“I only go out when it’s absolutely necessary for me to,” he reassured her in an attempt to take whatever sting out that was in his previous words. “And when I do go out, I’m never alone. You know this.” He pulled her closer and kissed her head. “I’m not planning on leaving you, babe. That’s a promise.”
Elliot grinned in approval of her story. “That’s probably the only way we’d ever have met in a world without zombies. Via a TV reality show that you won.”
“So it’s just menfolk in your world-ruling castle, huh? And I’m just supposed to suck it up and deal with it whenever one those guys gets a lookie-loo at you? I’d say it’s unfair, but you’re the one in charge of the world,” he shrugged and smirked.
“I’m glad you didn’t let me kiss you on the first night we met,” Elliot said seriously. In a hypothetical situation where Rae let him kiss her when they didn’t even know each other then, followed by the admission that she used to be a stripper… Elliot honestly probably would’ve doubted the sincerity of her interest in him. “It meant a whole lot more to me when our first kiss happened on Christmas. And that dance you did just for me?” Ducking his head, he smiled and shook his head at the wonder of it all. “I admit I still have good dreams about that night.”
He rolled his eyes and gave her tummy the lightest of pats. “You wouldn’t do that to Daddy, would you?” He asked the baby. “You’re definitely a little boy.” His eyes lifted to Rae’s when she suggested they make things interesting. “Oh? How?”
As was typical for one of Elliot’s stories, he had no idea where it came from. The ridiculous characters and ridiculous setting and ridiculous situations knitted themselves together and he just let it come out however it wanted. Apparently in the form of donkeys and toads this time. When he felt the little thump against his palm, Elliot paused in surprise… then his face broke into a grin. “I think he did,” he agreed softly.