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“I can’t wait to hear it,” Grace said, then glanced over at Veronica. “August and Veronica are playing the avoidance game again. What happened between them? She looks like she despises him.”
“He broke her heart, but this is not the time to talk about that,” I replied. “We’re celebrating your birthday.”
Renzo approached, looking starry-eyed. “I think I’ve found my soulmate!”
I chuckled. “Who’s the lucky girl this time?”
“Cristina,” Renzo confessed, glancing at Grace’s best friend with such adoration. “Please tell me she’s single, or my heart will be in perpetual despair.”
Grace winked. “As a matter of fact, she’s very much available.”
“Mamma mia—this is fantastic news!” Renzo exclaimed. “Excuse me while I prepare my finest wooing tactics.”
“Go for it,” I encouraged, then turned to Grace after he walked away. “Do you think Cristina would fall for a guy like Renzo?”
“Without batting an eyelash,” Grace assured. “She’s got a soft spot for romantic Italian men.”
“Here comes the cake, Your Highness,” Dante said.
This is the moment I’ve been waiting for.
I attempted to steady my breathing.
The candles were lit, and everyone gathered around the cake and sang to the woman who was minutes away from becoming my fiancée.
Dante’s voice indeed was heard over everyone else’s.
Grace smiled and even winked at him.
After she blew out the candles, everyone cheered, then Cristina asked, “Did you remember to make a wish?”
Grace nodded and glanced at me with the biggest smile. “I sure did. And it was a very good one.”
I moved toward Grace, ready to propose.
Out of nowhere, Mother stepped in front of me and said, “As long as we are celebrating, I guess this would be a good time to tell you that Sebastian and I are getting married.”
Paralysis set in. I was left standing there, dumbfounded. Congratulations, hugs, and kisses showered Mother and Sebastian, stealing the spotlight, but I refused to let this unexpected turn of events spoil my plans.
Then Enzo raised Aunt Honey’s hand, revealing yet another diamond ring. “My wish came true as well! We are getting married! Which means I’ll need to start taking extra vitamins and supplements to keep up with your boundless energy, my wild enchantress.”
“You got that right, my Italian sugar plum!” Aunt Honey said.
Enzo dipped her and kissed her passionately.
The cheers erupted once again—this time with laughter.
I felt a sense of impending doom.
Was this a conspiracy against my proposal?
I was on the brink of cardiac arrest as the engagements kept rolling in. My carefully orchestrated surprise proposal was slipping away. Dante shot me a sympathetic look, but there was no time to dwell on it.
Unfortunately, the announcements kept coming . . .
Next, Theo revealed that he was moving to Cambridge, Massachusetts to get his undergraduate degree in aerospace engineering at MIT.
I was happy for him but drowning in a sea of well-wishes. I wondered if my moment to propose would ever come.
