It was a peaceful evening, and the sun had already set. I was sitting on my couch, reading a book, when I heard a knock at my door. I walked over to answer it, and to my surprise, it was Felix.
"Hey," he said with a smile, holding a small gift bag in his hand.
"I hope it's okay that I dropped by."
"Of course it is," I replied, feeling a warmth spread through me at the sight of him. "Come in."
I led him to the living room, where he handed me the gift bag. "This is for Lily," he said, gesturing to the bag.
"Thank you, Felix," I said, smiling as I opened it. Inside was a stuffed bear with a ribbon around its neck. "She's going to love it."
"I hope so," he said, sitting down next to me on the couch. "And this," he added, holding up a small box, "is for you."
I opened the box to reveal a delicate silver necklace with a small heart-shaped pendant. "Felix, it's beautiful," I said, touched by his thoughtfulness.
"I'm glad you like it," he replied, his eyes sparkling.
We shared a bottle of wine as we talked and caught up on each other's lives. I couldn't help but feel a sense of comfort in his presence, and it was clear that he felt the same way.
We were sitting on the couch, cuddled up together and sipping on our glasses of wine. We were deep in conversation, laughing and enjoying each other's company. Suddenly, we heard the sound of little feet padding across the floor and turned to see Lily, rubbing her sleepy eyes.
"How's your sleep, sweetie?" I said, opening my arms to my daughter.
Lily climbed up onto the couch and snuggled up between me and Felix, resting her head on my lap. Felix reached over and ruffled her hair, making her giggle.
"Did you sleep well, Lily?" Felix asked.
Lily nodded sleepily, rubbing her eyes again. "I had a dream about a unicorn," she said, yawning
.
I smiled down at my daughter, feeling grateful for this moment with both Lily and Felix.
"Do you want to see the present Daddy got you?" I asked, gesturing towards the wrapped box on the coffee table.
Lily's eyes widened with excitement, and she eagerly tore off the wrapping paper to reveal a stuffed unicorn toy. She squealed with delight and hugged the toy tightly, thanking Felix.
"You're welcome, sweetie," Felix said
Lily snuggled back into my lap, holding her new toy close. Felix and I continued our conversation, occasionally pausing to play with Lily and her unicorn. As the night wore on and the wine bottle emptied, I found myself drawn to Felix.
Without thinking, I leaned in and pressed my lips to his. His response was immediate, and we kissed deeply, our bodies pressed together on the couch.
When we finally pulled away, both of us were breathless. Felix looked at me, his eyes filled with desire and affection. "Iris, I've wanted to do that for so long," he whispered.
"I know," I replied, my own heart pounding in my chest. "I feel the same way."
We looked over to Lily, who was now sound asleep again, cuddled up with her new unicorn toy. Felix and I exchanged a smile
"Iris, what if you and lily stay with me in my apartment?" Felix ask.
We were sitting on the couch, cuddled up together, and enjoying each other's company. Lily was playing with her new unicorn toy, sitting cross-legged on the floor in front of them.
"Iris, what if you and Lily stay with me in my apartment?" Felix suddenly asked, breaking the comfortable silence.
I looked at him, surprised by his question. "What do you mean?" I asked, unsure.
"I mean, what if we all live together, as a happy family?" Felix replied, his voice soft and sincere.
I felt my heart swell with emotion at Felix's words. I had been secretly hoping for something like this for a long time but had been too afraid to ask.
"Do you mean it, Felix?" I asked, looking at him with tears in her eyes.
"I do," he replied, taking her hand in his. "I want us to be together, as a family."
Lily looked up at us, sensing the seriousness of the conversation. "What are you talking about, Mommy?" she asked, curious.
"Daddy is asking if we want to live with him in his apartment and be a happy family," Iris explained, smiling down at her daughter.
Lily's face lit up with excitement. "Really? Can we, Mommy?"
Iris looked at Felix, feeling her heart overflow with love for him. "Yes, we can," she said, smiling through her tears.
Felix pulled her close, wrapping his arms around her and kissing the top of her head. "I promise we'll be happy," he whispered.
And at that moment, I knew that we would be. I had found a man who loved me and our daughter unconditionally and was willing to do whatever it takes to make us happy.
***
I was talking to Max on my phone and decided to share with her the news about me and lily moving in with Felix.
"I and Lily will be moving to Felix's apartment," I said, as I can't hide the smile on my face.
"Really? Oh my gosh, I can't wait for another mini Iris or Felix," she laughed on the other line.
I couldn't help but chuckle at Max's comment, knowing that my friend always had a way of injecting humor into any situation.
"But we're really grateful that Felix offered to let us stay with him. He wants us to be a happy, complete family."
"I'm really happy for you guys," Max said, her voice filled with sincerity. "You and Lily deserve a break, and I know Felix will take great care of you."
"I know he will," Iris replied, feeling a sense of relief wash over her. "He's always been such a kind and generous person."
"There's only one thing left," she chuckled on the other line.
"What is it?" I ask.
"A ring," then she chuckled once again.
"I don't want to pressure him," I said smiling while thinking about the possibility of having a ring on my finger.