The story flashed in my mind. I bit the inside of my cheek hard, refusing to break, because I didn’t want to add weight to his.
Matteo looked away, into the sun, jaw clenched.
“Does it… Bother you?”
My chest squeezed.
“Matteo, my love,” I whispered, shaking my head. “Scars from protecting the people you love? How could I ever see them as anything but proof of who you are? They don’t make me pull away. They could never make me feel anything but,” my breath hitched, “Admiration. And love.”
His brow pulled tight, a deep furrow forming. Like he didn’t know what to do with that kind of acceptance.
I stepped closer, cupped his face firmly in both hands, forcing his eyes to mine. Tears finally spilled over, warm streaks down my cheeks.
“I love you,” I said, voice breaking. “All of you. Always.”
His jaw tensed beneath my palms.
I pulled him into me, hugging him with everything I had. His arms wrapped around my waist almost instantly, strong and desperate, as if he’d been waiting years for that permission. He buried his face into my neck, breath hot against my skin.
“I love you,” he murmured, voice low, vulnerable, real. “So much,mi vida.”
We stood there in the sunrise and I knew now that I’d gotten to know Matteo, I never wanted to know anyone else like this again.
I pressed one more kiss to his back – right over a pale scar, soft as breath. He wrapped his arms around my waist, and I reached for his neck. Our mouths met – slow, warm, unhurried. A kiss that felt like home.
He pulled me closer still, then in front of him so he stood behind me, his chest firm against my back. His arms wrapped around my waist, locking me in like I belonged there. I leaned into him, fingers tracing his forearms, feeling his heartbeat through his skin. Together, we watched the horizon swell with gold and pink, light spilling over the city in soft waves.
We stayed like that for a long time. No talking. No rush. Just the quiet hum of the morning and our breathing synced like a single rhythm. The sky kept opening, colors shifting like watercolor. Peaceful. Simple. Perfect.
“This might be the most gorgeous sunrise yet,” I whispered. “Even better than Hawaii.”
He hummed, pressing a kiss to my temple. “What do you say to a thousand more?”
I looked up at him, a small smile forming. “What?”
His voice dropped low, warm against my ear. “Will you be with me for the rest of our sunrises?”
I looked down to where our hands rested around my waist… And froze.
A diamond ring.
The one I tried on and secretly fell in love with before the wedding – soft, oval-cut, glowing like morning light.
I hadn’t bought it. Felt too personal. Too vulnerable. Illogical if we were going to divorce in a year.
Instead, I kept it in my heart, saved for when I would fall in love.
My whole body went still, heart pounding like it wanted out of my chest. I stared at the ring, at his hands holding me, at the sunrise blooming in front of us.
I was completely in love with him.
He let go of my waist and stepped back, just enough for the morning glow to spill over him. Then my heart dropped when he lowered to one knee.
The sunrise kissed his face like it wanted to claim him first, turning his hair molten gold and setting light in his amber eyes, the way I always loved. Soft, warm, devastating.
“You drive me crazy,” he began.
A soft laugh escaped me and he smiled wider. My right hand flew to my mouth, trying and failing to keep it together as he held tight onto my left hand.
