Court

“We are gathered here this evening to celebrate a momentous occasion, a dream a lifetime in the making and fulfilled tonight.” I met Rin’s eyes, sharing a smile that spoke a thousand promises. And then I shifted to look up and behind me. “David.”

A rising affirmation rose from the crowd around me, champagne glasses in hand.

“There are too many people to thank, too many minds that contributed to this exhibition that was too ambitious, too big for its own good.”

A laugh through the crowd, and this time, my father and I connected eyes.

He offered a nod of approval as I continued, “But I have a few people who, without their daily effort, without their full devotion and dedication, we would never have succeeded. First, to my father, whose allowance of my mania cleared a path for the exhibition’s achievement. And to the Accademia, for so generously agreeing to loan us one of the greatest masterpieces to ever exist. To Stephen Aston, my assistant curator, for stepping in at the eleventh hour and picking up the project in its wildest and most disheveled state. You, sir, have done your job better than I could have hoped and with a positive attitude I could never hope to achieve.”

Another chuckle, and Stephen, who stood with Rin and her friends, raised his glass with a nod and a smile.

“And last but certainly not least, I have to thank my fiancée.”

Rin flushed, her face soft and so lovely.

“Without you, we wouldn’t have ever obtained this statue, this dream of mine. Without your unwavering support, the tireless hours of research and writing, the surrender of your time and energy and of me, achieving this exhibition would have been impossible. And without you, this would mean so much less than it does. Thank you for everything, especially for loving an obsessive workaholic who won’t take no for an answer.”

She raised her glass, her ring twinkling and her eyes shining as the room hummed once more with laughter.

“And to you, patrons, donors, friends of the museum, this dream of mine is now yours, an exhibition to feed the minds of millions of visitors, to bring art that has shaped our world into the lives of so many. Cheers to each of you.” I raised my glass, commanding all of them to do the same.

And with a rolling round of Salud and Hear, hear, we drank.

The crowd began to disperse, and I wound my way through the crowd to her. Always back to her.

I didn’t acknowledge anyone until I pressed a swift kiss to her lips, reveled in her smile, lost myself in her eyes just for a moment.

“Ugh, get a room,” Val said with a laugh.

I pulled Rin into my side and smirked at Val. “Thanks for coming tonight.”

“We wouldn’t have missed it,” Katherine said. “That statue was the catalyst for a mess. We had to see what the fuss was about.”

“And what’s your take? Was it worth the trouble?”

Her face softened with reverence. “Absolutely.”

Amelia nodded and took a sip of her drink.

Val hooked her arm in Rin’s. “So, do we get our roommate back now that the exhibition is open?”

“Mmm. Maybe,” I joked, not really joking.

Val pouted. “Learn to share, Courtney!”

That one set my lips flat. “Dammit, Valentina, I swear to God—”

“Courtney William Lyons, the third—do not take that tone with me. It’s not my fault you get chatty when you drink tequila.”

“Well, it’s not my fault you make margaritas that could burn a hole through solid steel.”

She laughed. “You get her forever. Just loan her to us a couple of times a week until then.”

I sighed. “Fine. Live it up while you can.”

Rin chuckled, leaning into me, and my arm around her tightened.

“I’m stealing her,” I announced. “I’ll bring her right back, I promise.”

“You’d better,” Katherine said, but she was smiling—honest to God smiling at us. In fact, all three of them were, their faces happy and approving and wistful.

I took her hand and towed her through the crowd, setting my champagne on an empty table, and she did the same. She let me lead her, as she so often did, letting me forge my way, giving me the room and permission to grow and be and do without obstruction, only encouragement.

The last few months had been, without question, the happiest of my life.

It was true, what I’d said—we’d worked nonstop on the exhibition, hobbled for a few weeks until we hired Stephen to pick up where Bianca had left off. He was a fantastic assistant, and the best part—he was straight as an arrow. Not that I was worried about my self-control, but never would I give Rin even a cursory reason to wonder or worry where my loyalties lay. They were with her. Always. Forever.

Her internship had ended, her proposal had been accepted by her adviser, and her dissertation was in progress. Somehow, she’d found time to not only invest an ungodly amount of hours in the exhibit, but she’d also helped Stephen get acclimated, worked on her PhD, and still found spare energy to support me, to lend an ear, a mind to commune with, arms to hold me, and a heart to share.

I’d once thought giving my heart away would leave me empty. But it hadn’t—now I had more love than I knew what to do with. More love than I deserved. But God, if I wouldn’t spend every day honoring her love with my own.

I pulled her into a quiet part of the museum, at the edge of the exhibition. And I brought her to a stop in front of Carracci’s The Lamentation. The painting I’d first kissed her in front of.

She smiled up at me. I smiled down at her.

“You did it,” she said.

I pulled her into me. “We did it. I meant what I said, Rin. I couldn’t have done this without you, and I wouldn’t have wanted to try. Sharing this with you has made it all that much sweeter.”

A sigh, such a blessed sound. “I love you.”

“I love you, too. The sinner and the saint. Me and you. You’re a saint, Rin, and it’s only by your grace that I’m the man I’ve become, the man I want to be. How can I repay you? How will I ever return what you’ve given to me?”

She reached for my face, met my eyes, so steady and sure. “You’ve made me who I am, too. As far as I’m concerned, we’re even. Tell me you love me.”

My heart ached, brimming with adoration and devotion. “I’ll love you forever, Rin. I love you with all of me. I’m yours.”

“And I’m yours,” she said, her red lips smiling. “Now kiss me in front of Jesus, Dr. Lyons, before I die.”

And with a smile of my own, I did just that.