Los Angeles, One month later

Ozzy

MCKENNA AND I enter the hotel’s ballroom late. “Everyone’s already here,” she whispers to me.

“Well, you were the one who wanted to celebrate the release of ‘Hold Still.’” Her cheeks turn an adorable shade of red. I kiss her blushing face. “Yeah. So we’re late.” I grab her hand, the bracelet I gave her now sporting an orange jewel. “Let’s go mingle.”

A huge banner with the words Youth Art Consortium—National Competition Awards is hung above the stage area. On the dais, the Project’s logo hangs with other regional charities above the podium. I’m confident that’s where McKenna will receive her much-deserved award.

“McKenna! Ozzy!” Rose and Cole join us.

“I didn’t know you were coming,” McKenna gushes after we say our hellos. She and Rose had a long heart-to-heart about everything, and their relationship is so much stronger now.

“How could I miss my maid-of-honor getting the biggest award of her life?”

McKenna puts her finger up to her lips. “Shh. Don’t jinx me.”

“I would never try to curse on you,” a French-accented voice floats to us. We turn and greet Wills and Emilie.

Beaming from ear-to-ear, McKenna dances to music only she can hear. “How’s wedding planning coming along?”

Instead of Emilie, Wills answers, “It’s great.” He squeezes his fiancée. “In less than a month, we’ll all be in Paris and this woman will officially be mine.” He kisses Emilie.

Not one to be outdone, Cole grabs his wife’s hand and kisses it. “Glad we showed you how it’s done.”

The lights dim and the announcer asks us to take our seats for dinner and the ceremony. Throughout the meal, McKenna’s antsy. She is lively and talkative, but I can tell it’s her armor. “Party-girl McKenna.” But, underneath, she’s a wreck. I zip my hand up her thigh and her head swivels to mine.

“No matter what happens tonight,” I kiss her cheek, “I’m so proud of you.”

She changes into the woman beneath her veneer in front of my eyes. Her posture softens, and her eyes take on a darker hue. “You don’t know what that means to me.”

The chairman of the Consortium takes to the podium. Peggy Laswell and the other board members from the Project are in the front row. McKenna’s hand finds its way into mine. It’s icy. I squeeze, imparting some of my heat.

He thanks everyone for coming, talks about the Consortium and introduces the various regional competitions that brought us here. I’m impressed. McKenna will do great work for them—I have no doubt that she’ll win.

“And now, the moment you’ve all been waiting for. It’s time to announce the winner of the national competition, who’ll design graphics that will introduce people across the world to the work we do. We’re very excited to have all of the finalists in attendance today. Each one of you submitted stellar work, and the Consortium would be happy to have any one of you representing us. Unfortunately, only one person can be selected.”

Rose beams at McKenna and nods. McKenna’s response is to hold my hand tighter, but she smiles at her best friend.

“Before the winner is announced, let’s see a sampling of each of their work.” The lights dim and the presentations roll.

I may be biased, but hers was the best by a mile. Leaning over, I kiss my girl’s cheek. “Remember to thank me for the inspiration when you win.” McKenna’s laugh can be heard above the soundtrack. Mission accomplished.

When the lights come back up, the chairman says, “And now, please give a round of applause for the winner of the national competition.” My girl sucks in her breath. “McKenna James.”

McKenna gasps and everyone around our table shouts. She and I jump up, and she wraps me in a huge hug. Having won awards before, I know how exciting this time is, and I want to make sure she enjoys every single second of it. With a big grin, I turn her toward the podium and smack her ass. She stumbles forward a step, then gives me a dirty look over her shoulder. In return, I wiggle my eyebrows.

After hugging everyone at our table, McKenna makes her way up to the stage. Once there, she turns to look out at the audience, her eyes locking on mine. “Thank you to the Consortium for this great honor. I especially want to thank the Artist Adventure Avenue Project for taking a chance on me. I know some issues arose, but I’m glad they’ve all been cleared up.”

She beams at each board member in the front row. “I can truly share that this presentation was a labor of love for me. Working with each of these musicians was like a dream come true. Being around such creativity sparked my own, and I’m so happy you enjoyed the final presentation.”

She takes a deep breath, the orange streak in her hair glinting in the spotlight. “I have to honestly admit that I wouldn’t be standing here today is if weren’t for my better half, Ozzy Martinez. He thinks I saved him, but the opposite is true. The music you heard and saw from him came from his heart. I should know. I was there when he created the songs. He is my inspiration. He knows everything about me and loves me anyway, and I am free to soar because of this fact.”

