Page 184 of Less

“So here's the thing, Less.”

I squeeze his hands tighter.

“You already bought the ring.”

His eyes go comically wide.

“You know about that?”

“You're not subtle.”

“Fuck.”

“And honestly?”

I smile through my tears.

“I think you've waited long enough. We both have.”

He blinks.

Actually, blinks.

“Rusty? What are you saying?”

“I’m not saying. I’m asking. Alessio Figueroa⁠—”

My voice trembles.

But not from fear.

From hope.

From love.

From certainty.

“Will you marry me?”

For one entire second, he just stares.

Then the huge, terrifying bodyguard who once crossed an ocean to save strangers and fought his way through a hidden tunnel to find me tonight⁠—

Starts sobbing.

“Jesus Christ,” he chokes out.

“Well?”

“Yes!”

He drops to his knees right there in the rain with me in his arms.

We’re both smiling and crying at the same time.

“Yes, Rusty. Fuck yes.”

“Yes? You will?” I ask again because I need to hear his answer again.