Page 49 of Falling Hard
The rest of the night, I hugged friends and colleagues. All of whom weren’t surprised one bit about Luke and me ending up together. Kenny Forrester and my dad had me in a corner saying the very same thing when I saw Selena approaching.
Immediately, I noticed there was a bare strip of skin where her engagement ring used to be.
"Solenne, thanks for being a trooper," Kenny said and led my dad away from us.
"Well, I guess congratulations are in order," she said, wearing a smile I no longer wished to slap off her face.
I opened my mouth, reluctant to say something I never thought would leave my lips. "Luke told me you helped him, and I guess it's only right I thank you for bringing us together."
"He's my best friend. I was happy to help."
What the fuck? "Funny. That title's already taken,” I said, then saw the way she watched me, puzzled.
"Aren't you going to be his wife?" she asked.
"I can be his wife and best friend too, Selena. Your services aren’t needed."
She giggled briefly. "Olivia, is my name really that complicated to pronounce? I thought all along you were negging me."
It was obvious. For months, I was jealous, resented her, but now that was all gone. She had nothing I wanted. "Selena, let'sjust say I didn't think you'd stick around in our lives, so I never made an effort to learn the pronunciation."
"I'm staying. I've got a girlfriend, a nice condo, the dream job, and a lot of new friends. You'll have to get used to seeing me."
Behind her, I noticed Luke waving me over. "Fine, Solenne. Welcome officially to our lives."
We smiled—they were smiles of a surrender, a truce.
When I reached Luke, the music changed; the lively beat faded, replaced by something slow and romantic. I couldn’t take my eyes off him. He fished out a jewelry box from his pocket. My smile matched his, so wide I worried my face might split in two.
Luke shifted in front of me, his eyes steady and bright, and then—he dropped to one knee.
Everything got quiet. I couldn’t hear the music anymore. Couldn’t hear the people. Just the thump of my heartbeat, fast and loud in my ears.
His hand shook a little as he opened the box. The ring was simple, beautiful, and so him. Not flashy. Just honest.
"Olivia," he said, looking right at me. "Will you marry me?"
I froze.
For a second, I couldn’t feel my legs. Couldn’t catch my breath. My chest felt tight, like my heart had jumped and didn’t land right.
But the answer was already there. It had been there for years.
"Yes," I said, before I could even think. "Yes."
I barely got the word out before Luke jumped up and pulled me close. He kissed me, soft and a bit off-center, because we couldn’t stop laughing.
He pulled back just enough to look at me. His forehead rested against mine, and his voice came out rougher than usual. "I was scared," he whispered. "Not that you’d say no. Just ... that I might’ve waited too long."
"You didn’t," I said. "You’re right on time."
Behind us, someone sniffled. Then Mei’s voice broke the moment. "Okay, if no one else is gonna say it, finally."
Alex let out a whoop and clapped so hard it echoed. "It only took you two twenty plus years and one fake French fiancée."
Demetria stood, holding her champagne glass up. "To being stupid in love. Emphasis on both parts."
We laughed, all of us, and I turned in Luke’s arms to look at them—my girls, my family—and it felt like the moment folded in on itself. Like everything in my life had been quietly leading here.
