Page 92 of Joey

By the time they’d worked their way through the airport, grabbed their bags and found the cars they’d rented, it was getting late.

“Right,” Joey said when everyone had piled out of the car onto the driveway of the villa they had rented for their stay. “Get cleaned up and be back in this spot in an hour. Our first meal here is being spent at Amura!”

Everyone cheered, although he was sure they didn’t care as long as they were fed. Their friends disappeared, and Joey pulled Ethan into his arms.

“You spoil them,” Ethan said into his chest.

“They deserve it. We’ve all been through so much lately. It’s my way of thanking them.”

Ethan chuckled, pulling back to peer at him. “Paying for us all to come here was more than enough, I think.”

Joey shrugged. He didn’t see it as a waste of money. He saw it as a necessity, and he didn’t mind footing the bill. He had enough money to last him a couple of lifetimes, so why not use it on his friends?

They entered the villa and got sidetracked several times by things they saw along the way to their suite.

“I don’t know how I’m going to be able to leave here when the time is over.”

Joey slid his arms around Ethan’s waist and stared over his shoulder at the ocean view. “You’d like a villa to live in all the time?”

Ethan cocked his head. “Hmm. No, I probably wouldn’t. I wouldn’t want to take it for granted by being around it all the time.”

“I doubt you would, but I understand what you’re saying.”

Ethan twisted in his arms to face him. “I’m happy in our apartment above the shop.”

Joey dropped his head, joining their lips, and what started as a gentle kiss built to an inferno. Just like it always did when they kissed. Joey pulled back and rested their foreheads together.

“Let’s take a shower to clean off the travelling grime.”

Ethan smirked. “We’re going to be late, aren’t we?”

“Probably.”

They were. The rest of them were waiting in the extensive lounge area with drinks and a resounding cheer when they entered.

Joey gave them the finger and tugged Ethan closer. “You’d be the same if you had what I do.” He smacked a kiss on Ethan’s cheek. “Come on then. Dinner awaits.”

Joey had arranged for them to be driven to the restaurant so they could drink if they wanted to and not have to worry about having a designated driver between them. Amura was a sight to behold. A beachfront restaurant that served the freshest food straight from the ocean. The food was delicious, the drinks were divine, and the company was perfect.

But Joey had a plan, and only one other person knew about it. He met Ani’s gaze and nodded slightly, and she smiled and excused herself to the bathroom. She wasn’t going to the bathroom at all, but she was being his errand person. Five minutes later, she was back, settling into her seat again. She nodded back at him, and Joey’s heart raced. He tried not to let his nerves show because he didn’t want to ruin the surprise.

Half an hour later, when he was about to jump out of his skin, a special dish was delivered to the table and set in front of Ethan. The server lifted the lid and revealed an oyster shell.

“What’s that?” Kole asked.

Ethan peered at it. “It’s an oyster shell.” He glanced at Joey. “Isn’t it?”

Joey nodded, licked his lips and pushed his chair away. Taking a deep breath, he dropped to one knee beside Ethan, who covered his mouth with his hand.

“I wanted this to be special, and I remember the time you said that you would wait for me to ask. Well, I’m asking now. Ethan, will you marry me?” He had so much more he wanted to say, but the question was so much more important than him waffling on.

Ethan nodded, tears overflowing. “Yes! Of course, I will.”

Cheers and clapping sounded all around.

Joey gestured to the oyster. “Open it.”

Ethan wiped his eyes with his hands and opened the shell, revealing a gold band that was woven into a Celtic knot pattern. Over the past few months, they’d both figured out they loved those designs, and Joey had been drawing more and more for his wall. Ethan had already added another tattoo to his shoulder, a design Joey had created just for him again. Having a blank canvas to work on was addicting for Joey. He was sure he could find many new designs to fill his skin with.

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