“No, but if you don’t hurry up, you’ll be late for your ownevent.” He draws quotes with his fingers.
“It’s not anevent.”
He taps his chin. “You hired anevent managementcompany to set this up. I’m pretty sure it is.”
When I reach the garden, everything is exactly as I requested. Twinkle lights illuminate the bushes. There’s a table right by the fountain with candlelights and classical music. For an exorbitant amount of money, they would’ve gotten me a string quartet. Knowing that it was my brother and his friends, I declined. We don’t need any witnesses.
The jitters in my stomach are almost the same as a teenager about to ask the most popular girl in school to a formal dance. The nerves increase as I see her, wearing a little black dress and her hair made up into a fancy bun.
She grins when she spots me. I can’t wait for her, I run. I actually run like an old cheesy movie.
“What is this?”
“Dinner.”
“No wonder they told me to dress up nicely, just in case…” She chuckles, and I think she’s just as nervous as I am.
“You look gorgeous.” I press my lips to hers, gently.
“This is a nice surprise. You promised you’d take me to the best place in town for our next date.”
“Yes, but not before this,” I say, pulling out the ring Myka helped me design for Siobhan. I drop on one knee and take a deep breath.
Siobhan’s eyes light up, and the tips of her fingers almost touch her lips.
“I was a stupid man,” I begin my speech. “But I want to think I learned from my mistakes. I’mnot saying I regret the past three years of our lives—I loved and will relish every moment we spent together. They’re the best so far, but now that I know better, I want more.
“Nights holding you while I tell you how much I love you, days living unlimited adventures, and a lifetime creating a family together.”
I take a breath, letting the nerves out and getting ready for one of the most important questions of my life.
“Siobhan Walters, would you do me the honor of being my wife, spending an eternity by my side, and letting me love you like only you deserve?”
A tear slips down her cheek. I hold up the ring, close to her finger. “With this ring I promise to be the man you need. The guy who’ll hold you when there’s a storm, who’ll carry you when you don’t have strength, and who’ll never let you go no matter the circumstances.”
“Yes, a million times yes,” she says in between happy sobs as I slide the ring on her finger, sealing a promise of forever.
Epilogue
Siobhan
We’reon the site where they’re building our new house in Seattle. Iskander is a man of many talents, but one of them isn’t being minimalistic.
My husband bought a house in Brooklyn. We’re building another in Luna Harbor, and well, there’s this one. It’s all about having a place to stay, depending on where we’re needed.
He blames me.
I finally convinced Mr. Cantú—I mean, Abuelo—to open a brewery in Seattle and another one on the East Coast. We’re still looking for the right place to set that up. He’s humoring me since soon I’ll have to deal with the consequences of my suggestions on my own.
According to Iskander, that’s code for I’m the next one in line to become the owner of Wicked Luna. Nothing will make me happier than to continue the Cantú legacy.
Neither he nor his siblings plan on doing so. Well, Efren is buying the garage. However, he’s not living in Luna Harbor. He’s going back to his old life but promised to come often and visit everyone.
Myka is staying, for now, helping Uncle Gary with the tattoo parlor. However, she has plans to move to Seattle soon.
A couple months after transporting Anya to Oregon, we lost her. It was one of the most devastating days of my life. As promised, Iskander held me while I grieved. But her memory lives on with Rumi. We will forever have a piece of her. She’s the most amazing little girl and we adore our niece—and spoil her as much as we’re allowed. Mitch moved back to Colorado with her.
My husband is the best and he’s promised to take me to see her as often as we can.