Page 44 of Glitter

I felt a slight tug on my hands, and I looked down to see Bev silently removing the cornbread from my grip. She smirked at me, then tilted her head towards Henry before she stepped back into the crowd now behind me.

“Angel, this year has been by far the best in my entire existence. You’ve been my work colleague, my best friend, and my lover. Would you do me the absolute honor of allowing me to claim you as my husband as well?”

“Oh, God,” I murmured, my hands drifting of their own accord to cover my mouth. “Is this really happening?” I could feel tears welling in my eyes. “Are you serious?”

Henry simply nodded and raised the ring slightly higher.

“Pocket bear!” I cried as I crashed into him, forcing him backwards and onto the ground with an oomph. “Yes! Yes! Of course, yes!” I was sobbing and kissing him and sobbing some more when a resounding cheer went up behind us. “I can’t believe you did this!”

One arm held me close as he kissed me while the other escaped from between us, still gripping the ring in his fingers as he cupped my cheek. “I love you so much, Blue. How could I not?”

I fidgeted on top of him until I could inspect the ring. “Let me get this exquisite piece on!”

He chuckled and held the ring out to me so I could study it. “I don’t know as much about jewelry as you do, but if I remember what the salesperson said, it’s a tungsten base with a solid black opal offset inlay.”

As a smile spread over my face, my eyes welled over again. He’d remembered jewelry facts for me!

“Something about a broad flash flagstone being brilliant?” He shook his head. “I can’t remember the exact details, but I do remember the opal is from Lightning Ridge in Australia, because it made me compare you to lightning.”

I stared at him in joyful confusion, which only made him laugh.

“Electricity, sound, and heat.”

“Yeah, that’s not making anything clearer,” I said with a dopey grin.

He rolled his eyes but continued to laugh. “Electricity, because what we have is electric.” He leaned over to give me a lingering kiss. “Sound, because our relationship is rock solid.” He tickled me, making me laugh. “Plus, you sound fantastic when you sing in the shower. Or the kitchen.” He shrugged. “Or the lounge. Honestly, you sound brilliant anywhere.” He brushed the tip of his nose against mine. “Never stop.”

I melted into him when he finally slid the ring on my finger.

Once it was in place, he pressed soft kisses all along my jaw until he reached my ear, only to murmur, “And heat, because what we do in the bedroom every night could generate enough energy to power the entire continental US for the next millennia.”

Groaning, I shifted in place to ease my growing semi, knowing that I’d have to contend with it for the rest of the evening until we got home.

This man. This wonderful, brilliant man. Oh, how I loved him.

Even if hedidmake me hard when we were surrounded by his entire family.

I gave him one last, lingering kiss before we scrambled to our feet, which apparently was the signal for everyone to descend on us for congratulations.

Henry’s parents were the first to step forward, his mom sobbing.

“My boys!” She held her hands out like the proud mama she was, her pleased husband standing at her side. “We’re so happy for you both!”

Henry hugged his mom first, then his dad. He wiped a tear from his eye when his dad told Henry how proud he was of him and that he’d chosen perfectly.

The rest of Henry’s family came next, with Henry shooting a knowing glance at his twin, Daniel, when he appeared with both his daughter Roseandhis new husband.

“And here some saidIwas moving too fast,” Henry said cheekily, eyeing Daniel with a raised eyebrow.

Blushing, Daniel glanced guiltily at his husband, who laughingly hip-checked him before Daniel returned his attention to Henry. “I’m sorry I made such a fuss last year. I honestly didn’t know how fast things can change.”

“Forgiven, forgotten,” Henry said, embracing his brother warmly. “It’s good to see you so happy again.”

Daniel blushed again before he and his family stepped to the side, promising to catch up with us later.

I hadn’t noticed earlier in my quick glance before the banner had captured my attention, but Amy, her wife, Tessa, and their two children had all been there to witness our engagement. Amy came rushing up to us both next, throwing her arms around us and tearfully declaring it the most emotional engagement she’d ever seen.

“Apart from ours, of course,” she added quickly when Tessa gave her a playful stink-eye as she rocked their three-month-old.

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