“Oh!” I hear the gasp behind me as Perez Hilton notices the display. “Isn’t that romantic?”
Glancing down at Bella, I can see her wide, delighted smile. She's rapt, watching the building expectantly. I want to watch her face, to see every changing expression. But I also want to see what she sees and I force myself to look away.
As soon as I look at the building, the heart begins to change. Some windows go dark, some go light. Some are blue. The pattern melts and then reforms, gradually ordering itself into words.
MARRY.
ME.
BELLA.
The thousands of onlookers gasp simultaneously. Bella gasps. I barely stop myself from gasping.
She turns to face me, pulling away slightly. Her face is shining, her smile wistful and delighted.
“Emmet… did you do that for me?”
I reach into my pocket, drawing out the black velvet box and opening it for her. Then, though I thought that I wouldn't, I drop to one knee in front of her, holding the ring and hoping she'll take it.
“Bella Cage, you’re the most magical thing that's ever happened to me. I want to spend my life making magic for you. Will you marry me?”
Perez Hilton yelps, clapping his hands over his mouth.
Bella just smiles. With slightly trembling hands, she reaches out and plucks the ring from its box, sliding it on her finger and holding it out to look at it. I take her hand in mine and drive it to my lips, kissing her smooth skin gently, then standing up so I can kiss her on the mouth. I feel the ring when her hand slides up the backs of my arm and she kisses me back, holding me tightly. I feel the slight coolness of that metal band and wonder at the magic of all this.
Suddenly, everyone begins to applaud. We pull apart and glance back up at the building to see that the message has changed. Now it reads, “SHE SAID YES!”
“Well, this is really just wonderful!” Perez announces. “We need more champagne!”
Applause rings out, echoing across the water back and forth. Thousands of people wish us well, waving, clapping, yelling for us. I look quickly at Dillon, who is beaming broadly. He really did outdo himself this time. It is the perfect amount of spectacle and magic, every bit she deserves.
Bella raises an arm overhead, displaying the ring which people probably can’t see, exactly, but they seem to appreciate anyway. While she did tell me that it should be able to be seen from space, it turns out that there actually is an upper limit for a “tastefully absurd” number of carats.
The captain slowly circles the boat back down the river, depositing us on our private dock, wishing us well along with the other two crewmembers. Bella clings tightly to my arm, smiling and nodding at everyone, looking dazzled and delighted and all the other things that she should look.
It really is like a fairytale, in a lot of ways. I didn't ever expect this sort of thing, but now here it is. It feels so good, I don’t want it to end.
Perez makes his way back to his waiting limousine, promising us that his photos are spectacular, and his commentary will be even better. He knows this story should get him a lot of advertisers as long as he can get it on his site before everybody on that bridge posts their own version.
Time is money, after all.
We wave at the taillights of his limo as he drives away, and each heave a sigh of relief. Cars speed by on Lower Wacker, just thirty feet away or so. They're all oblivious, but we won't have this kind of privacy for very long.
“That really was wonderful!” she sighs. “I don't see how anybody could ever have asked for a proposal more perfect than that one. Thank you so much!”
“And what about me? Are you thanking me?” Dillon asks, nudging closer.
She bites her lower lip, winking at him suggestively. “You know every camera on that bridge is pointed at us right now. But I would like to see with you clothes off, just as soon as we get back to the pentho
use. Fair enough?”
“I'll take what I can get,” he shrugs. But he's happy, I can tell. He's very proud of himself right now.
“And you!” she smiles, turning back to me. “You were so convincing! I totally believed that… well, almost. Good job!”
My mouth goes a little bit dry. “Well… you know me. Mr. Prepared.”
She picks up her left hand, sliding the ring from her finger. Making sure her hand is hidden behind her body and away from anybody who might see the gesture, she slides the engagement ring back off and holds it between her thumb and forefinger, staring into it for a few long seconds.