Page 251 of Diego

“You happy?” she asks.

I turn and look at her.

I pretend to contemplate. “Not quite,” I say.

She furrows her brows, confused, and lifts her head. “What—”

Before she can finish her question, I shift Benjamin and reach into my pocket.

Blair’s eyes follow my hand, confusion giving way to a wide-eyed look when I pull out the small velvet box.

Her breath catches. “Diego.”

“I’ve gone back and forth on how to do this a million times. Dinner, candles, the lake. On vacation, at a beautiful restaurant, at a really expensive hotel,” I admit as I flip the box open with one hand. “But it never seemed right.”

She looks from the ring—a flawless emerald-cut diamond set in platinum, flanked by tapered baguettes that catch the light with every slight movement—to me. “What do you mean?”

“I don't know, something was stopping me every time.” I smile and glance down at Benjamin, sleeping peacefully between us. “But I realized just now that I don't need any of that. Where and when doesn't matter. It never did. This is the moment I want to remember. You, me, and our son. The life we made together.”

Her eyes fill again. “I have cried so much already today.” She laughs.

I take her left hand in mine, running my thumb over her knuckles before looking back at her.

“I spent most of my life thinking I knew exactly what I wanted. My own place, my own schedule, no complications I didn't choose. Then you showed up, argued with me over houses, turned my entire life upside down, and somehow made everything I thought I wanted feel wrong.” I lift her hand and kiss her fingers. “I love you, Blair. I love the home we've built. I love our son. And I want every moment that comes after this to be with you.”

Her lips tremble, but she is smiling now.

“I want to wake up next to you when Benjamin is screaming at 3:00 in the morning. I want Christmas mornings and school drop-offs and family dinners that run three hours too long. I want to spend the rest of my life listening to you tell me exactly what you think.”

My smile widens when she gives me a watery laugh. “I want all of it, amore mio.”

I bring the ring closer between us.

“Marry me.”

Blair stares at me for only a second before her expression crumples completely.

“Yes.” She laughs through her tears and nods, squeezing my hand. “Yes, Diego. I'll marry you. I love you.”

I shift Benjamin into her arms, take her left hand and slide the ring under her finger, watch it settle into place as though it's always belonged there.

Blair looks down at it, then back at me, and the happiness on her face is enough to make my heart tighten almost painfully.

I look at Blair and Benjamin and cannot imagine wanting anything else.

“Now I’m happy,” I tell her.

“Me too.” Blair smiles and rests her ringed hand over our son while mine covers both of them.

THE END