Page 165 of The Proposition

“Your performance tonight was stunning,” Braden’s father, Tony, declared.

“You were there?”

“Of course we were, honey,” Mrs. Williams said as if it were obvious. “We wouldn’t miss your final performance in the show!” She glanced at her son. “And Braden’s, I guess.”

“Thanks, mom.”

It had taken weeks of dinners and apologies, but she was finally warming up to me. And she wasn’t the rude woman I originally thought she was. Once she learned that The Crown was my favorite show on Netflix, everything had been downhill from there.

We split two bottles of tart red wine and talked about what was next in store for us. Braden announced that Vandercant had promised us lead roles in his next show.

“You don’t know what it will be?” Mrs. Williams asked.

“Not yet, but I bet it’ll be good.”

“If he doesn’t know what it is, then how can he be certain you two will be good fits?”

I shrugged. “He still feels guilty about how his granddaughter tried to sabotage the show. He’ll choose a new musical that fits the two of us. And Dorian.”

“It must be nice having a producer so dedicated to your careers,” Tony commented.

“It’s nice, except for the fact that I almost died first!” I laughed to signal that it was a joke, and we all laughed together while pouring more wine.

The walk home was nice; it was a pleasantly warm night with a hint of summer scent on the air. Braden and I walked hand-in-hand while quietly enjoying the other’s presence. We’d been dating steadily since opening night, and were at the point where neither of us needed to say anything. We were at that comfortable place where we were happy to be together without speaking.

“I love you, you know,” Braden suddenly said.

“I know,” I said automatically. Then I gave a start, coming to a halt in the middle of the crosswalk. “Wait, what?”

He turned around. “I said I love you.”

“You just slipped it out like that?” I demanded. “Without any warning?”

Braden’s smile lit up his handsome face. “It’s better when it’s a surprise. But it’s true. I love you.”

I slapped him on the arm. “Three months without saying it and now you can’t stop yourself! You’re like a child who learned a new cuss word!”

He chuckled and took my hand. “I don’t mean to pressure you. Just because I’ve said it doesn’t mean—”

“Of course I love you too!” I shouted, which drew stares from the other New Yorkers crossing the street. I didn’t care. I threw myself into his arms and we kissed there on 72nd Street while the light changed and the cars honked at us.

I didn’t know what the future held, but that was part of the fun. I was in love with Braden every bit as much as I was in love with Ryan, Andy, and Dorian. Different kinds of love and intensity, but with the same burning core. And none of them minded sharing.

The Proposition might be over, but we had another show to look forward to. And I knew that with the support of my four incredible men, I was going to crush it.