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“Jordan …”

My heart yanks sideways, kicked by the fear that continues to grow. This is going on too long. If it's not ayesthan it must be a no. But that's impossible because she loves me. I've felt the heat of it, the way she clings to me between tears or sighs or moans. I've never wanted anyone the way I want her and if she doesn't wantme,then what's left?

It takes all my effort to move my lips. “If you don't want to marry me, throw this ring in the ocean. I can't look at it if it's not wrapped around your finger.”

Lorikeet gently pinches the ring between her thumb and forefinger and takes it from me. New anxiety spikes in my blood. As I look up at her angelic face, she holds the ring high. The summer sun cascades across the surface. Diamonds flaring, but they're not as bright as her. Nothing is.

“You threw away the last one I wore,” she says. Her eyes drop to me. They're wet, tears spilling down over her smooth cheeks. One lands on my chin. I don't wipe it away. “I'll never wear another. Yours is the last, Jordan. Do you understand that?”

“Yes,” I hush.

“Then put it on me,” she says, chin twitching, “so I can finally have a real wedding.”

My smile spirals free. She sees it, copies me, and starts to sniffle. Holding her wrist, I gently slide the ring into place. It locks in. “Perfect fit,” I say.

“Why wouldn't it be?” she asks. “It belongs there.”

There's a loud whistle down the beach. Lorikeet turns, both of us realizing we have an audience. It's not as big as the one at the parade. It doesn't have to be. These are people who love Lorikeet, like I do. People who want her to be happy. No strangers lurk with judging eyes to question her choice.

“I love you,” I declare, wrapping her in my arms. I swing her around, her feet off the ground. She squeals, laughing as sand blows around us.

“I love you, too,” she says, kissing me without anything to hold her back.Thisis love. This feeling that disseminates inside me, that grows so fast it could rip us apart if we don't share it. It started in the darkness … a love that didn't dare to be seen by others.

The seed began with a simple prick of my thumb. After that it settled into a scar.

Nothing in the world can crush my desire for this woman. She rose to meet me with an ache just as powerful.

Now we spin in the sun.

Now we're seen in full color.

Now we bloom.

And we'll never stop.

The End