“Don’t worry, Bambina,” He persuades me, taking my hand and drawing me close. “We’re leaving together.”
I nod, but that doesn’t answer my question and he knows it. “I don’t know what you guys have planned, but-”
Roman clears his throat and cups my face. “You know I love you, Sophia.”
“I love you too,” I say, leaning into his hand and giving up on getting answers. “I’m so glad we came here instead of a club or somewhere loud. This is a perfect place.”
“With you it is.” Then he sinks down on one knee.
I take a step back, taking him in. No. I’m not ready. I’m going to cry; I just know it and I didn’t put on any waterproof makeup. I suck in a harsh breath as my knees shake.
He flashes a loving smile and opens a little black box with a gorgeous ring inside. Emeralds on either side of a glinting diamond. The same ring I saw in his luggage weeks ago. “Which is why I want to-”
“Yes!” I yell, unable to control myself.
He chuckles. “I still have to ask.”
I nod and cover my mouth with my hand. “Even though we only asked Valerie for permission, I can’t wait to deal with a conversation with your parents. I want to ask you to marry me. I promise to make you happy, to cook with you every week, and to always put your needs ahead of work. I want to give you the world Sophie, or whatever I can to keep you smiling and laughing. Even if that means regular game nights.”
My eyes water. He hates game nights.
“So, will you give me forever as long as I promise to remind you every day why I deserve your love? Will you marry me?”
A sob in my chest blocks the word, so I nod and offer him my hand. He puts his ring on my ring finger and sweeps me up in a kiss that threatens to make me flatline right there. Before I can get carried away and start pawing at him, he releases me and guides me further into the gardens, where Orchids are in bloom.
“Where are we going?” I ask.
He smiles and kisses my cheek before urging me forward. Once I’m surrounded by flowers and vines, he slips away, leaving me with … Nick. Oh god. I wave my hand at my face and shake my head. “I can’t.”
I barely kept myself from sobbing earlier. My emotions are just taking over and I don’t think I have it in me to do four of these without becoming a blubbering mess.
Nick doesn’t care. He drops to his knee and shows another ring, a diamond, but it’s classic, simple, elegant. So much like him. My lips tremble as he takes an unsteady breath. “I never thought I’d be ready for marriage.”
“It’s okay,” I tell him.
“But I know I want you, Sophie. I love all the things we share together, how you push me to be myself and remind me that who I am can still change. I love seeing you grow and enjoy the big things and the little things. I will always support you, always have the hard talks with you and promise not to stay at the office later than seven.”
I sniff as tears cloud my eyes. “Nick.”
“We can see every museum in the world if you want, but I can’t promise I’ll remember a single piece of art if you’re there. You are the only future I’m sure about. Sophia, will you marry me?”
The ugly crying is starting to make an appearance. “Yes.”
He slips his ring on my middle finger, then hugs me tightly, crushing me against him. I cry against his shoulder. “I can’t handle all of you doing this.”
“I don’t think you have a choice, sweetheart.” He laughs, but it’s rough.
He leads me to another section of the greenhouse with a koi pond where Holden waits. Nick kisses my hand, leaving me with him. I walk the rest of the distance alone until Holden takes my hands and has me sit with him instead of standing.
He kisses my cheek softly and whispers his proposal in my ear. “You calm my nightmares, know me better than anyone, and make talking easy. I can be in a room stuffed with people, and as long as you’re there I’m safe and happy. I want to be your hero, Sophie, but the truth is that you’re mine. Every day I get to love you is a miracle.”
I wipe at my eyes.
“Please, keep loving me every day and I promise you that I will spoil you as much as you spoil me. Marry me?”
I hush a sob and nod. Holden puts an opal ring set in a gold band on my pinky finger. God, they’re going to claim a whole hand. He kisses me in that lazy, delicious way that makes my blood hot. Before I can break out into complete sobs, he motions me to go to the butterfly area.
One more. I can get through one more before I lose the ability to string a sentence together, right?