Luckily Maren helped distract me with our Thursday night yoga class. And it was a good one. Our instructor, Luna, pushed us hard on our poses, and I left the class feeling incredible. Not only did my muscles feel that familiar relaxed stretch that they always had after a class, but the silence offered me clarity about Dev. Things were going to be just fine. We were going to be just fine.
When I opened the door to my apartment, I gasped. The kitchen was aglow with candles, and I could hear music playing. I paused for a moment, trying to recognize the song. And then I heard it. “Over the Rainbow,” the same version that plays at the end of You’ve Got Mail, the one by Dev’s favorite singer, Harry Nilsson. Down at my feet, I saw the petals. Golden yellow petals of all different sizes and shapes formed a path that led down the hall. A small sign was handwritten on a tented piece of cardstock.
Follow the Yellow Brick Road…
My breath caught in my throat as I followed the path through my kitchen. On the island were more than a dozen takeout containers stacked on top of one another like styrofoam sandcastles.
I noticed there was writing on the top boxes of each of the seven stacks. At first, I’d assumed he’d written “TRUCE” on all of them like I had with the pancakes, but each box looked different. And so I read them, realizing they formed a phrase I was all too familiar with.
How
Ardently
I
Admire
And
Love
You
“Oh my God,” I said, staring at the words, Jane Austen’s words. Mr. Darcy’s words. And now it appeared they were Dev’s words as well.
I opened one of the containers and laughed, looking down at an order of samosas. I opened another and then another. All samosas. The savory scent tickled my nostrils and I breathed it in, my stomach growling loudly. Obeying my hunger, I popped one into my mouth as I heard the music change to “Put You in a Song.” He was playing me his “Lyra” playlist. With a smile of recognition, I followed the yellow petals into the living room. When I saw what waited for me there, I covered my mouth with my hand, my eyes welling with tears.
The coffee table was set up just like it had been on New Year’s Eve. Three candles at the corner, all cranberry-and-pine scented. The unicorn card game was set up, cards already in the discard pile as if we’d been playing the game. A bottle of Tito’s and cans of seltzer made me giggle as I stared down at the setup. It was then that I heard him. He cleared his throat, and I turned toward the hallway. Dev stood with four bouquets of hot-pink dahlias.
“Hi,” he said, a warm smile on his face. “Sorry for breaking into your place. I had help, though.”
“Maren?” I asked, already knowing the answer.
“Maren.”
“I can’t believe you did this.” I said, tears streaming down my face as I looked around my glowing apartment.
He handed me the flowers and placed a kiss on my cheek, wiping a tear from my face with his hand. “Thank you for being ready.”
“You’re welcome,” I said, my voice cracking, looking at the coffee table. “It looks just like that night.”
“My whole world changed sitting at a coffee table in the middle of a power outage. And that power outage was the best thing that ever happened to me.”
“Me too,” I said, holding back tears that threatened to pour from my eyes. My heart was so full as I looked around the apartment.
“I’d like to propose a permanent truce.”
“Oh really?”
“Yep.”
“That’s a tall order.”
“I think once I win you over, I’ll get you to agree.”
“I’m listening.”
“I’ve read Jane Austen’s books.”
“You what?” I said, stunned, staring at him with wide eyes. I figured he’d just googled the quote on the takeout boxes. I never dreamed he’d invest hours into reading my favorite novels. I was taken aback in the very best way.
“Yep. Every last word. I finished the last one this morning. I see why you love them so much.”
“I…I can’t believe you read them.”
“Cover to cover, babe.”
“So, I’ve gotta know… Which one’s your favorite?”
“Pride & Prejudice, hands down. But Sense & Sensibility really pulled at my heartstrings, I’m not gonna lie. Fucking Willoughby. Such a douche.”
A loud cackle escaped my list. “Yeah, Marianne dodged a bullet on that one.”
“So, what do you think about Elizabeth Bennet?” I asked, raising an eyebrow, knowing that Maren had compared me to her more times than I could count.
