I didn’t know what to do first. My emotions were changing so fast that I couldn’t keep up. I wanted to tell him I’d forgiven him before he even stepped into the gazebo. I wanted to happy-cry some more from the intensity of the love shining in his blue eyes. And, lastly, I wanted to kiss him. I wanted to leap into those strong arms and show him I was choosing him. Choosing us.
“You love me?” I questioned, my bottom lip pulled between my teeth as I waited for the words to come past his lips again.
“More than your Nonna’s special spaghetti sauce.”
I laughed and shoved him back in jest. His declaration spoke volumes because no one loved anything more than Nonna’s special sauce.
“I love you, Mia. You inspire me to be a better man.”
“So, what you’re saying is, you’ve beeninspired?” I was playing on his business name. I had been inspired by him, by his words, and by my own self.
“Okay, sassy ass. Either give me a kiss or kick me out of here.” He smiled, and I was off the stool in seconds, my arms wrapping around him like magnets connecting.
“I love you, Logan. If you ever pull that asshole Logan again, I’m feeding you to my family. I’m pretty sure Uncle Tony knows someone who knows someone who was in the Mafia, and you’ll be swimming with the fishes.Capisce?”
Our lips were mere inches away from each other, his breath tickling mine, flirting with the touch to come.
“Kiss me already, woman.”
I did, and the world was right again.
“You really should have held out a little longer. I was ready to sing ‘I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing’ again to you. I know it was my serenading skills that made you officially love me. I could still do it if you need extra proof that I love you.”
He pulled back, and I shook my head. I was good.
“’Cause even when I—”
I shut him up from singing with my lips. He’d said enough, and I was done with the talking. I was ready to live in the moment and all the moments to come with him.
I’d gone from barely wanting to eat and breathe to a woman who knew who she was and who could conquer anything she set her mind to. And it was all because of Logan.
Come what may, we were going to live, inspired, in our very own happily ever after.
