I rise as she places them before me, stepping into them. They’re one of the many things she had graciously purchased for me the day we all went shopping.
Both Matteo and I have had everything we could ever want. I almost feel undeserving of it all, like I’m not supposed to have any of these nice things. But they keep reminding me that I do, that I matter to them.
“Aren’t you glad you listened to me?” Chiara pops a hand on her hip. “That dress is hot.”
As I look at myself in the full-length mirror, I have to agree. The baby-blue dress she had spotted flatters my body well. Hopefully, Matteo returns soon so I can show him. He’s never seen me done up before. I wonder what he’ll think. Raquel didn’t go crazy with my makeup. I still look like me and that’s exactly who I want to be.
“Are you ready?” Chiara swings her arm around my shoulders.
“Ready for what?” I squint a gaze at her.
“You’ll see.” She shrugs, darting her eyes away with a curious turn of her mouth.
“What did you guys do?” I happen a glance at each of them and they suddenly all look suspicious.
“Trust me, you’ll love this surprise,” Raquel adds, walking toward the door with Jade and opening it for us.
We make it down the stairs, just as the doorbell rings.
“I wonder who that could be.” Jade laughs, biting the corner of her bottom lip, moving toward the door. With her hand on the doorknob, she looks at me, her eyes glistening, and my pulse kicks up, almost climbing out of my throat.
“Open it,” I whisper just as Chiara parts from me, and I stand there alone, staring at the door, wishing that the man I love is on the other side of it.
Jade pulls it open, and I see him…
Matteo.
Goose bumps skitter up my arms, my breath stilling in my lungs as I take him in, a bouquet of bright pink roses in his hand, a gray suit wrapped around his body. But the most beautiful thing about him is the dreamy smile he wears just for me.
My feet tread slowly toward him as he stands there, and in his eyes are the same flame of emotions burning in mine. This man, my man—my God, he’s beautiful.
His wide chest rocks up and down the more I stare at him, the more he stares at me, unable to peel our gaze off of one another. I’m drowning in the weight of my tumultuous emotions.
Tears form in my eyes, and I try not to cry. I try not to ruin my makeup, but I fail. Because it’s impossible to contain it all right now, and I don’t want to.
“Matteo…” I whisper, walking faster now, and he does too, practically running to me, throwing his arms around my back while mine envelop his neck.
“You look so damn beautiful,” he softly says against my ear, sending a jolt down my spine. I can’t believe this is even happening. That we’re together.
Finally.
We can go on as many dates as we want. Do whatever we want. No one will stop us.
My goodness. Is it truly over? After all this time? Is he really mine?
I pull back so I can find his eyes, needing them right now. “What is this?” I ask as he cups my cheek, the flowers in his other hand.
“There was so much I’ve wanted to do with you one day. And I don’t want to wait anymore, baby. I want us to start today.” His throat bobs as he continues, never separating his eyes from mine. “I don’t want to live in the past, I want to live in the now, in the future.” He pauses, slanting his forehead to mine. “I love you more than I could ever describe, and I don’t think I’ll ever deserve someone as amazing as you, but there’s no way in hell I’ll ever let you go.” His voice crumbles with a deep ache, and I feel it right in my chest. This love, this connection we share, no one will ever break it.
“How many times do I have to tell you?” I draw back, wanting him to see me, really see me. “You’re the most wonderful man I could ever meet. You did what you had to do to survive. You’re not them, Matteo. Do you hear me?”
He nods.
“Say it,” I tell him. “Say it for me.”
The back of his hand brushes down my cheek as his mouth forms a genuine smile. “I’m not them. I never will be.”
“That’s right. Now”—I place my hand on his other—“may I have my flowers, please?”