Dev stepped forward, placing one hand on the side of my face. “She’s my favorite. My absolute favorite.”
“Darcy’s pretty swoon-worthy too,” I said, again laughing at all the times Maren called Dev my Mr. Darcy and how quickly I’d dismissed her every time. Now I stood in front of my Darcy, completely under his spell. It was all so surreal. “I can’t believe you read them.”
“And I’ll do it again. I’ll start a book club if you want, all Jane all the time. I’ll watch The Wizard of Oz as much as you want, I’ll even stop bitching about Dorothy’s poor choices. I’ll try skiing again, because you really kicked that hill’s ass.”
“And I’ll take care of you when you break another bone.”
“Hey, it was a sprain,” he said with one corrective finger raised. “I’ll watch as you dance to Keith Urban in the kitchen. I’ll take another yoga class.”
“Another?”
“Yeah,” he said, looking a little sheepish. “I took a class this weekend…the morning I came over with the sopapillas.”
“Why?”
“Because you love it.”
“Wow, Dev, I don’t know what to say.”
“Wait, I’m not done with my speech.” Those earnest eyes were going to be the end of me. I was turning into a pile of mush at each revelation he made, each proclamation he proudly memorized.
“Oh, sorry. Didn’t mean to interrupt.”
“It’s okay. Where was I?” he asked, his eyes looked off to the side for just a moment. “Oh yes. Trust. I’ll do whatever it takes to earn your trust. I’ll give you full access to my cell phone if you want. You can call back any number that calls me to make sure it’s work.”
“No,” I shook my head wildly and waved him away, “that’s not necessary. I trust you, I do. I should never have let Trupti or Craig get into my head.”
“Look, I know I’m a workaholic and that I have a temper sometimes. I know I say stupid shit and make a fool of myself.”
“Sometimes,” I said with a snicker.
“I know I’m not perfect, but I also know you’re perfect for me. And I’m gonna fight like hell to make you happy, because I’m in love with you, Lyra. I’m so in love with you I can barely see straight. And if you’ll give me one more chance, I’ll treat you like you deserve to be treated, like the Khaleesi that you are. My Khaleesi.”
I laughed, studying his face, drinking in his beautiful words. Knowing we would, indeed, have such a beautiful life.
My heart raced as the words flew out of my mouth. “I love you too. I love you so much it’s scary. I’ve never felt like this before.”
“Me neither,” he said, shaking his head. “Terrifying, isn’t it?”
“So terrifying.”
Dev cupped my face with his hands, pulling me in for a kiss. It was passionate yet gentle, his firm lips pressed to mine as his thumb stroked my cheek. I wrapped my arms around him, pressing my fingers against the firm muscles of his back. He pressed his forehead down to mine, releasing a sigh of relief I know he’d been saving up as he waited for my answer.
“I hope you’re hungry. I got us enough samosas to feed your entire building.”
“Starving.”
“Good,” he took me by the hand. “Let’s eat. And then you’re gonna give me a Unicorns rematch.”
I stopped walking, scrunching my nose. “Wait.
I didn’t agree to that.”
I was being deliberately difficult. After everything he’d done to win my heart, there was no way I’d deny him a silly rematch. But I wouldn’t let him win. I had to draw the line somewhere.
“C’mon, I need a chance to get my Unicorn dignity back. You can’t play me like that!”
“I mean…I can,” I said, placing a playful kiss on his cheek.
“For real?”
“I’ll think about it…after about twelve samosas.” I turned to face him, pulling on his collar. “And after I’ve had my way with you.”
“Wait, what?”
“You heard me.”
With a devilish grin, he bent down and hoisted me up by my thighs, throwing me over his shoulder. A surprised yelp left my lungs as I hung from his shoulder, one of his hands pressing against my thighs, the other playfully spanking my ass.
“Wait! What about the rematch?”
“It can wait!” he said, marching us down the hall toward my bedroom. Yellow flower petals flew around the room as he trampled through them.
