Page 143 of The Catch

"I promised I would be." While one hand keeps on playing notes, the other one reaches for a spot behind the music rack. "And now I want to promise you more."

He holds a small velvet box between us.

It doesn't matter that I thought it might be coming. I gasp.

"This can't come as a surprise." He stops playing and opens the box.

The ring is beautiful. A large diamond in an emerald cut crowns the top of a thick gold band. Ceiling lights reflect on the polished metal shank, and sparkle on the hundred internal facets of the stone.

At least some of those bursts of light come from the tears building in my eyes.

"I thought maybe…" I manage. "Saint…"

"Ames. For the longest time, I thought I couldn't commit to anyone. I never wanted that to be wrong as much as when I met you… or when you moved in with me. Now all these months later, I can't imagine my life without you by my side."

I forget everything I planned to say. I'm too choked up to say anything at all. All I can do is stare at the ring in its velvet box, then at Saint, then back to the ring. Over and over again.

He gives me a soft smile. "When I met you and tried to test myself in relationships, I didn't truly understand love. I thought it was the result of choosing someone you liked, someone you fit with, and waiting for love to show up. So much so, I went about it wrong. Until you, Ames. It's with you that I learned what love is really about. That it's because you love someone that you'll choose them every day. I will always be thankful for that."

He takes the ring out of the box and holds it between two fingers.

"Ames, you came to me one morning and took my heart. I'm glad you kept it."

All I can do is nod.

"I promise I'll never stop wanting to love you," he continues. "I'll stay right here, next to you, holding your hand as we walk together. No matter what the journey throws at us."

My voice comes out thin with emotion. "I promise the same."

"Should we put that in our vows? Promise it in front of our friends and family?"

There are words I meant to say. They're nowhere to be found.

"If you say yes," he adds, "I thought we could celebrate. My group chat is waiting to hear the news. If you agree to add this promise to our lives together, they'll bring their better halves for dinner tomorrow night at our favorite restaurant. Logan with Evie, and Bear with Pen of course. Being the two happily married couples in the group, they felt very strongly about congratulating us properly. Everyone else will join. Nat and Damián, and Dom and Mariana as well. Rafa might not make it but he's invited, plus-one TBD."

He's naming our friends, the ones who will always be there for us too. Saint knows how important they all are to me as well. That in this story of him and I,friends were a gift that keeps on giving. No matter what, my friends are there for me, too.

My life is truly rich now. Everything I ever wanted, but didn't know how to recognize.

"I knew they knew," I finally say. "What about your family?"

"We'll call them later, and go out to celebrate when we visit them next."

"Aixa and Maribel are going to lose it."

"They already are. Now can you imagine my mom?"

"And Pablo? Does he know?"

"I… let him know. Did not ask for permission."

"You know me so well."

"He said he saw this coming and is happy for us. That he'll visit us soon and take us out for dinner."

"So everyone knows. And we're going to celebrate?"

He nods and offers me the ring.