I lead her to the limo, and we climb in.
“What makes you think the twins are girls?” she asks.
“Because the universe knows better than to make another of anything remotely like me. If they are girls, then they will take after you, not me.”
She laughs. “Well, I think, whatever they are, if they take a little after you, it won’t be that bad.”
I hold her hand as we drive to the restaurant I picked out. My hands are so sweaty though that I’m sure she has already figured out what is going on. I’m surprised she hasn’t said anything about me not proposing tonight. So, at least, I’m happy with that.
We get to the restaurant, and I help Sloane out of the car. I hold her hand while we walk into the restaurant.
“Do you have a reservation, sir?”
“Yes, under Asher Calder.”
“Just one moment, and I’ll take you to your table.”
“Hey, guys. What are you doing here?” Luca asks as he walks out of the bar area of the restaurant.
“Hey, Luca,” Sloane says, giving him a hug. “Having dinner. Want to join us?”
I eye Luca, trying to let him know that he is not to have dinner with us.
“I’d love to. This place has great food. It’s on me. I’ve heard that congratulations are in order,” Luca says.
I grimace at Luca. He does not take a hint.
“You told him,” Sloane says to me with a frown on her face, thinking that I told him about the twins.
I haven’t.
“No. Luca likes to lie and joke a lot. Like I’ve told you before, you can never trust a word out of Luca’s mouth.”
Sloane ignores me though. “I can’t believe you told him we are pregnant with twins.”
“You’re pregnant with twins! That’s amazing! Good job, buddy,” Luca says, slapping me on the back.
I glare at him, trying to make him stop, but there is no use.
“Wait…what were you congratulating us on if you didn’t know about the twins?” Sloane asks.
“Your engagement, of course. All I’ve heard for the last month is, should he or shouldn’t he use the same ring that he bought for you when he was going to propose last time? So, which did you go with?” Luca says.
Sloane turns to me. “Last time?”
I can see her wheels turning, and there is no use in making sure everything is proper and right. Not anymore.
I take Sloane’s hand. I get down on one knee, and I pull the box out of my pocket.
“Sloane, I wanted tonight to go perfectly. I wanted to show you how much I love you with all the romance you deserve. But, as usual, that is not how things go with us. But I can’t go one more day, minute, second without telling you that I love you more than anything. And I’m beyond excited to spend the rest of our lives together. Will you please, please marry me? I know I don’t deserve it. But I promise to spend the rest of my life making it up to you.”
She grins. “Yes.”
I put the ring that I chose the first time on her finger and then stand up and kiss her, no longer caring if we have dinner or not. I can’t contain my excitement.
“Good choice. I told you she would want the original ring that you were going to propose with until you found out that she was cheating on you,” Luca says, staring down at the ring that is in the shape of a wave on her finger.
“Get out of here,” I say to him between kisses.