Page 56 of Miami Vices

“Thank you.”

“There’s only one thing left to do to make our life perfectly complete,” he tells me.

“What’s that?” I ask.

He pulls out an envelope from his back pocket. “I planned to do this tonight even before I knew you were making that last payment. All the stars or whatever aligned and the timing is perfect. This is definitely a day to celebrate.”

I open the envelope and read the paper, not fully catching on. It’s two plane tickets to Aruba for next week and confirmation at an exclusive resort for five nights.

“How can we go on a trip weeks before preseason?”

“I talked to all the powers that be and they agreed to give me the time off for my honeymoon,” Isaac tells me.

“What?” When I look up, he’s on one knee with an open ring box. Inside is a simple black band. “Will you marry me?”

“Absolutely!” I cry as tears sting my eyes. I let them fall, not bothering to try to hide them. Isaac stands, pushing the ring onto my finger and thenpulling me in for a passionate kiss. When he breaks the kiss and my brain catches up, I ask, “How are we going to plan a wedding in less than a week?”

“I hope you won’t be mad, but I kind of already planned it. We’ve talked so many times about getting married and what we want, I felt confident planning it so I could surprise you. The wedding will be on North Shore Beach on Saturday morning. Simple ceremony with just our family followed by big-ass party with everyone we know. We leave Sunday morning for Aruba. If this isn’t what you want, we can change it.”

“Getting married at our favorite spot is perfect. How did you manage to do this without me knowing?”

“I didn’t do it alone. Our mothers and Hope were a huge help. By the way, my family will arrive on Wednesday afternoon and your parents will arrive on Thursday night. I have to be at practice every day, except Friday. I took the liberty of talking to your boss and you have off starting Thursday. I have a list of a few last-minute details I’ll need you… What? Why are you looking at me like that?”

“Because you are the most amazing man I’ve ever met. You managed to plan a surprise wedding and honeymoon. How did I have absolutely no idea? I didn’t even suspect anything. I’m not sure if I should be completely impressed or horrified that you are so good at secrets,” I tease.

“Impressed. I would never do anything to hurt you,” he says in all seriousness.

“I know.”

This man of mine is everything I’ve ever wanted in a partner. I’m the luckiest man in Miami, maybe the world.