Chapter 14 #2
“I love you. Everything about you—your crazy, loud-mouthed style and your humor and your tenderness. The way you’re so loyal and so sure.
You are brave and loving and you see the best in people.
I am honored that you love me back. I give you this ring to symbolize the love I have for you and how much I treasure you, Leo. ”
He squeezed my hand, and I swear his eyes were bright with unshed tears. He nodded, unable to speak. I put the second ring on Rafe’s finger with a watery smile.
“I’ve loved you since you came to check on me after the first self-defense class. You are so compassionate and strong and protective and such a secret alpha male. I am lucky to have you, and I give you this ring to symbolize the love I have for you and how much I treasure you, Rafe.”
He pulled me into his arms and kissed the top of my head. Together they took the smallest ring and slid it onto my trembling hand. I sniffed bravely, trying to hide my emotion and failing completely.
“I love you and can’t imagine my life without you,” Leo said. “You made my entire life the day you said you were falling for me. I pledge myself to you, to being with you in this, to support you and protect you no matter what, for as long as we live.”
He slid the ring to my knuckle and stepped back. Rafe smiled, lifted my hand and kissed it.
“Lexi, you’re the girl of my dreams. I can be myself with you the way I’ve only ever been able to trust Leo before.
Only much, much sexier, I promise,” he said.
“And you said he was the funny one. In all seriousness, baby, I am yours forever. We are all in this together, nobody backs out, nobody breaks trust. This is real and it’s permanent.
We make our own rules. I promise to love you and be faithful to you for the rest of our lives. ”
I sobbed, tears of joy coursing down my face.
I flung my arms around their necks and held on.
I kissed first Leo and then Rafe, putting my whole heart, all my loneliness and fear and hope into those kisses.
Rafe darted into the kitchen and got me a paper towel for my mascara streaked face and my runny nose.
“I love you both. Thank you,” I said. “Forever. That means the world to me.”
“Let’s go inside. The sun’s in my eyes—making them water,” Leo grumbled.
“That’s not from the sunset,” Rafe said. “You’re crying.”
“Fine, I’m crying. This is worth crying over,” Leo said.
We went inside, with me walking between the two of them. I loved being flanked by two gorgeous, strong men. It made me feel so safe, like I belonged.
“So I think we should cut the cake,” I said.
I led them to the table, and we sliced the cake, feeding each other bits of it. I smeared them both with frosting pretty severely and laughed over it. We ate cake, and I kissed them both at least a dozen times.
“So, what do you want to do now?” Rafe said. “Should we consummate the relationship?” He waggled his eyebrows until I rolled my eyes.
“Did it really bother you that I mentioned Leo’s sense of humor in the vows?” I teased.
“Maaaybe,” he said with a grin.
“Well, I, for one, definitely want to consummate a whole lot. But later, please, I just ate like a fourth of a cake,” I said, patting my tummy.
“Then let’s meet back here and bring your phone,” Leo said.
I changed into my sheep pajamas for the occasion and washed all the frosting off my face. I was as quick as I could be, but I was still the last one on the couch. I sat down between them, my legs draped across Rafe’s lap .
“So why did I have to bring my phone. Are we playing Angry Birds or something?” I said.
“I want you to check your calendar and see when you have vacation time. I have plans for us,” Leo said.
“What kind of plans?” Rafe said. “I am not going rock climbing with you again. He has to stop and rest like all the time.”
“You were the one who drank all of your water and then wanted mine. Yeah, we’re both city boys. Anyway,” Leo turned back to me, “I was thinking we might take a vacation together. Someplace with a beach maybe.”
“That sounds amazing! I’ve never been on a vacation. I mean, I stayed in cheap motels when I aged out of the group home and overstayed my welcome on friends’ couches. But not like a real resort or anything.”
“It’s settled then. We’re spoiling you. There’s going to be a beach, a swim-up bar, and a spa,” Rafe said. “We’ll get massages. We’ll go swimming, we’ll hang out in the hot tub with a bottle of champagne.”
“I looked at a couple of resorts in the Caribbean that are for lovers, designed for romantic getaways. What do you think? I’m sending you the link now,” Leo said.
I checked out the web page, full of golden sunset photos of couples kissing on the beach and in the infinity pool, looking flirty and happy and tanned while windsurfing and swimming with dolphins.
“Okay, I’m in,” I said. “I need to work for a few months before I take actual vacation time since I took a sick leave.”
“That makes sense,” Rafe said. “What about November? We could really have something to be thankful for. Our honeymoon.”
“Honeymoon?” I said in disbelief, looking down at the pretty ring on my finger. “I just love you guys. ”
I leaned back against Leo, smiled up at him. “You have the best ideas,” I said.
“Thanks,” he said with a grin.
“But I give the best foot massages,” Rafe said, taking my bare foot in his hands and stroking it.
“How did I ever get so lucky?” I said.
“I don’t know, but you’re going to stay this lucky. Forever,” Leo said.
“Yeah, we have rings to prove it,” Rafe said. “Forever.”
They were my family, the love and security I had always dreamed of but never thought I’d have. Right there, stretched out on the couch with my two lovers, surfing travel web sites for the best airfare deals, I had my happily ever after. Everything than I could ever want and more.
The End