“But what about the samosas?”
He changed course, walking back down the hall to the kitchen counter. “Grab one of those boxes. I don’t want you passing out on me, Khaleesi. Everything else can wait.”
And it did.
Epilogue
DEV
The following New Year’s Eve…
“Lyra!” I called, my fancy ass planted on the armchair as I waited for my gorgeous girlfriend to finally finish getting ready. “Everyone’s waiting downstairs. You almost done?”
“Yep,” Lyra called from the bathroom. “Two minutes.”
“You said that five minutes ago.”
“You sure? I don’t remember that,” she said, her voice totally guilty but playful.
My heart was racing for reasons Lyra knew nothing about. I had no poker face, so it was actually a blessing in disguise that she was taking so long to get ready for dinner and dancing at the New Year’s Eve party downstairs.
We were staying in the same suite at the same resort as the previous year. Only this time, we had it all to ourselves. Lyra gave me a hard time about wasting all the other bedrooms, but I didn’t mind shelling out the cash. It was going to be a trip we would never forget, and I was sparing no expense. None at all.
My planning had begun when Lyra spent Thanksgiving with my family and my mother officially fell in love with her. They’d met many times before, but this time my mom invited Lyra to help with the cooking. Lyra jumped at the chance, and the two of them prepared a traditional Modi family Thanksgiving meal. My mother beamed as we all tasted Lyra’s samosas. And Lyra couldn’t stop smiling when my mom wouldn’t shut up about her cooking abilities.
After dinner, Savita asked Lyra to help her put the finishing touches on the pies she’d baked. So, my mom took me by the hand and led me to her bedroom.
“I love her,” Mom said, pressing her hands over her heart and looking up at the ceiling.
“I do too, Mom. You have no idea.”
“She’s the one, Dev. I feel it in every bone of my body.”
“I feel it too. So, you know what this means—I’m gonna need that ring after all,” I said, of course referring to my nani’s ring. The one I’d wanted to send back to India. The one my mom insisted stay with her until my heart found love. Real love.
With a coy grin, my mom walked to her jewelry box. “I held on to it, just like I promised.”
“Thanks, Mom,” I said, as she placed the ring in the palm of my hand.
She pulled me into her arms. “Oh, pyaare bete, I’m so happy for you.”
“Me too, Mom. Me too.”
My planning continued when we flew to Los Angeles for Christmas with Lyra’s parents and extended family. While Lyra and her mother were busy preparing dinner in the kitchen with her aunt and cousins, I asked Mr. Castillo if he’d be willing to take a walk with me.
“I already know what you’re going to ask me,” he said, not moving from his armchair, looking past me at the Rudolph special on TV.
“You do?”
“Yep.” His voice was gruff, and I suddenly worried he might turn me down. My head spun with scenarios as I attempted to get my composure.
“Sir, I just want to tell you how much I love your daughter.”
“I know.”
“You don’t seem very happy about this. Have I done something to upset you? Do you not approve?”
“No, not at all,” he said, his expression softening. “I see the way you take care of her. You’re a good guy, Dev. It’s just…no father wants to lose his little girl, that’s all. If I listen to your question, then it all becomes real. I’m not ready for that. So I’m just going to sit here and listen to that silly elf sing about wanting to be a dentist.”
“I understand,” I said, holding back my laughter as I glanced at the TV.
“Not yet, you don’t,” he said, his voice gruff again. Taken aback, I opened my mouth to speak, but he held up one hand. “But I suspect you will…someday. When the two of you have kids of your own.” He looked into the kitchen, smiling as he watched Lyra kneading dough, her arms covered in flour.
“Does that mean I have your blessing, sir?”
“Yes,” he said with a decisive nod. “Take care of my baby girl.”
“I will, sir. I promise I will.”
And my planning was coming to fruition as I felt the ring box inside the pocket of my pants. My nerves were shot. Even though I was confident she’d say yes to my proposal, my desire for everything to go as planned was taking my brain and heart hostage. I wanted to give her a night she would never forget.
