My voice decides not to fail me in this epic moment of my existence. “Yes,” I manage to squeak out before being pulled up on stage by strong loving arms.
Declan places the sparkling diamond on my trembling hand. I stare at the dazzling ring, then up at my even more remarkable fiancé. Gazing into his eyes, I feel like we are floating in a bubble, the only two people in this crowded space.
Thankfully the rest of the Alibi’s patrons go back to their own lives; waiting in line at the restroom, ordering drinks at the bar or trying to score a hook-up. But not getting engaged. That honor belongs to me tonight. And I’m pretty sure Declan’s set some kind of record as the only college student to pop the question here.
We’re still up on stage. The live entertainment portion of the evening is over and the house deejay takes over at the other end of the room. The spotlight has finally dimmed, leaving the two of us to be alone in our bubble.
“It’s beautiful, Declan.”
“You’re beautiful, Mia.”
This is the stuff you only read about. Guys aren’t this open with their feelings, this romantic. And juniors in college don’t have the money to splurge on something this ridiculously extravagant. When he asked my father for his blessing a few months ago I thought he was being hypothetical. I imagined this would happen after graduation.
“What are you thinking, babe?”
I’m thinking too much to blurt out without sounding scared. I will not let him think I don’t want this. Because I do. I really do. It’s just…we’re young. People will talk. Are we supposed to get married while we’re still students? How will it all work? God, my head is spinning. But we’ll figure all of that out later.
Instead of attacking him with an inquisition, I get to the root of my true feelings. “I love you. That’s what I’m thinking. I cannot wait to spend the rest of my life with you.”
Declan tilts my head up with the slightest touch of his index finger. He leans down to kiss me. I lick my lips in anticipation, but his thumb grazes across them tenderly. He doesn’t take his eyes off my mouth. “I’m gonna kiss you in front of all these people, babe.”
I like that he tells me and doesn’t ask. “I’m not gonna stop you.”
His lips meet mine and glide over them with slow, thought-out precision. Is this the way he’ll kiss me at the altar after the priest declares us husband and wife? I lift my hands, interlocking them behind his neck. I can’t help wondering if everyone can see my ring reflecting off the disco ball and the stage lights. I want them all to know we aren’t just two kids who can’t keep their hands off each other.
We’re more now.
I wish I could get out of my head and enjoy this new kind of first kiss. But as his tongue whirls around mine deliciously, I wonder if it will be this exhilarating twenty years from now, long after the wedding and a brood of kids. I don’t wonder too long—the way his kisses and his touch ignite a fire in me—something like that never fades.
Declan’s hands start roaming, the sure sign this is getting past the point of what’s acceptable in public. I hear a loud whistle and an even louder cat call from Grace, “Get a room!”
We break away, laughing at how lost we’ve managed to get in each other. I’d almost forgotten that our friends were here to share this moment with us.
Declan hops off the stage and helps me down. We walk back to the booth, hand in hand. Our eclectic bunch of friends is piled into our once secluded space. This night could only have been more perfect if our parents were here to witness our happiness. My eyes dart to the door. Declan planned out everything so meticulously, I wouldn’t be surprised if our families walked through the Alibi’s doors right now.
Declan finds a way to read my thoughts. “I wanted them here too, but they all agreed we do this our way. We’re going home next weekend to do it their way. A mini engagement party chock full of all the Pages and Murphys one room can hold.”
I smile at the thought of our families linked together. They’d hit it off when we introduced them that first summer. Ever since then, Mom and Sheila talk at least once a week, and Dad and Andrew have gone to a few baseball games together with Connor. I knew this day was inevitable, but living in the reality of it is like a dream come true.
Grace and Whitney come over to the table with a tray of shots. Grace hands them out and makes an impromptu toast. “To my best friend, Mia and the man of her dreams, Declan. Mia, you know I love you like a sister and Declan, now that you’re marrying her I guess I’m gaining a brother.” She reaches up and tugs on his ear, a very little sister type thing to do. “This girl deserves a prince and she’s found him in you. And I’m kinda starting to get desperate so I’m hoping Connor is over eighteen now. But all kidding aside, I wish the two of you nothing but happiness together and I can’t wait to witness every last second of it. Salude!” She finishes with the word I’ve heard her dad use after raising his glass.