“I did my research…” he replies, evasively. Then, with a proud little smile: “So… do you like the menu?”
“I love it, Remi. Honestly, everything’s perfect. I don’t know how to thank you, this is more than I could’ve ever dreamed of for our anniversary.”
His face glows with joy as he reaches for the corkscrew and begins opening a bottle of Armand de Brignac Gold. “Well, I think this calls for a toast, sweetheart!”
I nod eagerly, handing him the flutes, but Remi gently moves my hand aside, fills the glasses himself with precision, and passes one to me.
“To your magnificent concert tonight,” he begins, his voice thick with emotion, “and to all the ones yet to come…
To us, Sebastian. To the road we’ve travelled and the much longer one still ahead. I can’t wait to discover what the future holds, but most of all, I can’t wait to discover it with you, baby.”
I raise my flute, heart bursting, and clink it softly against his. My throat tight with emotion, I take a sip, savouring the aroma, when suddenly I see Remi’s face contort with panic.
“Wait, baby! Don’t swallow!”
I freeze, confused, and then I feel it. A small metallic object on my tongue.
“Spit it out!” he commands, and I do, cupping my hands under my mouth, I carefully ease it out. Sitting in my champagne-drenched palms is a stunning white gold ring with a square-cut diamond gleaming in the moonlight.
Still in shock, I look up at him as he gently plucks the ring from my hands, chuckling nervously. “Okay… So maybe I went a bit too far with the romance. I didn’t exactly think through the risk of you, uh… drinking the engagement ring.”
Oh my God. Is this what I think it is?
My mind goes blank. “Re… Remi…?” I manage to stammer, dumbfounded.
He looks worried now. “I hope I haven’t messed this up…”
He takes my left hand and kisses it gently, his eyes never leaving mine. Then, without a word, he slips the ring onto my finger. And before he can say a thing, I launch myself at him and throw my arms around his neck.
“Yes!!” I sob into his ear, tears streaming freely now, unable to hold them back.
He hugs me tightly, resting his chin on my shoulder, breathing in the scent of my hair. “I didn’t even get to ask you the question…” he mutters, his hand lovingly stroking my back.
Once I’ve calmed down, he dabs my face with a napkin and cups it in his hands, finally saying what’s clearly been burning on his lips all evening.
“I know you already said yes… but you were kind of overwhelmed at the time.” I roll my eyes at him as he continues, grinning.
“So let me ask properly: will you marry me, Sebastian Arnette? Will you build a life, a family, with me, my beautiful, beloved pianist?”
The sparkle in his hazel eyes is dazzling. I cradle his face in my hands, the face of the man I love more than anything in this world, and whisper:
“Yes, of course I will. My hopelessly romantic professor… Who’d have thought a scientist could be such a softie?”
“Shut up,” he says, unable to stop the satisfied smile spreading across his face. Then he pulls me in for another kiss like it’s the first, like it’ll never be the last.
By the time we break apart, the sky above us is a deep velvet, spangled with a thousand stars, each one glittering like a tiny firework. I turn to look at Remi, dishevelled, his shirt crumpled, and his eyes alight with joy, and I know he’s never looked more beautiful.
“Let’s go home,” he whispers, brushing his fingers against my cheek.
“In a bit, sweetheart,” I murmur, leaning into his touch. “First, I’d like to eat, if you don’t mind. It would be a crime to let all this amazing food go to waste, and to be honest, I’m actually starving.”
“We could take the basket home and finish the meal there,” he suggests, but I have other plans.
“I think we’re better off eating here. Trust me…” I say with a mischievous smile. “Because once we get back, I have something else in mind entirely.
Come to think of it, we still haven’t properly christened my new grand piano…”
Remi catches on instantly, of course, he does. “In that case, baby, I’m happy to oblige… But we’d better eat quickly.”
