A ripple of laughter from their audience. Celeste couldn't look away from Ruby's face.
“When I met you—well, re-met you—l was running,” Ruby continued, her voice stronger now. “Running from my own potential, my fears, from anything that might hurt me. And you were hiding. We were both so scared of being ourselves.”
Celeste nodded in agreement, not wanting to interrupt Ruby’s speech.
“But loving you changed everything. It’s the easiest, most natural thing I've ever done. You challenge me to be braver. You let me be spontaneous and chaotic while still keeping me grounded. You've given me a home I didn't know I needed this much.”
Ruby glanced at Theo and Luna, who were practically vibrating with excitement.
“And these two, they've taught me what it means to be part of a family. The kind you choose and build together.” She looked back at Celeste, her face communicating far more than words could say. “I want to spend the rest of my life making you laugh and pushing you gently out of your comfort zone.”
Ruby reached into her jacket pocket and pulled out a small velvet box. Then she dropped to one knee, and Celeste heard her mother gasp.
“Celeste Russo,” Ruby said, opening the box to reveal a ring that caught the candlelight, platinum with a single diamond, simple and perfect. “Will you marry me?”
The restaurant was so quiet Celeste could hear her own heartbeat and Theo breathing heavily with excitement.
“Yes!” The word burst freely from her lips, requiring no prodding. “A thousand times yes.”
Ruby rose so fast she nearly dropped the box in her urge to slip the ring onto Celeste's finger. The metal was cool against her skin, a promise made tangible. Then they were kissing and everyone was applauding and cheering. Theo and Luna were jumping up and down yelling “She said yes! She said yes!”
And Celeste couldn't stop smiling, couldn't process any of it except that Ruby loved her enough to do this, officially asking to spend forever together.
“It's about time,” Braden called out over the noise. “You know what they say about lesbians—U-Haul on the first date, married by six months.”
“We waited a dignified three weeks before I moved in,” Ruby said, not taking her eyes off Celeste. “That's practically Victorian-era courtship by lesbian standards.”
“So restrained,” Jackson added, his arm around Braden. “Such self-control.”
Celeste made a sound of delight, pulling Ruby close. “I can't believe you did all this. How and when did you…”
“I had plenty of help.” Ruby gestured to the room. “The twins designed the sign. Your mom coordinated everyone's schedules, which was apparently a logistical nightmare. And I may have called in a few favors to rent out the entire restaurant.”
“A few favors meaning her paintings are now hanging in the owner's personal collection,” Ronan called out. “My sister is a shameless flatterer when she wants something.”
“It's called networking,” Ruby shot back, grinning.
Theo and Luna crashed into them and Celeste knelt, pulling them into a proper hug. Ruby joined them on the floor despite the expensive suit.
“So Ruby's officially our second mom now?” Theo asked, his face pressed against Celeste's shoulder.
“If that's okay with you,” Ruby said, reaching over to ruffle his hair.
“Are you kidding? You're really fun and you help with my rocket and you let me stay up late sometimes when Mom says no.”
“I don't let you stay up that late,” Ruby protested.
“Late enough,” Theo said sagely. “And you didn't even get mad that time when I was sick and threw up on your favorite shirt.”
“That shirt was a casualty of war. It died with honor.”
Luna, ever the practical one, was examining Celeste's ring. “It's beautiful. Did you design it yourself?”
Ruby stroked Luna's head tenderly. “I had help from a jeweler, but I picked the style. I wanted something that felt like your mom, elegant and timeless.”
“It's perfect,” Luna pronounced. “You're perfect for each other.”
The rest of the evening passed in a blur of champagne—sparkling cider for the twins—and toasts that made Celeste cry all over again. Her father gave a speech about how he'd never seen her this happy. While Lauretta and Enzo told embarrassing childhood stories, Vittoria beckoned them over and simply said, “My darling girls, be happy.”
