I pull the ring box from my pocket—a simple platinum band with a single diamond, because Nicole doesn't like flashy things. Just meaningful ones.
"Nicole Waters," I say, looking up at the woman who changed my life, "will you marry me? Will you let me spend the rest of my life making you happy? Traveling the world with you and coming home together? Building something that's ours… Not just mine or yours, but ours?"
She's crying now. Full-on sobbing. But she's also smiling, that beautiful smile that makes my heart race every single time.
"Yes," she chokes out. "God, yes. Yes yes yes—"
I stand and slip the ring on her finger. It fits perfectly because I stole one of her other rings to get the size. She stares at it, tears streaming down her face, then launches herself at me.
I catch her easily, lifting her off her feet, and she wraps her legs around my waist. Her mouth finds mine, and we kiss like we're the only two people in the world.
The quartet plays on. The sun continues its descent. The world keeps spinning, but none of it matters except this. Her in my arms. Her saying yes. Our future stretching out before us, full of possibility.
When we finally break apart, she's laughing and crying simultaneously. "I can't believe you did this. A string quartet? In Santorini? During sunset?"
"Had to make it perfect. You deserve perfect."
"I don't need perfect. I just need you." She cups my face. "You could've proposed in our kitchen at two in the morning and I would've said yes just as fast."
"I know. But I wanted this. I wanted to give you a memory you'd never forget. Something as beautiful as you are."
She kisses me again, softer this time. "I love you so much it scares me sometimes. Like, how did I get this lucky? How did I end up with someone who sees all my flaws and loves me anyway?"
"Your flaws are what make you perfect." I set her down but keep my arms around her. "Your stubbornness means you fight for what you want. Your impatience means you push me to be better. Your big dreams mean our life will never be boring. I love every messy, complicated, beautiful part of you."
"Even when I'm wrong?"
"Especially when you're wrong. Means I get to be right for once."
She swats my chest, laughing. "Asshole."
"Your asshole now. Officially. No take-backs."
"Good thing I don't want to take it back." She looks down at her ring, eyes filled with wonder. "Mrs. Sullivan. Nicole Sullivan. That sounds... right."
"Sounds perfect."
We stand there as the sun finally dips below the horizon, the sky turning from gold to purple to deep blue. The quartet finishes their piece and quietly packs up, leaving us alone on the terrace.
"Can we stay here?" Nicole asks quietly. "Just a little longer?"
"We can stay as long as you want."
She leans against me, and we watch the stars begin to appear. One by one, pinpricks of light in the gathering darkness.
"Tell me again," she whispers.
"Tell you what?"
"That this is real. That you're real. That I'm not going to wake up and find out this was all a dream."
I turn her to face me, needing her to see the truth in my eyes. "This is real. I'm real. We're real. And I'm going to spend every day for the rest of my life proving it to you."
"Promise?"
"I promise. No second thoughts. You're stuck with me, Nicole."
She grins. "Best thing I've ever been stuck with."
