the way his lips curl up when he smiles

 the arch of his nose

shaving his neck between haircuts

when he brushes my hair

the way he makes me feel small, and warm, and loved when he wraps his arms around me

laughing until i can’t breathe

he teaches me to fish

and takes care of my guns and trucks

his denim-blue eyes, with one in a half-wink

the smell of him, even after he’s gone

sharing the mountains with him

the way he kisses his daughters on the tops of their heads

his relationship with his parents

when he quietly admits that he likes my hot rod truck too, even if it’s not a ford

how the cat loves him so, even when he torments him

scratching his back, and him scratching mine

how i don’t have to feel afraid to express my opinion, not any of them

that even though i’m the morning person, he’s the one willing to cook breakfast

his strong hands

silly text messages during the day

curling up together in our sleep

holding hands in public, like teenagers

piles of kids on him on the couch

he can build anything

road trips

that we have a future

and i know he loves me

and he knows i love him