“Luca was seriously right?” Marco asks, incredulously.
I nod. “I’ve never been happier in my life. She’s the real deal, man. A unicorn.”
“Holy shit. When are you gonna ask her?”
“That’s what I wanted to talk to you about. Initially, I was thinking about doing it on Iris’s birthday next month. But now that I’ve got the ring—”
“You’ve already got a ring?” Marco palms his forehead. “Holy shit.”
“I got it yesterday. And now that I have it, I’m not sure I can wait a month and a half to give it to her.” I glance toward the party to make sure nobody is coming out here before returning to Marco. “What do you think about me doing it today, either at the party or after everyone leaves?”
Marco frowns. “Don’t you think you’re moving a bit fast here, Rome?”
“When you know, you know.”
“Yeah, I get that. I felt the same way about Nico. But don’t you think maybe you should let Iris get in the swing of the WAG lifestyle before you make her promise to love you forever? Why not ask when the season is over? By then, she’ll know what she’s getting into, and you’ll be better able to assess if she’s really—”
“She is. Whatever you’re going to say, don’t bother. She’s the one, Marco. So, why wait? I couldn’t sleep a wink last night knowing I had that ring in my safe. And having it in my pocket today is practically giving me a heart attack.”
Marco’s eyes widen. “You have it in yourpocket?”
I nod. “Just in case.”
“In casewhat?”
“The perfect moment presents itself.”
“Topropose?”
“That’s what we’ve been talking about. Yes.”
Marco looks stunned. “Who are you?The Roman I know doesn’t even like to commit to lunch next week.”
I look toward the party again. “I know this is unchartedterritory for me, but I don’t have a single doubt. Not when it comes to Iris. She’s rock-solid, man. She’s The One.”
Marco smiles. “That’s great news, man. Congratulations. But it’s still early days yet, cuz. If she’s The One—”
“She is.”
“—then she’ll still be The One in six months.”
“Six months?” I whisper-shout. “I can’t wait that long. Coach said he’s gonna let me play a drive at our last preseason game in two weeks. Well, when that happens and the cameras pan to the people cheering me on in my box, I want Iris to be wearing my rock. Marco, I want the Runaway Bride to be my fiancée, my future wife, when the whole world sees her.”
“Ah, sothat’swhat this is really about. When you hard launch her, you want to put an immediate end to all the trolling, once and for all.”
“Exactly.There’s gonna be record eyeballs tuning in to see me in a Thunderbolts jersey for the first time, man. So, it’ll be the perfect time to let the whole world know the Runaway Bride is my future wife—my family—so if anyone’s got something shitty to say about her, they’d better have the balls to say it tome.”
“Hasn’t her viral fame pretty much dried up, though?”
“Yeah, but I’m guessing it’s gonna spring back to life, at least somewhat, when she’s seen cheering for me throughout the season.” I rough a palm down my face. “If that happens, then I want to protect her, Marco. All that viral shit was tough on Iris. I can’t let that happen to her again.”
Marco’s face softens. “I get it, Romie. But is that a good enough reason to proposetoday,when you’ve only known her for a couple months?”
“He wants to propose to Iristoday?” Luca booms, barreling onto the deck with Levi and Cameron trailing behind. He plops down next to me on the couch and punches my thigh. “Don’t you dare do it without a ring, motherfucker, or Mom will kill you.”
“Not so loud,” I hiss. I look toward the party. “I have a ring, dumbass.Obviously.”
“It’s in his pocket right now,” Marco interjects, as everyone gets settled on furniture scattered around the deck. “He’s trying to decide if he should propose during the party today or right after everyone leaves.”
