A Long Time Coming!

A Long Time Coming!
On my way to Mason’s place, I stopped at the little cafe that we had coffee at all those weeks ago. When I walked in to order, my eyes were helplessly drawn to the table we had sat at as I reached into my pocket to finger the check that had given me. I was still shocked that Carl had taken it out of my purse, but then again I wasn’t. He probably thought that he was going to get me to cash it for him so he could have the money. The check meant so much to me, and not because it meant that I wouldn’t have to struggle anymore. It was important to me because for the first time in a relationship, I was seen as a partner. I didn’t have to do anything, but exist to have his respect. He had just given it to me, because that was the kind of man he was. He was the best one that I had ever met, and I was going to do everything in my power to make sure that he knew how much he meant to me.

After ordering and getting the food, I headed back out to my car to finish the drive to Mason’s house. When I arrived, I parked on the street as anxiety started to fill me. As I sat in my car, trying to remind myself that this was the right decision, I looked anxiously up at the building that housed Mason’s penthouse. It had been too long since I came here with the intention of actually going upstairs. I was so disappointed in myself that I had made the decision to give up on him. Lauren may not have been the most supportive sister, hell, she hadn’t been supportive at all, at least not to me, but she had been right. Mason deserved better than what he had been getting from me.

But now I was home, and I was going to give him better. Every day for the rest of my life I was going to give him better. And not because I was forced to. I was going to do it because I wanted to. I had been given amazing people that helped me through some of the hardest days of my life, and that helped me be able to say without a doubt that I belonged here with Mason. I sighed as gratitude for Joey and Maddie filled me for the millionth time on the way home. I knew I was in my head. I wanted nothing more than to walk into his home, throw myself into his arms, and tell Mason that I loved him more than life. 

I tapped my fingers on the steering wheel as I watched the front door of the building. I had come back a few times to see if he would move on from me, but he hadn’t. He had stayed true to his word. Every single one of them. It didn’t matter what it was. He had stayed loyal. He had not been with any other women. He hadn’t gone to any of the parties Lauren threw. He had stayed home where I could easily find him if I wanted to. And now I didn’t just want to. I needed to. That thought spurred me into action. I pulled around to the valet station before getting out.

“Miss Washington, welcome back. Will we be parking your vehicle tonight?” he asked me as he slowly approached me.

“Yes, I would love that,” I answered as I retrieved the to- go bags from out of the car. “I am staying here tonight.”
“Perfect. I will park your car next to his. Have a good night,” he told me.

“You too. Thank you.”
When I made it up to Dan, I asked him to hold my things for a moment so I could tie my trench coat around me tighter to keep it from flying open. I was finally going to tell him that I was his forever, so I didn’t want him to think I wasn’t serious because I came dressed like a cheap hooker. After I took my things back from Dan, he smiled at me.

“Laurel, welcome. You seem happier tonight.”

“I am! I am here to surprise him. I take it he is home.”

“Yes he is.” He smiled at me softly. ”Come on. I’ll send you up.”

I breezed inside to the elevator with him by my side, flushing when the doors opened. Dan’s smile got bigger as he swiped his card to send me to the penthouse. I returned his smile as I gave him my thanks. Oh, God! This was really happening. I was finally coming home. I hoped he would be happy to see me. When the elevator stopped, I took a deep breath before walking out. Mason came hurrying out of a back room, freezing when he saw me. 

“Laurel?”

I smiled at him. “Hey, Mason,” I murmured. 

“Are you really here?” He whispered in awe as he took a few steps toward me. 

“I am,” I replied as I held up the to- go bags. “And I brought snacks.”

He took the bags from me before setting them on the coffee table so he could take me in his arms. “I don’t care about the snacks, Laurel. I only care about you.”

Before I could respond, a small sound drew my attention toward the hallway and I took a step away from him. “Is somebody here?”

“No.”

“Then what was that?”

He beamed at me. “My new roommate.”

I took another startled step back. “What?”

He took my hand as he led me down the hall. “Come on. I’d like you to meet her.”

I tugged on my hand as the doubt that I tried so hard to overcome surfaced like a venomous two-headed snake. “I-I don’t want to.”

We stopped outside a room with big, black letters on the front of it. L. B. Who the hell was L. B.? He pushed the door open and I was stunned to see the room had been set up for an animal. Hay, water bowls, hides, toys, tunnels, and a large litter box all greeted my eyes. I looked up at him. 

“What is this?”

He helped me over the gate that kept whatever animal safe from the door opening. He knelt down on the floor, cooing softly.

“L. B., L. B., Come out pretty girl.”

Seconds later, a little black bunny hopped out of a hide. He carefully picked it up before standing back up. He rubbed her shoulder with his finger as he held her out to me. 

“This is my little bunny until my real Little Bunny came home to me.”

I melted inside as I reached out to stroke the bunny’s soft fur. “I am sorry I left, Mason.”

“It is okay, Laurel. The important thing is that you’re home now. For good, I hope.”

I remained silent for a moment as I tried to get my emotions under control again. “I am. As long as you want me to be.”

“I do. More than anything.”

I took the bunny from him and set her on the floor before reaching into my pocket to pull the check out of my pocket to hand to him. “I am sure about you now, Mason. I know it took me a long time to come to that conclusion, and I am sorry, but I am here now. I won’t ever leave you again. You are my future.”

He glanced at it before smiling at me. “I was wondering when you were going to cash it.”

“I never was going to cash it. It was to see if you saw me as an equal. I don’t need your money, Mason. I don’t even want it. I just want you.”

He crumpled the check up and stuck it in his pocket before taking me in his arms to carry me out of the room. 

“I want you, too, my little bunny.”

When he set me down in his bedroom, my hands went to the coat’s belt. 

“I have something for you.”

He raised an eyebrow at me. “Something more than you coming back to me?”

I nodded as I opened my coat to show him the bunny costume I wore underneath. His eyes lit up with glee as he ran a finger down my body. 

“Marry me, Laurel, and be my Little Bunny forever. And soon.”

I smiled at him. “That’s why I’m here, Mason. To be yours. Whatever that entails.”

He groaned. “Tomorrow, but tonight I want to celebrate with you.”

I kissed him. “I have to finish getting ready. My outfit isn’t complete.”

He pulled back, obviously annoyed at having to let go. “Hurry. I’ve missed you.” I giggled as I headed to his bathroom. I heard him mutter something before he called out, “Oh, and while you’re getting ready, my little bunny, make sure you don’t forget your ears.”

I looked over my shoulder, winking at him. “Get your bunny ears on.”

I giddily added my ears and mask before looking myself over in the mirror. I leaned forward to kiss my reflection. 

“Go get your forever, little bunny,” I muttered to myself before dancing out of the bathroom to submit to my White Rabbit for the rest of my life.