Tears flow down my cheeks. I’ve never been so humbled and honored. Next to me, Cole puts his hand on my shoulder and leans over. “You deserve her.” He shakes me. Knowing what’s coming up later, he says, “Now, don’t go all pussy on me, or I’ll have to fuck you up.”

I laugh and miss the ending of my girl’s speech, but that’s okay. Emilie motions to the waiter, and shortly we’re presented with glasses of champagne. When McKenna returns to our table, Emilie stands. Raising her glass, she says, “Congratulations to the most talented graphic designer. May your star only rise from here.” We all clink glasses.

A rep who Cole and I both know from Platinum stops by our table. After exchanging pleasantries with us, he turns to McKenna. Even though I try to hear what’s being said, the pair keep their voices down. When he leaves, we all look at her.

McKenna holds up his business card. “He congratulated me on my win today and wants me to come to their offices while I’m still here in LA and to discuss my taking them on as a client! They want me to work with up-and-coming bands.” Her excitement practically bounces off her body.

“That’s my girl! I’m so proud of you,” I say and pull her into my arms.

Once Rose finishes her drink, she says, “Let’s go to our house for a more private celebration.”

WILLS AND COLE surround me while the women are in the kitchen. “You have it, right?” Wills asks.

I pull out the ornate, old-fashioned box that Mamí gave me when McKenna and I visited Puerto Rico a couple of weeks ago. My girl was a huge success, winning over everyone in the family within minutes. And she fell for them just as quickly.

“Good,” Cole responds. “Now, don’t fuck this up or Rose will kill you.”

I snort. “I’ll try not to.” I rub my suddenly clammy hands down my pants. “Were you two nervous like this?”

Cole puffs up. “Hell, no. I knew she wanted to be my wife. It was practically a mercy ask.”

I squint at my friend, then turn to Wills. “How about you?”

The bodyguard-turned-gym owner says, “I asked her on my birthday. She was my best present.”

“Well, shit. Today’s not either one of our birthdays.”

“But she did just win an award,” Wills supplies, punching me in the arm.

“Damn straight she did.”

The women file out of the house, each carrying a couple of platters Rose had her friend-slash-cook prepare. “Grandma Gertie’s out on a date tonight, but she wanted to be sure that we all ate well,” Rose giggles.

Popping a crostini into her mouth, Rose asks McKenna, “How’s your Mom doing?”

“She’s doing great. The doctor changed her meds, and she’s responding really well.”

“That’s excellent news,” Emilie replies.

I swipe a steak finger sandwich and lock eyes with McKenna. Her mother’s new treatment has slowed down the progress of the disease. She even was able to understand when I asked her permission for McKenna’s hand after our trip to Puerto Rico, which she happily granted. I wish I could’ve met her father, but I’m going to spend the rest of my life treating his daughter like the queen she is. Of course, if she’ll have me.

The evening wears on and the platters are decimated. Mainly by the guys, but the ladies didn’t do too poorly. My eyes stray to the pool, with a light show going on. Emilie yawns.

Crap. It’s now or never.

“Excuse me,” I say to Emilie and Wills. “I have something I have to do.” Wills nods at me.

I walk straight up to McKenna, stopping mere inches from her. Cole and Rose, who were flanking her, look at each other and disappear into the background. Cole gives me a thumbs-up.

“McKenna.” The word comes out strangled.

She asks, “Are you okay?”

In the background, Cole snickers. I shoot him a dirty look and try again.

“McKenna.” My voice sounds much stronger. “Your words tonight from the podium honored me, but you truly had things backwards.”

She looks around, as if trying to understand what’s happening.

Ignoring her reaction, I continue, “You saved me. You brought music back into my life. You reminded me what fun is, because any time I spend with you—whether we’re out on dune buggies, indoor skydiving, exploring new places, or simply unwinding together is fun. With you, McKenna, my life is complete.”

I drop to one knee and pull out the box my abuelo offered to my abuela decades ago. My body’s shaking so badly, though, that I can’t keep my balance. I put my other knee on the ground and look up at my love. “I’m not on one knee—but two—asking if you’ll be my wife.”

She looks down at me, her head nodding “yes” before the word escapes her lips. Then they’re on top of mine.

Pulling back, I slide the square sapphire ring onto her finger to the sound of applause from our best friends. “I know this isn’t your typical engagement ring, but it was my grandma’s. Mamí wanted you to have it. She loves you as much as I do.”

Tears flow down her cheeks. She’s never looked more beautiful to me.

I take a deep breath. “And I can’t wait to proudly wear your ring everyday for the rest of my life.”

Whatever life throws at us, we have the support around us that we need. Plus, we have each other.

I wrap myself in the arms of the woman I love, breathing her in. And I hold still.