Joseph lifted his phone and snapped a photo of my antics.
“That was sneaky,” I accused.
He grinned, unrepentant. “Marco will want to draw it later. I’m being helpful.”
I let out a long, blissful sigh and turned my attention back to the vista that’d appeared in my dreams dozens of times in the last few months. The view from the terrace of the Excelsior Vittoria hotel was even more stunning than I remembered. I wasn’t sure if my mind was capable of properly storing such a memory.
Marco came to stand beside me, slipping his hand into mine.
“You know how you love that devil’s food cupcake from Amelie’s bakery?” I asked him.
He glanced at me, puzzled. “Yeah.”
“Do you think that your memory of how good it tastes ever compares to that first hit of chocolate icing on your tongue? There’s the knowledge that it’s delicious, but that’s nothing compared to the reality of the flavor.” I drew in a deep, awed breath. “That’s how I feel about this place. It just feels…magical.”
He beamed at me. “I’m glad you feel that way, babygirl. I think Joseph’s glad, too.”
He tilted his chin, directing me to look to my right. All the air left my chest in a rush.
Joseph was down on one knee, a black velvet box in his hand. My heart soared and stuttered. I glanced at Marco. “But you…” I couldn’t find the right words. This scene was like something out of my wildest fantasies, but Marco had to be part of it for it to be perfect. I didn’t want a life of pretending to be Joseph’s wife while Marco hid in the shadows. He needed more than that. He deserved more than that.
He reached for me and pressed a red velvet box into my hand. “I got one for you too.”
He didn’t get down on one knee, but that wasn’t his style. Marco and I were more private with our intimacy, whereas Joseph loved grand public gestures. I loved them both.
“You sure know how to make a man nervous.” Joseph laughed, and I whirled to face him.
“Oh my gosh! Yes!” I burst out, eager to soothe him with my answer. He’d been down on one knee for several seconds, and we were attracting an audience.
Marco chuckled. “You haven’t even seen the ring yet.”
“The ring doesn’t matter,” I declared, staring into Joseph’s aquamarine eyes. “My answer is yes.” I turned to Marco, meeting his obsidian gaze. “My answer is yes.”
Marco opened the red velvet box to reveal a brilliant round cut diamond in a simple, elegant platinum setting. Joseph stood and crowded closer, showing me his offering: two stackable infinity bands of princess cut diamonds, shaped to surround Marco’s ring.
“It’s perfect,” I declared, holding out my hand to accept their claim. “You’re perfect. I love you both so much.”
“I love you, angel.”
“I love you, babygirl.”
The three rings slid into place on my finger, marking our eternal love. All three of us. Together forever.