Lyra emerged from the room, looking like sex on a freaking stick. Her black gown had a slit up the side, revealing her tan and toned legs.
Thank you, yoga.
With cherry red lips, she smiled and said, “I’m ready.” And my heart thumped within my chest. I’d never get tired of those two words. Not ever.
Three hours later, we’d filled our bellies with food and drink. I’d needed a few shots of Tito’s to take the edge off, but knowing the countdown would begin in less than an hour, I was ready to get Lyra on the dance floor. Maren, knowing my plan, gave me a wink as I extended my hand to Lyra. “Let’s dance, Khaleesi.”
Lyra hopped to her feet, and I led her to the dance floor as Maren walked to the DJ booth. We danced and laughed as the song finished. When I heard the familiar sound of Harry Nilsson starting his rendition of “Over the Rainbow,” I swallowed hard.
Lyra smiled, not realizing the song was for her. “Aww, I love this song. And you do, too, which is kind of a miracle, right?”
I smiled, reaching into my pocket to grab the ring box. My hand trembled as my fingertips gripped the leather.
“You know, it’s kinda crazy,” I said, looking around the room. “If this party had taken place a year ago, who knows what would’ve happened? We might not be standing here right now.”
“True.”
“At the time, we both thought it was the worst New Year’s ever.”
“We did.”
“Little did we know.” I smiled, pressing my forehead to hers.
“Little did we know,” she echoed.
“I want to make this one the best Near Year’s ever, Khaleesi.”
Lyra looked confused. “It already is, Dev.”
“Not quite,” I said, shaking my head. “But it will be soon.”
“You’re being weird.” She looked concerned. “Are you okay?”
“I’m better than okay.”
In the middle of that dance floor, I took the deepest breath of my life and knelt down before the woman I loved. She gasped and held her hand to her mouth. “Oh my God, what are you doing?”
“Lyra Castillo, I never dreamed I’d be lucky enough to call you mine. But you are.”
“Yes, I am. I am, I am, I am.” Tears spilled from her eyes. She pressed her lips together, her eyebrows raised and her eyes and cheeks
wet with tears.
“I want to ring in this new year with you as my fiancée. And I want to ring in every year with you by my side; as my fiancée, my wife, and one day as the mother of my children. I want to start every year and finish every year with you. Every last one.”
“I want that too,” she said. “I want all of it.”
“Will you marry me, Lyra?”
“Oh my God, yes!” She pulled me from my knees and jumped into my arms. I spun her around the dance floor as Harry finished our song.
I took her hand in mine and held the ring up in front of her. “This was my nani’s ring, and it would make me so happy if you wore it. But if you don’t love it and I mean really, really love it, I’ll get you any ring you want. Any ring at all. Just say the word.”
“I’d be honored to wear your nani’s ring, Dev. Please put it on.”
I slid the ring on her finger, my heart bubbling over with happiness. It fit her finger perfectly. The finger it was always meant to fit. The finger of Lyra Castillo: hottest woman alive, smartest woman I’d ever known, and the love of my freaking life.
THE END
The With Me in Seattle Universe
For More information about The With Me in Seattle Universe, click here:
https://www.ladybosspress.com/with-me-in-seattle
Acknowledgments
I want to give a HUGE thank you to my beta readers: Deb Bresloff, Pamela Carrion, Kelly Sisulak, Megan Kapusta, Beth Suit, and Tiffany King. For me, the beta reading process is absolutely critical as I can be a super forgetful person and sometimes write inconsistent details. You guys keep me on top of things, you catch my errors and appreciate my quirks. Thank you for taking the time to read every single chapter (and the other additions I end up posting in our group) that I write. This book wouldn’t be what it is without all of your awesome feedback and suggestions!
Deb Bresloff—thank you for loving Dev & Lyra as much as I do and for being my rock with this book. I appreciate all of your support so much. Thank you for always believing in me!
Stuck With Me: A With Me in Seattle Universe Novel Page 26