trick to get me to pick you up, huh?" I smile innocently.
"I don't know what you're talking about. Noe, turn me around so I can mark your height," Mr. Winters turns me around, and I lean forward, backing him against the tree.
"How tall are you, anyway?" I ask as I match the top of his head with the tree.
"You didn't answer my question, so I can't answer yours," I roll my eyes and sigh.
"Fine, I'll tell you about my brother. As you know my brother, August, and I were close, and then I broke up with my ex, and he started disappearing. I don't know what happened. If I said something wrong, or if I did something wrong. I spent nights staying awake looking for him when he disappeared. It broke my Dad's heart, but mine more because he was my twin, and we did everything together. Then Dad died, and what made me mad at him was that he dared to show up at his funeral after he was gone for two years," I take a deep breath and lay my head on his chest, listening to his heartbeat.
"I slapped him and said I never wanted to see his face again because he wasn't there for me. I was left with the whole bill for the funeral because Violet had her problems, and August wasn't there. Charlotte tried to give me money for it, but it was only a couple of dollars because she's bad at stripping. The only money she racked, was to help with rent and food, but it was all left to me. The heartbreak and betrayal I felt over the years, blaming myself when it was he who did it all. I mean, Charlotte and Violet helped a little bit by forcing me to go to therapy for it all, but it still hurts, you know? ," I sigh.
I don't know why. Something about smelling Mr. Winters's fragrance and listening to his heartbeat makes me calm, and all my worries disappear.
"Why is it when I'm telling you something deep, it's always close to your mesmerizing face?" I say, lifting my head off his chest.
"I don't know. I could say the same about you," I clear my throat.
"Anyways, enough emotional shit, hold still so I can measure you," I reach the top of his head, and he moves me up more.
"Oh, thank-" I look down, seeing my chest in his face, "That's why you moved me closer," I roll my eyes as his chuckle rumbles against my boobs. I mark his height, comparing it to August's 6'1 height.
"You're way beyond August's height. How tall are you? It looks like you're 6'8," I ask again. Mr. Winters chuckles in my boobs.
"I'm 7'1," I hear him mumble against my skin. I choke.
"7'1?! Damn, you giant!" Mr. Winters says nothing as he closes his eyes, indulging in my boobs.
"Okay, that's enough," I move his head off my chest, "I wouldn't want you to enjoy it too much to start anything," Mr. Winters smiles his enchanting smile as he sets me down. I walk over the edge, looking at the view.
"The sunset is absolutely stunning," I say, looking at the different colors reflecting on the city, savoring the moment.
"Indeed it is. Evangeline, turn around," He asks me.
"In a minute, if I turn around now, I'll miss the sunset," He chuckles.
"I promise the sunset will still be there. Turn around, Evangeline," I turn around and see Mr. Winters kneeling on his left knee.
"Cole... What are you doing?" My heart beats fast as he pulls out a small silver box from his pocket with his left hand.
"Evangeline London Stone..." My stomach quenches, and my eyes widen as I watch him open the box, revealing a dark green circle emerald ring.
"Will you do the honors and be officially my Mrs. Evangeline London Winters?"
"What... the.. fuck... WHAT THE FUCK COLE?! Is THIS why you were acting weird all this week?!"
"Is that a yes?" He says with a worried face.
"Of course, it's a fucking yes! Why- How?!" I stutter out as he takes the ring and slides it on my left hand, ring finger.
I stare at it, amazed at how perfectly fitting it is. It's not too fancy, it's not cheap looking, it's... perfect. I look at Mr. Winters, who's gazing at adoring me as I look at the ring on my finger. Here I am, staring breath taken at my ring, while this man, who barely shows any emotion, is staring at me like I'm his whole world.
I jump on him, wrapping my arms around him tightly, nearly knocking him down while smashing my lips against his, tasting the whiskey on his lips. My eyes widen, and I pick myself off Mr. Winters and look at him angrily.
"How much did this cost you?!" I ask Mr. Winters as he places the silver box under the tree and stands up.
"Don't worry about cost, love," He says in a calm tone. I roll my eyes.
"Of course, I'm going to worry about it! When did you have time to pick it out?!" Mr. Winters chuckles.
"I picked it out when I was in China for my trip. I had a little help from Violet deciding which one to pick, but I figured you would love this one because it matches you. Plus, it goes great with your pearl necklace," I hold my necklace on my neck with the emerald jewel on it.
One question rings in my mind, could that be the reason why he didn't come home early?
"I didn't- WAIT! Violet knew the whole time?!" I say. Mr. Winters laughs.
"Of course, she knew," I furrow my brows with a concerned look.
"Is this why you didn't text, or call back all week?" He looks at me with a blank stare.
"Yes." Why do I sense it being a lie?
"Okay, I trust you," I say with a hint of discretion, "So, Mr. Winters, what do you want to do now?" A sinful grin pulls on the corner of his lip.
"The rest of today is your day. Starting tomorrow, back home, is when I have you for a week as my little kitten," He says, tucking a piece of hair behind my ear. I look at him with wide eyes.
"Tomorrow? Back home? We're not spending the night in New York?" I say, confused.
"Of course not. I have too many plans for you to be wasting any more time in New York, so tonight we're flying back home," I sigh and look at the view one last time.
"I'm going to miss it," I reply. He lifts my chin, making me look into his eyes.
"Don't worry. We'll be back. There are many places for us to go in the future," I look into his smokey-blue eyes with a smile.
"Our future. As a family. Just the three of us," Mr. Winters places his hand on my stomach, and I lay my head against his chest.
"Just the three of us," His words rumble against my head. Just the three of us.
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-End Of Chapter 57-
Thank you sooo much for reading Chapter 57 Of CRASHING DOWN INTO GLORY!
Have an exemplary day/night! <3