I’ve been proposed to twelve times. Twelve men who thought they knew what I wanted, who offered me rings and promises and futures I never asked for. I said no to every one of them without hesitation because something was always missing. A spark. A certainty. The feeling that the person really saw me and my heart.
With Louis, it’s always been different. Louis sees me. He’s seen me since the beginning, when I was just a girl standing in front of a painting. He didn’t try to change or mold me into someone else. He challenged me and kept putting the pieces back, even when I tried to end the game because he refused to let me go.
This is what I’ve wanted my whole life.
Louis is on his feet, pulling me into his arms, and lifting me off the ground. I wrap my legs around his waist, and our lips slide together. The mist settles on our skin, and I’m crying. Our future is stretched out in front of us.
“Thank you,” he says against my mouth, like he still can’t believe it. “You’ve made me the happiest person.”
He laughs, and it’s pure joy. I don’t care about anything except this moment. Eventually, he sets me down, but doesn’t let go.
“I love you,” he says. “I love you so much.”
“I love you too, and I can’t wait to spend forever with you.” I press my palm flat against his chest. “I dreamed about a love like this, and then you came along and showed me it was possible.”
“Me too,” he says against my hair. “The first time we met, I knew I was going to love you forever.”
“At the gallery?”
“Yeah.” He grins. “And then I learned you created the subway series and was blown away. Beautiful, smart, and witty? Fuck me. I was doomed from the beginning.”
I’m smiling so hard that my face hurts. “Am I dreaming?”
“It feels like it.”
We stay at the waterfall until the sun is high on the horizon, sitting on the rocks with my head on his shoulder. The diamonds catch the light.
I think back to Isabella and Henri and how they hid their love for one another their entire lives. Louis and I get to stand before the world and declare what we are.
My stomach growls, and Louis chuckles.
“We should probably head back.”
“Five more minutes.”
He pulls me closer, pressing a kiss to the top of my head. “We can stay as long as you want.”
Twenty minutes later, we hike back up the path, hand in hand. The palace appears through the trees, and Louis squeezes my fingers.
“Ready?” he asks.
“For what?”
“Forever.”
“Hell yeah.”
The restof our day is jam-packed with congratulations and meetings. Delphine insisted we have drinks and celebrate while Louis was meeting with his parents and the council. By the time I make it back to the loft, the sun has fully set. While I wait for Louis so we can have dinner, I sit on the edge of the bed and pull out my phone. Right now, I need to talk to my best friend.
Kendall answers on the second ring.
“Hi!” I say a little too bubbly because I’m tipsy.
“Hi!”
“I’m engaged!” I announce.
She starts screaming, so I pull the receiver away from my ear. I can’t hear exactly what she’s saying as I lean back on the bed, laughing. She’s talking so fast that I can barely keep up.
