“Okay, girlfriend,” I say in a rueful tone. “Have a good time tonight.”
With that, my boyfriend helps me up, and we hug the three of them goodbye. “Thanks for everything today,” I murmur with a wave. “Can’t wait to see you again!”
“Call if you need anything,” my mom says while holding her hand up to her ear in the age-old gesture of telephone.
“Same,” Alyssa sings. “Byeee!”
I smile, pressing both hands to my lower back, as Cyrus walks our guests to the door. I take a grateful seat on the couch, resting my aching knees, and look around. The living room’s covered with gifts and wrapping paper, but it’s okay. We’ll clean tomorrow.
When Cyrus reappears, he’s holding a small blue bag in one hand. “Looks like we missed one of the gifts.”
I smile up at him. “Why don’t you open it, hon? I’ve opened more than enough presents for one day.”
My gorgeous boyfriend smiles, reaches into the bag, and then pulls out a small velvet box. My eyes go wide as he slowly drops down to one knee in front of me and I struggle to sit up on the couch, my breath catching in my throat, because in his hand is the most beautiful ring I’ve ever seen. An enormous diamond sparkles on a gold band, and tears fill my eyes because it can only mean one thing.
Sure enough, Cyrus takes my palm in his and begins to speak.
“Josie, I’ve been searching for the right woman my whole life, and I’ve made some mistakes along the way. Now that I’ve met you, I know what true happiness is, and I want to keep this feeling with me forever. I want to keep you with me forever because you’ve given me so much already. Will you marry me, sweetheart? Will you make me the happiest man in the world?”
Tears roll down my face, but they’re happy tears, and I nod through my blurry vision.
Cyrus smiles, his handsome face filled with hope. “Is that a yes?”
“Yes. Yes. A million times, yes. I would love to marry you. I love you,” I cry before leaning forward to kiss him. Then, the CEO slips the diamond onto my finger and gives me another kiss. “I can’t wait to spend the rest of my life showing you and our daughter how much you mean to me,” he breathes. “Thank you for being mine, sweetheart, and for believing in me despite all the bullshit we went through. I love you.”
With that, the next chapter of our life opens and I smile through my tears with anticipation. After all, this man was once my stepsister’s dad, and the fact is that he still is. Cyrus, Josie, Marilyn, and I are in a familial relationship that defies explanation, but it works for us, and that’s all that matters. What happened in the past is in the past, and now that I have my man, I thank my lucky stars again and again for bringing him to me.
THE END