Thankgodthat stupid cast is gone. Still, I’m a bit wobbly on my feet, and it feels good to lean into him.
“You’re good at this,” I murmur, tilting my head up to meet his gaze.
“I’ve had practice,” he replies, his lips curving into a faint smirk.
His hand tightens slightly on my waist, drawing me closer as we turn. “You’ve always been stubborn,” he says, his tone teasing.
“You’ve always been impossible,” I shoot back, a soft laugh escaping me.
“And yet, here we are.”
“Yes,” I whisper, my chest tightening with emotion. “Here we are.”
When the dance ends, he doesn’t release me. Instead, he pulls me even closer, his forehead pressed against mine. The crowd claps and cheers, but his next words are just for me.
“You’re my everything, Polina.”
My breath catches, and I press my hand to his chest, reassuring even myself with the steady beat of his heart.
“I love you, Rafail.”
And for the first time… I feel the certainty of forever.
“You know,” I say softly, my fingers entwined with his. I swallow hard, not sure exactly how to say what I need to tell him.
“What’s that?” His dark eyes bore into mine. I don’t know if I’ll ever get used to his intensity.
“Maybe…nine months from now or so…” I let my voice trail off. I can’t really speak. I’m all choked up, unsure of how to continue.
“Nine monthswhat,Polina?” His hands frame my face, his gaze glued on mine.
I don’t trust myself to speak above a whisper. “Maybe… we can well and truly marry the two families together by blood.”
“Do you mean…?”
I laugh, even through unshed tears, as I nod. He raises his glass as if to cheer, then lowers it and pulls me to his chest.
“It’s our little secret, for now. Let’s keep something that’s just ours, for this little while.”
My heart swells. “Ilovethat. Yes, please.”
He kisses my cheek. “Za novyye nachinaniya i schastlivyye kontsy,”he whispers.
I kiss him back and smile. “To new beginnings and happy endings.”
THE END
