Then she said, almost to herself, "I think I used to believe I had to earn everything. Even love."
Zach's hand found hers again. "Not anymore."
He slipped his fingers through hers and pulled her close while the elevator chugged to the bottom floor.
Somewhere, somehow, he slipped a diamond ring on her finger right there in the elevator between the second and first floor.
Piper held up her blinged out finger, then slowly glanced to him with all the questions to ever question in her eyes.
She twisted her wrist, admiring the diamond again.
It wasn't the kind of ring she would've picked. A little too sparkly. A little too much.
But maybe that was the point.
Zach didn't do muted colors. He did ease and effort in the same breath. Maybe she didn't need subtle? She needed sparkle wrapped in steady.
"I guess I only had to find my own kind of chaos," she said.
"You found it," he said, pressing a kiss against her hair, "and it's already planning a chocolate cake tasting so you don't have to do anything."
Piper rolled her eyes and held up her hand. "I like the ring. I get to keep it, right?"
"Yup." He kissed her.
"You're still gonna actually ask me?"
"Yup." He kissed her again. "Tonight, in bed, when you're on your second orgasm. Maybe third."
Her cheeks heated. But seriously, she wasn't gonna argue with that.
"Are you gonna say yes?"
"Yup," she replied. "And we won't have any doves, right?" Because that would be a hard limit for her.
"Nope." He kept kissing her, hanging on tight. "No animals are allowed. Except Jase. Maybe Roman. They can come."
She giggled.
And she didn't let go.
Not now. Not ever.
CHAPTER 28
459 DAYS AFTER ANNA & DRAKE'S WEDDING
PIPER
The box was ridiculous.
It sat on the coffee table like a prop from a lifestyle influencer's dream reel—white glossy wrapping paper, elaborate gold foil flourishes curling like vines across the surface, and with a bow so big it could've auditioned for a Lexus holiday commercial.
Piper narrowed her eyes at it, arms crossed, because there was no reason for a gift today.
She took a cautious step closer. That bow. That wrapping. It had…intent.
Did she forget something? Was this a special Dvornakov holiday she should've penciled onto her calendar?
