Page 69 of Love in Focus

Kiara and I giggle at Val’s dad energy.

“In all seriousness,” Kiara says. “I’m so proud of you, Gemma. We both are. Yay for working on ourselves in this new decade!”

We throw back our drinks, and I clear my throat. “Anyway, thanks, but enough about me. Sorry, I feel like it’s beennothing but me-me-me since my breakup with James. How is everything going for you guys?”

Kiara shakes her head. “You were going through a lot, Gem. Seven years is a long time. And then all that stuff with Celeste?” She lets out a baffled laugh. “We’re glad we could be there for you. I know you’d do the same if anything happened to us.”

Val’s eyebrows shoot up in panic. “Dios mío, please, let’s not even think about that remote possibility. Especially not after—”

She cuts herself off. Her eyes widen as she shoots a glance at Kiara, who also suddenly looks frantic. Kiara mouths something to her girlfriend that suspiciously looks a lot likeNot the right time!

I then realize that neither Val nor Kiara gave me a real answer when I asked them what they’ve been up to. I look from one friend to the other. With a nervous laugh, I say, “You can tell me, whatever it is. What’s up?”

Val sighs. Then without saying another word, she raises her left hand, and so does Kiara. Kiara has rings on almost all her fingers, so it’s not immediately obvious with her, but it definitely is with Val, who never wears any jewelry whatsoever. Except today. And I guess, now, for the rest of her life.

Around each of their left ring fingers is a thin black band. Kiara’s has a small, yellow-green stone in the center that I’m pretty sure is peridot, Val’s birthstone, while Val’s has a ruby—Kiara’s birthstone—in the same place. Theirengagement rings are both so uniquely them that tears immediately spring to my eyes.

“Oh my gosh,” I say. “Finally! Congratulations! Also, wow, I can’t believe I’m only noticing them now. They’re gorgeous!”

Val gives me a sneaky grin. “Luckily I’m right-handed, so I’ve been keeping my left hand in my pocket around you for the last couple of days.”

I laugh as my brain plays back the last few times I’ve seen Val this week at lunch. She’s right. I only remember her using her right hand.

“Wait, that’s so funny!” I exclaim. “But also, you guys didn’t have to hide this from me. I’m so, so happy for you two!”

Val shrugs. “We didn’t want to be insensitive. Especially after everything you went through last year.”

“And it’syourbirthday, Gemma,” Kiara adds. “Really, this could have waited at least another day.”

I shake my head rapidly. “No, I don’t mind at all. If anything, this has made my thirtieth all the more special. My two favorite people in the whole world, getting married! Tell me everything. How did you guys propose?Whoproposed? Are there pictures?”

Val launches into the story of how she proposed a couple of nights ago—“during the full moon, the culmination of our relationship,” Kiara adds with a content sigh—on the rooftop patio of their apartment building.

“I had to hound our landlord until he let me light candles and spread rose petals up there,” Val says. “But thankfullyhe eventually allowed it after I promised I wouldn’t tell the other tenants. I also cleaned up everything right away, so no issues there.”

She shows me absolutely gorgeous pictures of the dreamy, flowery rooftop proposal, along with stunning snapshots of her and Val kissing under the full moon. There’s even an adorable photo of Burrito wearing a little cat tux.

I’m full-on bawling now, my heart bursting with so much joy. Val and Kiara get sniffly, too, and soon, we’re all crying and laughing as we hug each other.

“I love you guyssomuch, but also…” I say, pulling away to give Val a side-eye. “Did you not need help with the proposal? I was free that day.”

Val shakes her head. “Nah, I was super nervous, so I didn’t tellanyoneexcept the photographer I hired. And the landlord, of course. But only because I had to. Wecoulduse your help with something else, though!”

She exchanges glances with Kiara, who nods and takes my hand.

“Gemma, will you be my maid of honor?Ourmaid of honor?”

Both she and Val give me a wide, hopeful smile.

“Of course I will!” I shriek, before pulling my friends into another big hug.

After we wipe away our tears, the three of us launch into Beyoncé’s “Cuff It,” one of Kiara’s favorite songs. We also do “Single Ladies,” of course, with my friends hyping me up whenever Beyoncé sings “single ladies” and waving their left hands in the air at “put a ring on it.”

At the end of the song, Val pulls Kiara into a sweeping, deep kiss, and I pop open another bottle of champagne.

When I was in college, I thought that by the time I turned thirty, I’d be living in the suburbs with my partner and kids. Drunkenly singing along to Chappell Roan and Beyoncé with my friends in a neon-light-decked trolley car speeding down the hills in San Francisco is like the exact opposite of that. But I’m so fucking happy, I don’t care.

My life isn’t what I thought it would be. But I’m loving it, regardless.

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