Page 51 of Omega Island
“Like with rings and a party and everything?”
“Yes.”
I pushed my body into his, wrapping my arms around him again. “You mean it?”
“I don’t use the marriage word unless I mean it.” He sounded so serious now. This was his place, his island, his home. I was just a visitor. Now he was asking me to stay forever.
“Do you mean, like, paperwork and everything?” I asked.
“All of it. The rings, the ceremony, the party. You’ve already pretty much moved into my home.” He hugged me tightly to him again. “Raimi, I don’t want you to leave.”
“I don’t want to leave.”
He pulled back, looking me over, dark brows narrowed. “Is that a yes?”
“Yes!” My excitement had me rocking back and forth on the balls of my feet. “Yes! I’ll marry you!”
Senta’s face relaxed. His body went lax against me. “That’s a huge relief. Because I can’t imagine living without you by my side.”
I couldn’t imagine it, either. I’d been falling in love with him all this time. But presumptions had gotten me into trouble in the past, so I’d tried not to hope too much.
“You’ve made me the happiest man alive,” I said. “When can we do it?”
“Get married?”
“Yes. Can it be right away?”
He laughed. “I love that you’re so eager. I am, too. Yes, we can have the wedding right away if you wish. And make your move in with me permanent.”
I smacked him lightly on the arm. “I’ve practically been living with you anyway. There isn’t one night we haven’t spent together since your heat.”
“Hmm. Maybe it’s because I love touching you so much,” he said.
“But are we moving too fast?” I asked. “Are we both ready for this?”
“There isn’t a too fast or too slow, only what we wish, and what we both agree to equally.”
“It feels right. Very right.”
“Good. I feel exactly the same.”
We hugged again. Then hand-in-hand, we stood on the grassy cliff and watched the sun lower itself into the sea as the sky turned orange.
19
Raimi
Flute music filled the air. Birds called, accompanying the live flautist. A soft breeze rustled over the lawn. People stilled and turned to look at the man coming up the path toward the gazebo I stood beneath.
Senta walked up the aisle and my breath caught. He wore a thin silver-gray suit like mine, only my tie was blue and his was red. In his hair, which he’d let grow a little, was a red Barbados Lily, and he looked radiant. I reached up to touch my own garland of gold and blue flowers, tilting my head to him.
He nodded back, his smile huge.
As it turned out, weddings, even small quick weddings, needed a lot of planning. We had to get rings. We wanted to invite Bam and Luca and had to coordinate their travel arrangements. We decided to wear matching suits and have a live band for the party. Suddenly, endless details needed to be taken care of.
But finally, after a month, the day of our official joining had come. We came together under open sky and luscious views with all our friends and family to help us celebrate.
When Senta reached me, I held out my hand and took his as we faced the marriage officiant. Senta lifted his head up to give me a little kiss.
