Page 75 of Ms. Lead

Tears are starting to well in her eyes, and I need to act. The problem is that I wrapped my jacket around Bianca’s shoulders.

I need what is in the pocket.

“This is going to sound a bit odd, but could you reach into the inner pocket there…?” I point to the left side of the jacket.

She gives me a curious look as she wipes at her tears before they fall. I’m hopeful that what she’ll find will chase away further tears.

Reaching into the inside pocket, she pulls out a small velvet box and then stares at me, expressionless.

Well, shit, that’s not helpful.

“Bianca. I have fucked this up since day one. And here we are seven months later, and I’m still fucking it all up. I have fought against ‘love at first sight,’ ‘destiny,’ ‘soulmates,’ and even the entire universe at times, trying to deny that this could be real. That you could be real.” I take the box from her hands and open it, holding it out to her. “I hope you’ll forgive my not getting on a knee, but I’m afraid I won’t be able to get back up after all the traveling I've done.”

A hand flies to her mouth, and the tears are back, but she turns her eyes to me, and I think I see the same love I feel for her, so I go on.

“The last six months have shown me exactly how much you have affected me. I was lost. Adrift. Determined to stay in the in-between. Not alive. Not dead. Just barely existing. You brought me back from that oblivion. You showed me that things can be different. My life isn’t over. It’s just beginning. But I want to spend the rest of it with you because now I can’t imagine it without you.”

Suddenly, there is a commotion around us, and Bianca and I both notice a crowd has formed to watch the spectacle that is my current proposal. This is entirely unexpected, and I hope it doesn’t put undue pressure on her to say yes.

“You can say no, Bianca,” I whisper. Making sure she knows that the crowd around us should hold no sway on her decision.

“What about children?” she whispers, and when she leans away, I see the concern and hope that is holding her back, and I am so glad I can answer her how she wants me to, honestly.

I pull her closer, positioning my mouth next to her ear, so she hears me clearly. “As many as you can handle. And I’m more than ready to start on that endeavor as soon as possible.”

Her eyes meet mine, and I see it. All of my dreams are about to come true. She nods so emphatically that I think she might hurt herself. I take the ring out of the box and am suddenly nervous, but I’ve never been more sure about anything in my life. I need to do this before the crowd turns on us.

“Will you make me the happiest man in Italy, except for maybe your cousin’s new husband, of course, and marry me, Bianca?”

There is no hesitation from her at all, and my heart overflows as she answers.

“Yes.”

Epilogue

BIANCA

(THERE IS) NO GREATER LOVE

June

“I bet Oli told you that summers here would be better, huh?” Oscar asks me, a glint in his eye. It is very warm here, in this pub where Oliver’s support mates, for lack of a better word, meet every other Thursday night. Okay, that’s an understatement. It’s freaking hot here.

Just because the Celsius number is lower here doesn’t make it cooler by any means. I still don’t understand what the British have against air conditioning, to be honest. It’s not in every home like it is in America.

I have to laugh, though, because Oscar is right. We agreed to spend summers in the U.K. on Oliver’s word that it was better for him here. Oscar has been so great to us and has welcomed me into their fold with no reserve. His humor has been a real bright light in some serious conversations between everyone here.

“He did, actually. I’m feeling a little bit taken advantage of right now.”

Oliver swiftly pulls his phone out, ready to stand his ground, and swipes to the weather app, holding it up for all of us to see.

“It happens to be one hundred degrees Fahrenheit in Las Vegas right now, I’ll have you all know. I think we’re doing okay.”

“Yeah, but how hot is it in here right now?” I ask, fanning myself with the pub menu and giving him a facetious grin.

We’re in the process of applying for dual citizenship so that we can travel between countries easier. Neither country makes it easy, that’s for sure. We are at least legally married in both places since we had ceremonies in both countries. That only helps slightly to cut through all of the red tape.

Normandy had a baby boy they named Emerson just before we returned to Vegas after my cousin’s wedding. So, I spent the few weeks after arriving home babysitting a lot of kids while Oliver went on to finish his book tour. I didn’t mind one bit. Aunt B was in heaven.

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