“I’m a master of misdirection,” he says.
I’m about to ask what he means when he pushes the door open.
The studio has changed, the city backdrop replaced with a series of lightbulbs against a black wall. It gives the room a dark cozy feel.
The bulbs are off, the only light coming from behind us.
“What is this?” I ask, turning.
Felix steps forward, wrapping his arms around me. “I love you.”
I gasp, and he smiles broadly, so much affection – no, love – in his expression I want to weep.
“I love you,” he repeats, hugging me tightly as we gaze into each other’s eyes. “All my life, I’ve been trying to capture something perfect and flawless. And I’ve found it in you….”
He steps back and starts lowering himself to one knee.
I leap forward giddily, touching his hands. “Wait. I love you too. So much.”
He chuckles, leaning down, brushing his lips across mine. “I just can’t wait to ask you this question.”
Kneeling down, he reaches into his pocket. My heart is like a camera flash going off over and over, the light spreading through me, into the past, so nothing seems as bad as it once did, into the future, so everything seems welcoming and warm and ours.
When he opens the ring box, I feel tears in my eyes. They slide down my cheeks slowly as I take in its beauty, the full diamond set within the elegant band.
“Faye Allen, you’re the woman of my dreams. You’re the only person I ever want to be with. Ever. And I love you so much it hurts thinking about being apart from you.”
“I love you too,” I whisper, pushing the words past my sobs.
“Look behind you,” he says softly.
“Behind me?”
“Go on.”
I turn to find the bulbs lit. I can make out their shape now.
They spell a phrase.
Will you marry me?
“Yes!” I yell, spinning back to him. “Yes, yes, freaking yes.”
He chuckles joyfully and slides the ring onto my finger.
Then we kiss, more passionate than ever before, sinking into this sweet feeling of belonging.