“Five hours a day for the last three weeks. Usually more.”
“What about all your important meetings?”
“Nothing was as important as this. Nothing will ever be as important.” My throat’s so damn dry, my nerves so taut, that I can’t tell if I’m saying the right things or just making things worse. I can’t seem to read Yuna.
“Look, I know I screwed up. I shouldn’t have gone to that damn meeting. I thought that as soon as I left the damned thing because it wasn’t worth missing being with you on your special day.”
“It wasn’t about the party,” she points out.
“I know. It was about me putting other things ahead of you. You deserve a man who’s going to treat you like a princess—”
“Queen. I prefer to be a queen.” A corner of her lips twitches.
“I stand corrected. Treat you like a queen and make sure you know you’re loved.” I inhale shakily. This is it. I’m going all in. “I love you, Yuna.”
Her lips part, and the fingers on the keys tremble a little. “Then I guess it’s time for me to respond.”
She sits at the piano and plays. At first, my head’s too jumbled for me to recognize the piece. Then I realize it’s the waltz in C-sharp minor, the one Ivy said is Yuna’s other favorite.
Her eyes are on mine as the hauntingly beautiful melody flows from the grand piano. And as the notes pour out, her lips are slowly curving.
My pulse throbs, heart beating fast and uneven. All I hear is the loud boom of my blood roaring in my head, and all I can see is her gorgeous face, the brilliant light in her gaze.
When the last note ends, I let out an unsteady breath. “That was…perfect.”
Her smile widens. “And I love you too.”
All the warmth and love welling inside me, I rush to her and cradle her face and dip my head to kiss her. I taste what I’ve been craving since I first laid eyes on her—a heaven created just for me, the only place in the world where I belong.
Yuna stands up, and we press against each other more tightly. I put my hand on the small of her back and—
“Woohoo!”
Yuna jerks back at the loud cheering.
Her friends start pouring in. Bobbi brings in another cake, this one purple. Confetti goes up in the air.
I agreed to this when Ivy came up with the idea, and Nate and Court said I needed to do a makeup party. And Jo said the best time to do it would be right after Yuna took me back…if she took me back.
I have no freakin’ idea why I thought Jo’s idea of a party was good. This is the worst timing ever, because I’d rather be holding and kissing Yuna right now.
But my annoyance fades at the bright sparks of joy in her eyes. Everything’s perfect if she’s happy.
“Happy belated birthday,” I whisper, my forehead on hers.
“Another party?” She grins.
“Why not? Your birthday can never be celebrated enough.”
Wrapping her arms around my neck, she laughs. Then lays a loud, smacking kiss on my lips.
And we party with a good group of people who wish us the best.
Chapter Fifty-Eight
Declan
Two weeks later, I’m at LAX to join Yuna on her trip home to Seoul. I want to meet her parents and ask for their blessing. The ring is in my carry-on, and I plan to propose to her in her home country.