Page 95 of Finding the Pieces

She looks up, resting her chin on my chest, and her smile reaches her eyes. “It feels different, but not in a bad way. I can’t stop thinking of the people we were then. How much those two would go through together and how strong they’ll make each other.”

“What would you say to us, knowing what you know now?” I ask.

“I would tell you to calm down and to stop acting so nervous, because the girl isintoyou.”

“I wanted everything to be perfect for you.”

“Maybe I liked that it wasn’t perfect. Maybe it was perfect for us,” she says.

“And what would you have told yourself?” I swallow my nerves, needing to know.

“I would have told her…to grab onto that man by the ridiculous T-shirt he was wearing and never let go. I would have told her that her life with you will be filled with laughter, passion, and understanding. I would have told her that her life was just beginning and that even the hard days she’ll face will be easier with you by her side.”

“I want you to be happy, Ellie.”

“I am. I promise, I am.” Her fingers dig into my skin and she leans against me. I welcome it, the closeness a reassurance to my heart that her words are true.

We dance quietly for one more song, holding one another before we split dessert and settle our bill. I think I can safely assume where we’re headed to end our night.

***

“This next song is for Dominic from Ellie,” the pianist announces into his microphone.

Ellie and I are at the same dueling piano bar from years ago. We haven’t been back since and I have no idea why. I forgot how much fun the environment is. Ellie and I spent the last hour throwing out requests with heavy tips for the musicians as they show off their talents, and we scream-sing along to our favorite songs. I have no idea how they perform with this much spontaneity in their set, but I’m as impressed as I was last time.

“What’s it going to be, Ellie?” I shout over the noise of the crowd and the two pianists running their fingers over their keys, warming up for the next song.

Ellie smirks over the rim of her glass before taking a sip. “You’ll see.”

The familiar, upbeat chorus of “Marry You” by Bruno Mars sounds through the bar, and I slide my chair closer to Ellie’s so I can tuck her under my arm and kiss her temple. “This is a surprise. I don’t remember this one from last time.”

“Because it’s new. Think of it as an homage to what you told me the last time you brought me here.”

This is probably the part of the date I get the most grief over with our friends.

“But it’s my turn to say it,” she adds.

She must catch the surprise in my expression because she laughs and leans in closer, her lips brushing my ear as she speaks over the noise of the bar.

“Dominic Moretti, I’m going to marry you.”

My face explodes into a smile and I wrap Ellie tightly into my side and feel her, more than hear her, laughing against my body.

“I believe this is the part where you asked me how I could possibly know that,” I say.

“And you said it was the surest you’ve ever been about anything in your entire life.”

“And then you called me crazy and kissed me stupid.”

“Yeah, I think I did,” she says, her eyes bouncing between my stare and my lips. I don’t hesitate. I take her face in my hands and do the very same thing.

Chapter fifty-one

Dom

“Ready for pillow talk?” Ellie asks, standing next to my side of the bed. I’m sitting against the headboard, reading on my phone, one leg stretched out and the other bent.

Tonight was the most perfect date I’ve ever been on. Well, since the first time we went on it, I guess.

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