by Damian Bloom
“Just talking,” I say.
He seems to want to add something, but decides against it. “Adam and Grandma are here.”
“Freaking finally,” I exclaim, after a huge sigh of relief. With a quick encouraging smile in Keith’s direction, I stalk out of the bedroom, the two other men on my tail. I’m not sure if I want to kiss or strangle Adam.
When I step into the living room, I stop in my tracks. The overhead lights have been turned off. The only sources of light in the shadowy room are the two standing lamps in the corners, but they do a good job creating a mysteriously romantic atmosphere. The guests line up along the walls, leaving a vast amount of space in the center of the room, where I find Adam—a sight to behold in an impeccable black suit. I’ve never seen him like this before, but he looks breathtaking. Magical.
I notice that he’s got a fresh haircut, and his beard’s been trimmed. Now, the wait makes more sense. But why didn’t he just say he’d be late?
I lower my gaze to see Hector in his arms. The cat, as well, looks dashing in a tuxedo, a tiny bowtie fixed under his chin. The image makes me shake with laugher. When Adam sets Hector down, he waltzes in my direction and rubs against my legs as if wishing me a happy birthday.
After I bend down and scoop Hector up into my arms, I look around at my friends. Their eyes glimmer expectantly. In the corner, I spot Grandma, dabbing her handkerchief at her eyes, but looking beautiful in a dark blue dress, her hair coiled up at the back of her head in a complicated construction teeming with bobby pins. Why’s everyone acting so weird?
When I sidle up to Adam, all my earlier anxiety and concerned annoyance melt away, and I scratch his crispy beard. “Wow, don’t you two look dapper.” I drop a peck on his cheek, breathing in his cologne. “My two gorgeous men.” Adam’s eyes are two crystal-clear brown orbs, quivering as he stares into my face. He seems overcome by emotion in a way I’ve never seen before. It’s hard for me to understand what’s going through his head.
“Happy birthday, my love.” His voice sounds unsteady, and he clears his throat. Over my head, he hunts Eric down with his gaze, and my friend takes the cue. The first chords of a song vibrate through the air, and I recognize it straightaway. Even before Eric begins singing the lyrics, which turn even sweeter in his silky voice. It’s our song—the one we danced to out in the driveway one autumn night, the one we’ve danced to many times since, in the middle of the night.
Bored of being held, Hector demands to be let down with a cranky meow which makes everyone laugh. I suddenly notice that Adam’s holding something else in his hands. It’s a thick hardcover book, its leather cover depicting a drawing of a handsome prince mounted on a white horse. No title, no author. A fairy tale book?
“It’s hard to believe it’s only been a year since I met you,” Adam says. “One year that’s managed to change my entire life for the better.”
It’s so hard to hear him over my chaotic pulse thumping in my ears.
“Luis, you’re the most wonderful person I have ever met. You’ve given me purpose when I didn’t even know I lacked one.” Adam’s voice is as smooth as a caress, each word a gentle stroke. “You brought me back to life.”
Lulled into a trance by the soft sound of Eric’s music, I think I’ve finally lost myself completely in Adam’s eyes.
He takes my hand. “Our life together has only just begun, but I know our future holds even more happiness than we’ve already been graced with, if that’s even possible.”
Although not a day goes by without Adam telling me how much he loves me, something about him in this moment brings tears to my eyes—there’s so much intensity behind his words that it sweeps me up like an emotional tornado.
“I never want to lose you,” Adam says. “Before you, I didn’t believe in stuff like soulmates and fate. But now I do. Your grandmother was right—you can’t deny true love when it rams into you like an eight-wheeler. This—you and I—is too magical to have been an accident. I know you are my soulmate. I know it must have been fate that brought us together.” He gives me a broad smile, but his eyebrows draw together with an urge to cry. “I also didn’t believe in fairy tales, but here I am, living one. And I’m ready for our Happy Ever After.”
Adam kneels before me, and my heart skips a beat when I finally understand what’s going on. When he opens the fairy tale book, I gasp. A square has been cut through the pages of the tome. From it, Adam produces a black velvet box. “Luis Fowler,” he says, opening the box to reveal a magnificent sapphire-lined, white gold wedding ring, “will you please let me be your Prince Charming for the rest of your life?”
“Yes,” I shout, heady with more happiness than one heart can hold. The room erupts with claps and cheers. “Absolutely,” I continue, kneeling next to him so fast that my knees hit the floor with a scarily noticeable clack. I’m too euphoric to feel any pain, anyway. “Yes, of course.” Throwing my hands around his neck, I pull my fiance into a kiss so fierce a library full of romance novels couldn’t describe it.
My life completely changed at twenty-three. Twenty-four has already proven itself more than memorable. And if I could peek into the future right now, like Grandma Hattie sometimes does, I’ve got a hunch I’d see years upon years of perfect happiness.
Letter From the Author
Dear reader,
Thank you for joining Adam and Luis on their magical adventure. I hope you liked their love story. If you did, please consider reviewing the book on Amazon. Reviews are vital to the success of a new release (especially for a new author), and they help connect novels with other readers that might enjoy them.
If you’re curious where Peter and Keith’s friendship is headed, stick around. My next book will follow these life-long friends on an emotional roller coaster, as their relationship ventures into tricky romantic territory. Make sure you don’t miss it. Subscribe to my newsletter at damianbloom.com/newsletter, and you’ll be the first to find out about all my future releases.
Until next time, keep your head in the clouds and your nose in a book.
Love,
Damian.
About the Author
Damian Bloom is a young MM novelist with an insatiable passion for love stories, especially those that teeter on the line between steamy and heart-warming. A hopeless romantic, he lives in a world of fairy tales, where love conquers all. While waiting for his prince, Damian constantly falls in love with the enchanting fictional men he reads and writes about.
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