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Ares tilted his head, looking at me with silvery, sparkling admiration. “I know.”
“I’m not sure you do. I don’t think you recognize the entirety of this even, son.”
“And why is that?” Ares kept his gaze on me.
“Well,” I started, feeling a little overwhelmed with all the arrangements I had to make to get everyone here. And now I was looking at a face my heart melted for. The one where I saw a future. For whom I’d do anything for.
Ares leaned in. “Do I need to fuck some sense into you again? You’re stammering. And staring.”
“I grabbed his shirt’s collar. “That’s because I love you.”
He tucked his lip between his teeth and grinned. God, I loved him even more when he got shy and very different from what he used to be. He was a big softie. He just didn’t want to admit it.
“I love you too,” he said, making my heart swell.
I let go of his collar, smoothing his shirt from wrinkles, and finally found the courage to tell him what I’d been planning for the last month. “That’s exactly why all these people are here.”
“You’re not going to propose, are you?” He pulled my hair so my lips almost synced with his small grin. Butterflies swarmed my belly. He didn’t seem to mind the part of being a fiancé too much.
“Not today,” I promised him breathlessly. A ring around my finger had always sounded scary. Lately? Not so much.
Ares’ breath whispered against my chin before he nibbled it. “Good. Because that’s kind of my job.”
“Uh-huh,” I closed my eyes, forgetting about the music in the background and the noise of people talking. “But I do have something for you, if you could stop teasing me.”
“Fine.” Ares let go of me and put his balled-up hands in his pockets. I bet it was because we hardly could keep our hands off each other now that we weren’t a secret anymore.
I turned around. “Priscilla. I think I’m ready.”
“About time,” she murmured, and conjured a black velvet pouch.
I left the group to grab a mic behind the bar and ordered the group of The Snake Zoo to stand on the small stage.
Nerves were a bitch. I cleared my throat and tried to remember my speech. I decided to cut it a little shorter than rehearsed. Dancing had never been a problem. Thousands of people could watch and judge me. Talking in front of a crowd—wasn’t it almost everyone’s phobia?
“Thank you all for coming tonight. A special thanks to Cary, my stepfather. Without his charm, half of you wouldn’t be here.”
“And my clean reputation,” Cary added loudly.
People laughed despite his notorious past.
I swallowed, turning towards a restless, frowning Ares. Probably because he didn’t like to be the center of attention, and he knew he was about to be.
“Okay, so, everyone attending knows what this night is about. First, I’m asking for a small applause for the staff of The Snake Zoo. I’ve seen and experienced their hard work, dedication, and love for injured snakes.”
They clapped, even the ones on stage. When it died down, I continued, “This night is your night. All these people around me”—I gestured at them with my arm—"are not only family and friends, as you’ve noticed. But they are very willing to keep the sanctuary above water. Let’s collect some money!”
While Ares ducked out of Priscilla’s embrace, the group whooped. I even saw Paul fist pump the air.
“And,” I stressed excitedly, “we’re about to witness the start of a new era.” I motioned for Cary to come over and handed him the pouch. “The honor is yours.”
Cary took the mic. “I think my stepdaughter summed it up pretty well. Your hands are golden, dudes. You work your fucking asses off to keep afloat.” People snickered. Of course, Cary had to throw in an F-bomb. “I admire y’all. But I need to get something off my chest, and I hope my son will take this from me today. If he could come a little closer.”
The plead in Cary’s voice was heartwarming. This was everything I’d wished for. And I hoped for our hearts, Ares wouldn’t deny his dad any longer. Especially in front of such a crowd.
Ares looked at me, accusing and unsure why I’d put him on the spot. He nodded, impatiently, wanting his father to continue. “Dad.”
The sentiment made Cary inhale sharply. I guess he still wasn’t used to being called that.
