“It’s the Trinity knot,” I tell him softly, but it’s not the only thing with it. On either side of the knot are the numbers seventy-nine and eighty-six, for my boys. “Three hundred and sixty-eight reasons to be happy forever.”
“Fuck…” He wraps his arms around me, squeezing me tightly in his hold. “I love you, Veronica. Hell, that’s not even a strong enough word to describe what I feel for you.”
“I know exactly what you mean,” I whisper into his ear.
We pull apart and I go over to Gabe, wanting to see his tattoo. But when I reach him, I notice his ring finger is empty, and something in my heart breaks. My eyes well with tears on their own.
He stands right away, taking me in his arms. “Vixen…”
“I’m okay. I understand that this was too much for you; it’s okay,” I rush out, wiping my tears away.
He pulls back, holding onto my arms with a smile. “That’s not why I didn’t do it.”
“I… I don’t understand?”
His hands drop from my arms, and he reaches into his back pocket, taking out a small square jewelry box and drops to one knee. “I had a different kind of ring in mind.”
He beams up at me, popping it open to reveal a deep sapphire-blue engagement ring with what looks like tiny diamond vines wrapping around each side of the ring.
My hands fly to my lips on a gasp. I look around at everyone who watches us. Bear and Maze hold each other with a smile on their faces, while the client now has his phone out filming us. And then to Noah, who watches me carefully.
“I… I thought we agreed we wouldn’t do this?” Tears track down my face. “That we… we wouldn’t get married if I couldn’t marry you both…”
Noah takes a step closer, cupping my face and wiping my tears away. “Marriage was never my dream, Veronica, but it’s always been his. Ellis and I talked this over for a while, and we both agreed that you deserve a wedding, just as much as he does. I don’t need you to wear my last name, to have a ceremony, and be recognized by the law. All I need is this,” he holds up his ring finger, “and you.”
He kisses my lips tenderly as I sob against his, overcome with emotions. “Are you sure?”
He pulls back, looking me in the eyes. His deep browns swimming with so much love, it’s breathtaking. “I’m positive.”
I nod as he steps away and refocus on Gabe, who patiently waits kneeling on the ground in front of me. He holds out his hand for me to take, and I slip mine in his without an ounce of hesitation.
“Vixen, before you, my life was great. I won’t lie about that.” He chuckles when I frown. “It was easy and simple. I knew what I wanted out of it, but I wasn’t in any rush to get it. I thought I already had everything any man could want. The career, the money, the friends, and the ladies.”
“Gabriel, this isn’t how these speeches usually go,” I interrupt him with a raised brow.
“Well, if you’d stop interrupting me, I could get to the good part.” He laughs.
“Okay, okay. Go on.”
“I thought I had everything. But then one November afternoon, a little over a year ago, you walked into my life, and I thought I had died and gone to heaven. You were the most beautiful creature I had ever seen, a goddess. One of those celestial beings we crave to witness all our lives. And there you were, standing right in front of me. And as crazy as it sounds, I knew it, in that moment, I knew I needed you.”
I go to open my mouth, but he lifts his finger that holds the ring, shushing me. “And before you say it, no, it wasn’t just about sleeping with you. That was a major factor, I’ll admit to that, but it was always more. I always wanted more of you. Wanted to uncover every little quirk you have, understand why you go left instead of right. Why you smile, why you frown. I wanted to know it all, every single inchof you—I wanted it.” I sniffle, letting out a shaky breath as he goes on.
“But you never gave me the time of day, no matter how hard I tried, no matter what I said or did, you always looked the other way. And at some point, I thought of stopping, of giving up. But then I realized it would be impossible to walk away from you, impossible to pretend you didn’t already own every aspect of my heart. And what kind of idiot would I be to give up on such a beauty like you?” He smiles wider, thumb caressing the top of my hand that he holds as tears pour from my eyes.
“And then finally, fucking finally, you looked my way and gave me a chance. You took my hand, and never let it go. You made me face my fears, you accepted me as I was, and have only made me a better man. One I hope will always be worthy of you.”
“You’ll always be, Gabriel. You always were,” I whisper through the thickness in my throat where my free hand lies.
He grins. “Now it’s my turn to take your hand and never let it go.” I nod enthusiastically. “Veronica Masters, will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?”
“Yes! Yes, Gabriel, yes. A thousand times yes! Every day for the rest of our lives, yes!”
He slips the ring onto my newly tatted finger, making sure not to push it all the way down, and I throw myself into his arms as the few people around us clap and cheer. I capture his lips, promising to love him forever, then let go and do the same to Noah. Despite this engagement being between me and Gabriel, it wouldn’t be the same without my Casanova.
After a few minutes of receiving congratulations from Maze, Bear, and his client, who’s already forwarded us the video, we head outside and back into Gabe’s car. “What do you want to do now, baby? We could get the gang together and tell them the good news,” Gabe offers, looking back from the driver’s seat.
I shake my head. “Not just yet.” I bite my lip, looking down at my rings. “I wish I could tell my parents…” I lift my gaze to both men who watch me intensively. “It’s crazy, right? That after they threw me out and pretended that I didn’t exist, I still miss them? That I wish I could share this news with them… even knowing they would never approve.”
