Page 128 of Líadan's Code

So I negotiated.

If Dr. Kurtz and my obgyn agreed that it wasn’t a good idea, we wouldn’t go.

My doctors vetoed that really quickly, insisting that it would be good for me. I may have a tiny issue with working too hard.

Now, I’m so excited that we’re here. I take naps daily, I’m taking it easy, and I’m loving the culture and atmosphere. Our daughter is happy in my stomach, and I haven’t quite hit the waddle stage.

I do, however, feel very large, since Alana is growing exactly the way she needs to. My belly is filling out my long maxi dress, and Jordan continually finds himself massaging my back without realizing it.

It feels really good. No complaints whatsoever.

“Should we go in after him?” I ask, lips twitching as I glance over at Jordan. His hazel eyes sparkle with mischief as he shrugs, leaving the ball in my court. I can’t tell from here what kind of store it is, until I vaguely see the word joyeria.

What is Brendan doing in a jewelry store?

“You’re no help,” I tease Jordan, rolling my eyes. The afternoon has a slight chill in the air, making me glad for the light denim jacket I have over my colorful boho dress.

Walking toward the door, I open it, intent on finding out what’s going on. If it was a surprise, Jordan would have told me to leave it.

“Hey,” I say to Brendan as I see him leaning over and speaking to the jeweler. We’ve been here for a month, and we’ve picked up a lot more Spanish than we thought we would.

It’s been easy to stay in Marbella at a rental as our base, and then travel by bus or train to explore for a day or two, depending on where we were going. I loved going to Seville and Madrid, seeing things I never would have been able to see before if I was still living under my father’s thumb.

Brendan turns with a grin, watching as I walk closer.

“I guess this is as good of a place as any,” he says, showing me a gorgeous four carat ruby ring. There’s the glint of diamonds that surround it, but I can’t tell for sure. He and Jordan drop to their knees in front of me, making me gasp.

Are they seriously doing this right now? The jeweler simply grins as he enjoys my shock, not even pretending not to watch us. Lips parted, I gaze down at the two crazy men in my life, ready to hear why they have such an incredible ring.

“Lía, you’ve been the girl in my life since you were practically born,” Brendan says with a small chuckle. “Your face was all scrunched up and pissed when I saw you, and I thought you were perfect. You were my best friend, until I realized that we were more. I love waking up to your face, experiencing life with you, and holding you in my arms.”

“And then I came along, hog tied and all,” Jordan says with a grin. “Princess, you’re a force of nature. Watching the way you navigate life, growing this baby inside of you, all of it feels like something I can’t live without. I have, you know, and it sucked. Brendan and I want to make you ours, officially.”

“Will you marry us?” they say the words together, but I’m already sobbing. It doesn’t take much to make me an emotional mess lately.

Sometimes, all it takes to set me off is to feel Alana moving in my stomach to make me cry. I never thought I’d be able to experience this.

“Yes,” I whisper, dropping to my knees beside them as they give out. Somehow, they manage to catch me, easing me down as they kiss my forehead, cheeks, and lips.

“How does this work… How?!”

“Señor Diego Carrillo de Albornoz helped a lot. I found his jewelry store when we first arrived in Marbella, and I came in to commission your ring,” Brendan explains.

Together, Brendan and Jordan push the ring onto my finger, and I gaze in awe. The ruby glitters in the light inside, the diamonds surrounding it as if they’re supporting its magnificence.

“Gracias,” I breathe, turning to look at the jeweler. He raises his hands humbly, telling me it was his pleasure to create such a gorgeous piece of jewelry. Leaving us to talk, still kneeling on the ground, he disappears into the back of the shop.

We look quite the sight, I’m sure.

“This is incredible,” I sniffle, brushing away more tears. “How can we get married? I’m not going to choose. That’s impossible.”

“I married Lennon and her husbands with a handfasting,” Jordan explains. “It’ll be just for us, but we want to marry you.”

“I want that too,” I say, nodding. “When?”

“Tomorrow?” Brendan says, shrugging. “We leave in a couple of days, and this is such a beautiful place for a wedding. Are you in?”

“I’m always in,” I tell him, nodding. “It’s us against the world.”

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