I smile, shivering but not from cold. “I’m perfect.”
“That dress looks amazing on you.” He grins.
I look down. “I love it, Danny, thank you so much.”
“And this does too,” he says, lifting my left hand to his lips and kissing the ring on my finger. He sighs with contentment and holds me close, then I feel him laugh to himself. “There is one other thing,” he says and takes my hand again, pulling me once more up to the stage. I’m bemused, how can there be more?
“Um, ladies and gentlemen,” he says into the microphone, waiting for the hush to fall. “As you know, there is just one more thing. Thank you all so much for keeping this secret for me.” He turns and grins at me. “I suppose I should tell my fiance!”
I’ve no idea what is going on as I just stare at Danny, helplessly.
“As you can imagine,” he explains, “it wasn’t easy getting everyone together in one place at the same time.” He waves a hand at Jen and his parents in particular. “So doing it twice would be damned near impossible.”
I nod as if I understand but I’m so confused.
“So I was hoping you would do me the honor of marrying me…” I frown, I’ve already agreed to that. He looks worried as he says the next word. “…Tomorrow?”
I blink. “Tomorrow?”
“Tomorrow.”
“I…But…” There are no words.
“Do you trust me?” he asks close to my ear.
I nod, this I’m certain of, now more than ever. “But…how?”
“It’s all taken care of.” He grins at Max. “Everything is in place. All you have to do is say yes.”
I look at Max. He gives me the thumbs up. I realise that this is what they’ve been up to for weeks, in secret, working hard on this whole plan. I couldn’t deny them this, either of them. “Of course I will,” I say. Danny once again swamps me in his relieved embrace.
“She said yes everyone,” he says triumphantly to the crown when he lets me go. “You are all officially invited!”
We once again dismount the stairs to rapturous applause, it’s getting a bit embarrassing. I have a million questions and before anything else comes up, I need a word with my husband-to-be. I get goose bumps just thinking that he is so soon to be my husband. But, intent on finding answers, I grip his hand tightly and pull him towards the back of the diner. Danny smirks as I punch in the code to the flat and lets me tug him through the door, misunderstanding my intentions.
Once in the relatively tranquil environment of the hall, I sink to the bottom stair, rubbing my head with my fingers, just taking a minute to readjust to all this new information.
“Liv?” Danny says. I take a deep breath, there is so much to ask I don’t know where to start and I’m really enjoying the peace for a minute.
“What’s wrong?” Danny drops to his knees in front of me. I’m still trying to formulate a coherent sentence in my head when he cuts in again, his tone more like panic now. “Liv, no, please…”
My eyes shoot to his in alarm, “What?” I ask, confused.
“Don’t back out now,” he says quietly. “It'll kill me.”
“I’m not backing out!” I’m stunned that he would think I could.
“But you look like you’re getting ready to tell me something really awful.”
“No! Not at all. I have so many questions and I just wanted a minute alone with you that’s all.” I stroke the side of his face. “I’m just a bit overwhelmed, it’s a lot to process.”
“You’re not going to tell me it’s off?”
“No way.” I frown. I suppose I did act a bit like that. “Sorry if I scared you, but it’s so calm out here I just shut down for a second.” I grab his hands. “I’m so happy, honestly.”
He studies me, sagging with relief once he sees the sincerity in my eyes. “I did it again didn’t I?” He sighs, joining me on the step.
“Did what exactly?”
“Blindsided you.”
“It’s becoming a habit, but I love you for it.”
“I’m sorry, I just get so caught up in how to show you just how much I love you.”
“You can stop now.” I laugh. “I believe you!”
He nods solemnly. “Do you still want to marry me?” he asks, his voice so small.
“More than anything.” I grin and look at my ring. “This is so beautiful.” It’s grey, I can see it properly now. I’ve never seen anything like it, I think that was probably the point. I never really imagined this milestone in my life, because I was nonplussed about all the usual girlie details. I couldn’t see myself picking table centres and things. But if Danny’s choice of ring is anything to go by, I think the wedding is in safe hands.
Danny runs his thumb across the ring. “I knew it was for you the minute I saw it.”
“When did you buy it?”
“In LA. I was going to give it to you at the party the night it all fell apart.”
“So I’ve left you hanging with a ring in your pocket…twice?” I sigh and touch my thumb to the tiny band on my right hand.
He regretfully nods.
“I’m so sorry.”
“Hey, it’s done now. We made it,” he says softly. “Just marry me tomorrow and I swear we can just get on with our lives. No more drama.”
“Are you sure?” I laugh.
“Positive.”
“I love you so much,” I say touching his newly styled hair. “I like this a lot,” I tell him, leaning forward to kiss him. I pause before our lips touch. “You look lovely tonight.”
His sharp intake of breath as our lips meet fires up my insides.
“You look amazing,” he murmurs.
“You picked the dress. It’s perfect. Thank you.” I glance down at the fabric and realise with a smile that the colour matches my nails. I suspect that this was carefully orchestrated and it explains my mother’s enthusiasm for the shade when she was urging me to get my fingernails and toenails painted today.
“I’m glad you think I picked well.” He smiles. “Because I’ve picked you one out for tomorrow too.”
I giggle. “That answers one of my questions.”
“I know.” He smirks. “This must be killing you!”
I hang my head in shame.
“Do you think you could not ask me? Just trust that I’ve thought of everything.”
I take a deep breath, hoping I can do what he has asked. “I’ll try.”
“Tomorrow is going to be…just…it’s so ‘us’, Liv. I can’t wait for you to see it.” His smile is infectious.
“Where is it?” I ask, not thinking. Then I clap my hand over my mouth, realising my mistake. Danny gives me a raised eyebrow in disapproval. “Sorry,” I whisper.
He shakes his head, laughing. “Just one thing,” he asks. “I don’t know how you want to do this. I was going to stay at Max’s and have one of the girls hang here with you. You know, if you want to do the whole ‘not seeing each other before the wedding’ thing. But if that doesn’t matter to you, I could stay here. Your call.”
“I suppose, we should do this properly.”
“Really?” He chokes, trying to mask his disappointment.
“No, not really you fool!” I laugh. “Since when have I been the traditional type? Stay with me, please.”
“Wow, that would have made tonight the hardest night of my life!” He breathes a huge sigh of relief, but his desire shows through the bravado.
“I didn’t say I’d let you touch me,” I whisper, leaning in to kiss him.
“We’ll see,” he replies, grabbing the back of my neck and closing the distance. I groan as he claims what is his. Me.
Just then the door opens. “Oh! There you are!” Max exclaims. “People are looking for you. You’d better pack that in and get out here.”
I wipe my lip gloss off Danny’s mouth and smile up at Max.
