“Are you crazy? It’s already November.”
He shrugs. “So that means you have six weeks to plan it.”
I stand there shocked, but an exhilarating feeling runs through me—next month, this man will be my husband. Oh. My. God. I want to jump around and scream it to the world.
With how often I say he’s my end game, I wonder if I manifested this because his proposal never once crossed my mind. Which I’m glad for.
One of Becks’s coworkers recently got engaged, and she knew it the whole time, or at least suspected it. In preparation, she got her hair and nails done.
To me, being surprised had so much more meaning behind it.
“I’m kicking myself in the ass now that I invited everyone here to celebrate.” He leans in closer as the doors bust open. “We need to have engagement sex. A fucking lot of it.”
Oh god, I need that too.
“I’m surprised they waited this long.”
“All right, you two love birds. You had your moment,” Leo calls out with a big smile on his face.
There are few people here, but it’s hard to make out the faces in the small courtyard, with Harrison towering over me.
Where’s Mom?
I turn around in circles until I spot her, and I immediately get choked up when I see her face.
Without a word, she takes me in her arms and holds me tightly. We stand in an embrace until I break the silence. “I can’t believe you knew.”
She leans back and wipes a rare tear that’s slipped down her cheek while neither of us attempts to stop my waterworks. We both know there’s no use. “There was nothing that could get me to spoil this for you. I’m so happy for you, my love, for both of you.” She takes my hands in hers. “Bonne chance et bonheur. Que votre amour dure éternellement.”
Good luck and happiness. May your love last forever.
“Hey, let me in.” Becks wraps her arms around both Mom and me, pulling us into a huddle. “Look at you snagging the elusive billionaire.”
“Rebecca,” I sigh.
“I’m kidding.” She kisses my cheek. “In all seriousness, Juliette. I’m so happy for you, and for the first time in my life, I can admit I was wrong.”
“About?”
“You haven’t romanticized your life because you are truly living your fairytale, and if anyone deserves this happily ever after, it’s you.” She pulls her arm away from Mom and throws it around me, squeezing me tight. “I love you so much. Congratulations.”
“I love you, too,” I mumble against her shoulder. “Don‘t ever leave me for three weeks again. I missed you terribly.”
Every part of me wants to ask if she’s all right, but I know this is not the time or place to bring it up.
She came home from Hong Kong the other night and had been thrown right back into work. Today is the first day I’ve seen her in person, and her blue hair is gone, and in its place is her natural color. I haven’t seen Becks with a full head of black hair since I was twelve years old. Which only means my best friend is hurting more than she’s let on about Matteo.
“Stop hogging my little sis.” I don’t even have to look up to know it’s Leo.
“Does no one care about me?” Harrison grumbles.
“Not particularly,” Nate chimes in, and then they both take me in their arms.
“There is no lack of hugs today,” I joke.
There is so much love around us that I could burst with happiness.
After the rest of our guests—Rosa, Javier, and my uncle Philip—have congratulated us, we’re ready to say our goodbyes before Harrison drags me out of here in front of everyone when suddenly the back door opens, and a familiar face walks through.
