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I’m nearly angry that she couldn’t see any of this, but at the same time, I can understand why she all of a sudden got cold feet and found herself questioning shit.
“Do you want to know what I really think this is?” I ask and pull the ring box I’ve been carrying around with me since I bought it in a jewelry shop the evening before we left the Bahamas. Three hours after I told Cleo that being in love with Maria felt like coming home.
I set it on the table and look at her. “That’s what I think this is. Forever. Me and you, getting married and spending the rest of our lives together. You are the only woman who makes me want to be a better man. Who makes me want to settle down and get married. Who makes me need all of the things I never thought I needed. You’re it for me, Maria.”
Tears stream down her cheeks, and she stares at the box on the table.
“I want that too,” she says, her tone just barely a whisper and her voice shaking with emotion. “I want that too, Rem. All of it. With you.”
In an instant, I close the distance between us and pull her into my arms and kiss her like my life depends on it. Because it does. She is my fucking life.
Her tears are salty against my tongue, but her mouth is just as hungry, just as desperate as mine. And the kiss feels like the only thing I’ll ever need for the rest of my life. I could live off this kiss. No water. No food. No sleep. Just Maria and her perfect lips against mine.
“I’m sorry,” she whispers through a stuttered breath and leans back to meet my eyes. “I just…I don’t know…I got scared. The idea of you not wanting what I want felt like a knife to my chest. I didn’t know if I’d survive it, and I just—”
I cut her off with another kiss.
“I love you, Maria,” I say against her lips and feel each word more than I have ever felt them for anyone. “Never for one second doubt that.”
“I love you too.”
“Thank fuck for that,” I mutter, and she giggles against my mouth. “By the way, you’re not getting that ring right now.”
She leans back to search my eyes.
“I’m going to propose to you, but not here. Not like this.”
“You’ve got big plans, Rem?”
I wink. “Something like that.”
She kisses me hard, and I don’t hesitate to pull her tighter to my chest, to the point that her legs are wrapped around my waist and my fingers are sliding through her hair.
Maria. My Maria. She is my real-life Maria in that Brooks & Dunn song. My gypsy lady, my miracle worker, the one woman who can set my soul free and on fire at the same time.
Eventually though, it’s apparent that we may be the only ones in the room, but we’re not the only ones in this house.
“Can…uh…we come in now and finish dinner?” someone asks from outside the door, and we both pause to look at each other.
Maria giggles. I grin. But before either one of us can answer, the dining room doors are swinging open and my whole damn family is standing there, big-ass grins on every single one of their faces. Winnie’s even holding Izzy up in our direction to make it look like she’s looking on with the rest of them.
“Fucking finally!” Jude shouts at the top of his lungs, but this time, my mom doesn’t bitch at his language choice.
Instead, she chimes in with an emotional, “I couldn’t agree more!”
She heads straight for us then, wrapping both Maria and me up in a hug. “Finally. Finally, you two realize what I’ve known all these years. You belong together.”
“Oh, c’mon, Wendy!” Ty calls out. “You weren’t the only one who knew!”
“Yeah, Mom!” Jude agrees. “Pretty sure we were all aware. A fucking blind man could’ve seen it coming since the moment Remy turned into a sap over Maria in high school!”
I wish I could tell them they’re all full of crap, but I’d be a liar. Deep down, back then, I knew Maria and I belonged together. And even though it’s taken me far too long to get my shit together and realize it, I’m here now. With her.
Forever.
Saturday, November 16th
Remy
“Oh my God,” Maria comments on a laugh when she realizes where I’ve taken her. “You’re finally taking me to your apartment.”
Izzy coos from her carrier that’s currently secured on Maria’s chest, even kicking her short legs a little.
“You did say you’ve never been in my apartment, so…” I grin over at her, knowing full well she doesn’t know the half of why I brought her here.
Maria just smiles, and I wrap my arm around her shoulders as we step inside my building and head toward the elevator. I discreetly wink at Dan the Maintenance Guy as I pass him in the lobby.
