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“I guess I just feel I lucked out, meeting Aiden. If I hadn’t?—”
“I saw lots of artists in that gallery, Marin. Your art is selling because it’s good. None of this has been easy. You lost your husband and suffered through years of grief. You worked in a career you hated. Don’t pawn your success off as luck. Own that shit.”
I pressed my lips together, trying to contain my smile. She never beat around the bush. “Okay.”
“Okay, good. Now, are any of these men in here single?”
I laughed as we huddled together, looking out at the crowd.
“Everyone!” Billy’s loud voice boomed through the restaurant. “The final results are coming in.”
I looked over at Macon, just as his eyes met mine.
I didn’t even bother saying good-bye to Elena. I just set the food down and ran over to him. My heart hammered in my chest.
“No matter what,” I said, my eyes meeting his, “I love you.”
He grinned, squeezing my hand. “I love you, too.”
We both looked up at the screen and waited.
Cheers erupted around the restaurant.
I looked over at Macon’s shocked face as he stared at the screen.
“You won!” Billy hollered. “You fucking won!”
Macon’s arms wrapped around me, and he lifted me as everyone cheered.
He set me down, his eyes blazing.
“I’m so proud of you!”
“Speech!” someone yelled.
A few others echoed the sentiment as a chorus of laughter echoed across the restaurant. I stepped out of the way to allow him a moment in the spotlight, but he grabbed my hand, keeping me in place.
“I know you all want a speech,” he said. “But I had a little something else planned.”
The room went silent as he turned toward me.
He looked at me with a mixture of anticipation, joy, and love.
Before I could ask what he was doing, he dropped to one knee.
But this time, I didn’t panic.
This time my heart quickened for an entirely different reason.
And this time, I said…yes.
* * *
