I snap my fingers. “That’s him. Both of those people. Nathan…how about what I told you about Jake’s brother’s wedding?”
“You said you weren’t sure he was going to take you, because it was intimate and family only, but he knew how much you care about his family, and you got separate rooms…” My brother blinks. “In hindsight, that doesn’t sound like something a boyfriend does.”
“To be honest, it doesn’t sound like something a boss does, either.” That’s my father, who’s been silent all this time. “Son, I’m not sure I believe that your intentions toward my daughter were pure when you were her employer.”
“Dad, I know you mean well, but that’s kind of beyond the point right now.”
Jacob winces. “It’s fine. Sir—”
“No!” I clap my hands together, desperate to keep control of this conversation. “Jacob. You asked me to tell you about him. Jake. This boyfriend I invented. But what is there to tell you? He is you. He has always been you. I didn’t make up some random guy and give him your name. I just told them all the things I love about you, and left out the parts that didn’t make any sense, because deep down, I think I knew we’d get here eventually. Just not…here. I definitely didn’t picture doing this in front of my family. And they don’t get a say in how much I love you. That’s my call. I love you. I loved you when you were Jacob Lowe, my boss, and I triple hard love you now that you’re Jake, my boyfriend.”
He blinks at me. “Jake. I like it.”
I grin. “I love it.”
He tugs on my ponytail. “I love you.”
“And I love you. So much.”
“But…”
“No buts.”
He laughs. “Listen to me. I’ve never been your boyfriend.”
“I know but—”
He leans in. “No buts from you. Shhh.”
I hush.
And then he sinks down on one knee.
This time, he’s wearing pants. I frown. “Did you need pockets for this?”
He laughs at me as he holds up a breathtaking diamond solitaire, that is catching all of the Christmas lights and glinting almost as bright as Jake’s eyes. “Yeah, baby. I needed a pocket.”
“So this morning when you got dressed, you…”
He nods.
I can’t breathe. I’m grinning like a fool. “I thought we agreed to wait.”
“We did.”
“That was like, twelve hours.”
“A lifetime, I assure you. Now, can I ask the question, or do you want to argue some more?”
“Are we arguing?”
My family, who had fallen silent after I clapped my hands, all answer that in unison. “Yes!”
Jake grins. “Sienna Gibb, will you marry me? Will you make me the happiest man in the—”
“Yes!”
“Let him finish. He’s got some things to say,” my mom says, but I’m already throwing myself on him.