Page 144 of Finally Mine
She went to him and wrapped her arms around his neck, and together they laughed diabolically.
Ivan raced by and dove head first into an open moving box.
* * *
“I didn’t knowuntil right this second that I had a thing for Cher,” Aldo whispered into Gloria’s ear, his fingers stroking through her long, black wig.
“And I didn’t realize how sexy you could make a ridiculous mustache look,” Gloria said, pushing on the fur lining Aldo’s upper lip. He also made tie-dye look pretty damn hot, too. Of course, Gloria had given the t-shirt a little extra Sonny Bono by cutting a deep, 70s-style V in it. Her own matching tie-dye was knotted sassily on her hip.
She tossed her long, fake hair over her shoulder.
They were crammed asses to elbows with the Garrison family and a handful of other townsfolk in the storage room at Remo’s just off the greasy kitchen. Word had spread about Luke’s plan to win back Harper, and the entire town had turned out to show their support.
Gloria’s mother was out there with a glass of wine and a table full of girlfriends, including Ina Moretta. The two had become fast, odd friends.
Aldo made a show of kissing Gloria and tickling her with the fake ‘stache. “We’re definitely going to hang on to the costumes. I’ve got plans for later,” he told her.
Gloria laughed and squeezed him in a tight hug. For the rest of her life, she had plans for later.
“Love is in the air tonight,” Claire said next to them as she snuggled a little closer to her husband, Charlie. They were both wearing hideous Christmas sweaters.
Gloria prodded Aldo in his ribs and nodded to where Luke stood in the corner studying a sheet of lyrics.
Aldo rolled his eyes. “Go ahead and fix him. But just this once. Since it’s a special occasion.” He ran his thumb over the diamond on her finger.
Gloria kissed him lightly on the cheek before wriggling around bodies to get to Luke. His lips were moving, carefully forming each word on the page.
“Are you ready for this?” Gloria asked him. It wasn’t the ideal place for an intimate conversation. Not with a dozen nervously enthusiastic friends and family getting ready for the surprise of Harper’s life.
Luke blew out a breath. “Is it enough? Is this enough?” he asked, jerking his chin at the chaos in the glorified closet.
“Do you love her?” Gloria asked.
She watched his Adam’s apple work in his throat. “Yeah.” Luke’s voice was a rasp. “Yeah, I do.”
“Then that’s enough.”
The corner of his mouth quirked. “That’s it? That easy?”
Gloria glanced over her shoulder at Aldo. The love of her life. The man who brought her into the light. Who put a promise of forever on her finger.
“Nobody said anything about easy. But it is so worth it,” Gloria promised. She thought about her purple suitcase and the Christmas tree—the tree they’d already had to stand back up twice, thanks to Ivan. She thought about the boxes that had already made their way to Aldo’s house.Theirhouse. “Just make sure the apology is always bigger than the screw-up. And I’m pretty sure you blew it out of the water with tonight.”
“I’m asking her to marry me.” Luke said the words so quietly Gloria almost didn’t catch them. “Not here. But at home. If she forgives me.”
Gloria was having trouble seeing him through the tears that threatened to spill over. If Harper could forgive, she’d be getting her own happily ever after tonight. And knowing her friend’s gigantic heart, Luke had a very good chance at a lifetime of happiness in front of him.
“We’ll celebrate tomorrow,” Gloria said quietly. She raised her left hand, just enough so that the diamond caught his eye.
“No shit?” Luke beamed at her, then over the heads that separated him and Aldo.
“Tomorrow we celebrate. Tonight’s your night,” Gloria said, patting him on the arm. “Oh, and if all goes well, I owe you a stick of deodorant and a toothbrush.”
Sophie Garrison, wearing a matching Garrison Christmas sweater and a mile-wide grin, ducked her head in the door. “Showtime, guys!”
* * *
Angry Frankand his lady back-up singers kicked things off with a rousing rendition of “With a Little Help from My Friends.” Gloria couldn’t see Harper through the crowd from her vantage point hugging the wall near the service bar, but she had a feeling the festive vibes of the crowd would have her friend smiling.
