I would have bet the sun and stars we were headed somewhere we’d already been. Rodrigo was a nostalgic person through and through, and he especially liked to visit the past when it came to special occasions.
It was the biggest surprise I’d had in a long time, then, when Rodrigo’s driver dropped us off in front of a restaurant I hadn’t even known existed.
“Hold on.” I held my hand up, making a scene of being dramatic. “This isn’t one of our regular places.”
He shrugged, almost looking sheepish. “Tonight is a new beginning. I wanted to start it off fresh in every way possible.”
“A new beginning?” I stared at him as we walked into the restaurant, but he didn’t give me anything.
We were seated at a table lit only by candles, our knees so close that they skimmed each other. Rodrigo’s comment on new beginnings still spun in my head, to the point that I couldn’t even read the menu.
“What did you mean by new beginnings?” Finally giving up, I put the menu down.
He took my hand. “It is our first anniversary.”
“Six-month anniversary,” I corrected. Did six months really count?
He nodded, completely serious. “Yes. I couldn’t wait until our one-year.”
“What do you mean?”
His throat rolled with a swallow, and I realized that he was nervous.
“Georgia, you are… my family. The love of my life.” His eyes softened. “I cannot explain to you the regret I held during the years we were separated. Every day, I wished that I could go back and change my actions.”
Tears filled my eyes, and I placed my hand over his. “You don’t have to do that. We were given a second chance.”
“Yes,” he rasped, “and I am grateful for it every day.”
“Me, too.” I blinked back the tears, not keen on crying in a restaurant, surrounded by other people.
“I have something…” He licked his lips. “That I planned on giving to you later…”
“O-kay.” I cocked my head in interest. “Now you can’t make me wait,” I laughed.
He grinned in that goofy, schoolboy way that I loved. “What if I chose to?”
I playfully swatted his shoulder. “Then I’ll get you with a dart gun when we get home.”
“You’re no match for me.”
“I am if you’re sleeping.”
He chuckled, his fingers skimming a line up the top of my arm. “Looks like I’ll be sleeping with one eye open from now on.”
A waiter appeared with a bottle of champagne, though to the best of my memory, Rodrigo hadn’t ordered a bottle. Frowning in confusion, I looked at him.
“Ah. Yes.” Rodrigo sat a little straighter. “Tonight is a celebration. I called ahead.”
The waiter poured us two flutes of the sparkling drink, and we clinked them together.
“Georgia.” His hand found mine once more. “You are everything I ever wanted. I wake up every morning amazed at my life.”
“I know how you feel,” I whispered.
“I never want this to change. I want us to be this way forever.”
Letting go of my hand, he got on one knee in front of me. I gasped, my hand covering my mouth in surprise.