Page 159 of Outspoken

I tear up. It’s going to happen. I’m going to cry in front of everyone and Rico’s never going to let it go. I’ll be a joke at every family party from this day forward, teased for not being macho and keeping my emotions in check.

But hiding my emotions has never been my thing. And I can’t help it. This moment is too beautiful.

I press a fist to my lips as Amber gets blurry.

Her shoulders sag, all the nervous energy exiting her body as she blinks at me with disinterest. “I’m not doing this,” she states, turning.

I catch her around the waist before she leaves the circle of petals. “No,” I say through a laugh, my cheeks wet. “Wait. You’re so close to saying it.” I hug her waist. “Just show me what you’re holding. Is it a box? It’s a box. Just show me.”

I spin her around to face me and she bites back a smile.

I cup her cheeks, intoxicated by her sweet citrus scent as I lower my voice, even though everyone can hear. “You want me to say it? You know I’ll ask you in a heartbeat.”

Her gorgeous blue eyes dance along mine. Then they flutter to my lips.

A jolt of heat courses through me. If only we were alone, I’d kiss her until she was breathless.

She guides me back to the center of the petals. “No. I can say it. Just try to restrain the tears until after I finish.”

I nod, fighting it with everything I have.

“And I figured you’d like something grand like this. Romance isn’t really my style, but you seem like a rose petal kind of guy.”

I nod, swallowing the lump in my throat. “It’s perfect.”

My words soften her and she eases back into the moment. After puffing air, her knee trembles again. She holds my hands and says, “I don’t have a long speech. I mean, it’s notsupposedto be this long, but you’re throwing me off. You always throw me off, but…I don’t mind, actually.” She clears her throat, glancing at our audience and then angling her back toward them. “Um, I don’t mind because…I want you to keep being a dork and pushing me out of my comfort zone because…” She swallows, getting a little shifty-eyed. “Because you’re what’s most powerful in my life. I’m only myself around you, with you. And if you’re a hundred percent sure that this is what you want, that you want me and Angel as your family”—she glances at him—“and you’ll be completely happy with that and you won’t regret your decision and grow to hate me and…” She chews her lower lip.

She seems stuck with continuing, so I kiss her forehead—a soft, gentle pressing of my lips against her skin to help her relax. We gaze into each other’s eyes. I see my future. I see myself coming home to Amber and Angel every day, listening to them bicker as I cook dinner. I hold Amber every night and wake her with a kiss each morning, confessing my love too much and too often. She rolls her eyes when I get poetic, but she also smiles. Because she smiles, I keep doing it.

We journey through life, wherever it takes us, growing older yet more content each year. Angel grows into a good man and, after I teach him how to be less hostile with people and treat women right, he finds his own love to spend his life with. He might even have kids I can spoil. Maybe they’ll call me gramps and Amber by her name, since that’s what she likes best.

Mom never told me exactly what she saw in her dreams, but I’m seeing it now. Every detail is etched inside my heart.

Amber finally gets the words out, her voice shaky. “I want this family, too. I want to spend my life with you and be there to help Angel get less grumpy.” As everyone laughs quietly so as not to disturb our moment, Amber whispers, “And I’m open to adopting another teenager in the future. Maybe.”

I’m ready to pull her into my arms and twirl her around, but I resist. Instead, I simply bask in the warm light she’s filled me with.

“So then…you’re sure?” she asks.

I nod. “A hundred percent. This is absolutely everything I’ve always wanted, only different from what I expected. But different is a good thing.” I rub my thumb along her cheek. “I would never regret spending my life with you, or a thousand lifetimes. And if for some reason we parted, I’d always find you again, in this life and the next. You give everything in my world meaning.”

Her nose scrunches. “Then, um…” She clears her throat a few times, tipping her head down so I can’t see her eyes. “Um…”

I half-grin. “Mi amor, why won’t you look at me?”

She shakes her head, shielding her face.

“Come on. Look up.”

She finally pushes on my chest playfully, showing me the tears in her eyes. “Ugh, you’re so cruel. You had to say that, didn’t you? This is getting too sappy.”

I laugh and kiss her forehead.

She shoves the ring box into my hand and her words run together as quickly as she can say them. “Here. Iloveyouwillyoumarryme.”

“Hah, what? No knee?”

Snatching the box, she lowers herself. Her beautiful face tips up as she presents a sterling silver men’s ring that’s edged in gold, a small round diamond pressed in the center. “Miguel, please do me this honor. Will you marry me?”

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