Page 102 of Queen of Ruin

“It’s yours.” I walk slowly toward him. “All yours. In your name. I saw you going through those leases for weeks and noticed you kept stopping here. I also saw you Googling how much a renovation would be, and I waited for you to ask me, but you didn’t. Because a part of you is still too proud to ask for help. So I did this for you.” Reaching him, I place my hand over the top of his. “For us.”

He gazes around at empty shelves begging to be filled with spirits, to rows of glasses just waiting to be filled and handed out to everyone who comes by.

“This is mine?”

“All yours. A little mine in terms of I hope you will be so thankful that I won’t be able to walk for a week,” I tease softly. “You can rebuild your life here. A life for you that we can share together. All it really needs is a name, which is why it’s blank outside, but I have someone on standby ready to carve out whatever name you choose.”

“I… don’t know what to say.” Diego clears his throat as if emotion is catching just behind his teeth, then he turns to me and meets my gaze. “This is incredible.”

“You talked about how you loved working at a bar. And after losing your job at your last place because of me, I didn’t want you to have to take that step back forever. So this is equally a gift and an apology. You just have to name her.”

Diego glances around again and when he looks back at me, tears gather in his eyes. He moves from leaning on the bar to holding my waist, so I slide both my hands up his chest and rest them on his shoulders.

“A name,” Diego repeats. “I know what name.”

“Care to share?”

His head tilts to the side and he smiles. “Tabitha’s.”

“Tabitha’s?” I repeat softly, and my heart flutters.

“Kind of like a bar tab but also because without her, we never would have met one another. And meeting you has been the most important moment in my life. Without her, I would be missing out on you so… so that’s what I’ll call this place.”

“Tabitha’s,” I repeat again. It’s heavier in my mouth now I know the meaning and both my hands slide up to Diego’s cheeks. “I love it.”

“I love you,” Diego purrs low, and he leans in, claiming my mouth in a hard kiss while he lifts me and spins me around. Laughter bubbled in both of us, and for the first time in my life, there isn’t a single worry in my busy mind.

“I love you too,” I murmur against his lips, kissing him deeply. “How about we skip the reception and christen this place?”

“That’s the best idea you’ve ever had.”