Chapter 45
Chapter Forty-Five
Ariana
My grandfather had quadruple bypass surgery and was on his way to making a full recovery. A few days before Christmas, the doctor cleared him to come to New York for the holidays. I insisted we spend it back in Boston, but my family said they wanted to have Christmas New York style, whatever that meant. We all sat down and had a long talk. A talk that lasted about six hours. I’d almost lost my grandfather, and it was then that I realized that life was too short to hold a grudge. Luca was right all along. I could never find the peace I was searching for as long as I shut them out of my life. He told me to reflect on all the good they had done for me over the years. How much they loved me, took care of me, and nurtured me. Maybe I just needed a little guidance to clear the path of resentment and anger I walked down, so the road to forgiveness could be paved.
As we were getting dressed for the Christmas party Luca was throwing for the firm, he seemed a little off, and I could tell something was bothering him.
“Are you okay, babe?” I asked as I walked over to him and had him zip up my dress.
There was a moment of silence before he answered my question.
“I’m not happy, Ariana,” he spoke.
A nervousness settled in the pit of my stomach.
“What?” I turned around and looked at him.
“I’m not happy,” he spoke with a serious tone that frightened the shit out of me.
“Why?”
I could feel myself tremble because I didn’t know what he meant. Things were perfect with us. Or at least I thought they were.
“I thought you moving in with me and being a partner at the firm would make me happy. But it’s not,” he spoke as his eyes stared into mine. “I want more than this.” He gently smiled.
“What do you mean? Luca, you’re really freaking me the fuck out.”
He inhaled a sharp breath as he reached inside his suitcoat pocket, pulled out a small blue box, got down on one knee, and took hold of my hand.
“I want you to be my wife. I want to marry you and take care of you for the rest of my life. Having you as my girlfriend just isn’t enough. I love you too damn much.” He flipped the lid to the box open and smiled. “Will you marry me, Ariana?”
My hand he was holding began to shake. In fact, my whole body was shaking from head to toe.
“Yes. Yes. Yes. I will marry you, Luca.” I smiled as the tears began to fall.
He pulled the three-carat princess-cut diamond ring from the box, slipped it on my finger, and brought my hand up to his lips. He stood up and placed his hands on each side of my face.
“I love you forever.”
“And I love you forever.” I smiled as our lips met.
“I was going to wait until Christmas morning, but I couldn’t,” he spoke. “I’ve had the ring for a few days, and it’s been killing me. I was afraid you would say no or weren’t ready yet.”
“I would never say no to you.”
“Really? Because I remember the other night when I wanted to do something to you, and you said no.” He smirked.
I couldn’t help but let laughter escape from my lips.
“That was different! But who knows, maybe you’ll get lucky on our wedding night.” I grinned.
He looked down at his pants and then back up at me.
“Looks like we’re going to be late for our Christmas party.”
“I don’t care how late we are.” Our lips collided once again.