Even though half the team is bickering, we somehow purchase everything and head back to our apartment complex. Oli and Ivan had already brought everything to Daniel’s apartment so carrying everything over doesn’t take too long.
“See,” Oli says, putting his hands on his hips as we all look around. “You guys really need to trust me more.”
All of our apartments are small, made for just one person to live in. Oli had enough fairy lights to have a string go all the way around my entire apartment. Everything is in a soft glow. We’re not allowed to burn candles but Oli brought over a wax melt, leaving the air smelling like a meadow after it’s rained. There’s a new bouquet of flowers on the table, made of rainbow colored roses.
The arch is in my bedroom, at the base of the bed. That’s where we’ll have our little ceremony, between the two of us. It’ll be intimate and special, made even more so knowing that my team, my family, love and support us.
“I am sorry for ever doubting you,” I say softly, looking around in wonder.
“Wow,” Bo breathes out, his eyes wide. “Your future mate better be the romantic sort. It would be a shame for them to not appreciate all of this.”
Ivan grumbles something under his breath that makes Oli slap the back of his head. “Thank you, Bo. You’re very sweet.”
Bo looks like a puppy as he excitedly looks between Amour and Kurstin. “Did you hear that?”
Amour sighs. “We all heard that, yes.”
Kurstin simply rustles his hands through Bo’s mullet, messing up the front. The two of them start bickering. Daniel pats my shoulder.
“The rest is up to you, Maki. Do you need anything else from us?”
“I don’t believe so. Now I’ll get dressed and wait for Rin. Once he’s here, we can begin the ritual.”
“Oh,” Oli says, digging into his bag for one last thing. “I’ve been reading up about undine mating.”
Ivan groans. “You’re such a busybody!”
“Am not,” Oli says with a pout. “It’s important for me to keep up to date about all of you guys. You’re my weird little family onand off the court.” He turns towards me, holding a little cloth bag in his palm. “I apologize if I’ve overstepped, but Rin strikes me as the bracelet sort.”
I take the bag from him and carefully open the top. Inside, is a metallic bracelet. There’s a metal cage at the center, the perfect size for a pearl.
“You can lock it closed so the pearl inside will stay safe so long as he always knows where the bracelet is. He can wear it or keep it locked away, whatever the two of you prefer.”
“Oh,” I breathe out, staring at the bracelet. “This was incredibly kind, Oli. Thank you so much for the gift and thinking about me in such a special way.”
Oli suddenly looks uncomfortable. He’s always been bad at taking heartfelt compliments. For someone who always acts so sure of himself, he can be so stubborn when it comes to his own self worth.
“It’s nothing,” he says, shoving my shoulder. Then he turns towards everyone else. “That’s our signal to get out of here! You don’t have to go home but you can’t stay here!”
Everyone shuffles out the door, talking about what they’re going to do now. It sounds like Kurstin is going to hang out with Bo while Sullivan heads over to the apartment off location that Ivan and Oli share.
Once I’m alone, I hold the bracelet in my hand, staring down at it. The craftsmanship is beautiful and I know without a doubt, it’ll look so pretty against Rin’s wrist. Now I just have to give it to him.
When Rin steps through my front door, my heart feels like it might leap out from the confines of my chest. Logically, I know that’s impossible yet, the metaphor feels fitting. He smiles up at me, looking so ridiculously handsome in his polo and dress pants. He’s recently dyed his hair so the blue is extra vibrant.
“You’re beautiful,” I whisper, grabbing his face between my palms and holding him still so that I can kiss him.
Rin wraps his arms around my neck, holding on tight as we’re both swept away in the kiss. He’s so perfect against me. His lips fit against my own just right. My head grows foggy the longer we kiss until I can’t hold myself back a moment longer.
“Fuck, Maki!” Rin says with a startled laugh as I lift him up into my arms, my hands planted against his perfect ass. He wraps his legs around my waist, holding on as I walk him through my apartment towards my bedroom. “You look incredible. I love the earcuffs,” he murmurs, touching my ear, forcing a shiver to run through my body.
“Need you,” I breathe out, kissing his chin.
“Your apartment is so pretty!” Rin quickly says, looking around. How he can comment on the lights when we’re so wrapped up with each other is beyond me. My chest feels near bursting with affection.
I love this man. I love this man so much it threatens to make me fall to my knees. No one has ever made me feel like this and I know without a doubt, no one ever will. Rin is my person, forever and always.
Inside my bedroom, I reluctantly set Rin down on his feet under the arch. He looks around, his eyes sparkling with excitement.
