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“I knew it!” He pointed at me accusingly, but I wasn’t ashamed.

“So what? We had a quickie. Can you blame me? That woman is intoxicating.”

“Well, I can’t confirm that because I’m allergic to cats, but I’m happy for you. And I won’t tell anyone.” He mimed, zipping his lips. “But my intuition is never wrong.”

“Thank you, and I’m happy for you, too. David is the best. And you’re going to run out there and tell him.” I walked down the hall and heard him cackling, and I figured I was right.

After dinner, we all sat around while Ty regaled us with the story of Greg getting the boot at work. I never thought he would get fired after being there for so long, but he had let his personal life take precedence over work. I didn’t know if Steph was still a part of that life, but I honestly didn’t care.

Greg showed his true colors when Tom told him it was time to go, and he threw a tantrum. Seeing a grown man stomp and cry and scream about how this company would be nothing without him made me realize I had been right about him all along.

As the night was winding down, I had one more surprise I wanted to do. I’d texted Toni before she came to tell her my plan, and she was more than willing to help. It was hard to be sneaky with so many people around, so I decided to do it in front of everyone.

“Hey, all. I want to thank you again for coming. This has been an awesome night, and we really will miss you.”

“Let’s be real. I doubt we’ll be a second thought in your mind while you and Leia are… seeing the sights,” Ty chimed in, and I laughed.

“That’s probably true, but we do love you and we’re glad you made it. I asked Toni for a special favor tonight, and I want you all to witness it.”

Toni brought out her tools and laid them on the table. “You ready?”

“As I’ll ever be.” I was excited but also a little nervous. I’d never been a fan of needles, and the thought of them being repeatedly jabbed into my arm was making me second-guess my decision. But seeing the look on Leia’s face made my fear dissipate.

“Sweetheart, what are you doing?” Lay questioned.

“I’ve asked Toni if she’ll give me a tattoo that connects to your puzzle piece. I want it to be your match. That way, when we walk side by side, they’ll fit together—like us. Yours says, ‘ti trovero’ or, ‘I’ll find you.’ Mine will say, ‘mi hai trovato’ or, ‘you found me.’”

Tears were welling up in Leia’s eyes. She rushed to me and took my face in her hands as she placed the sweetest kiss on my lips.

“You mean everything to me, and you don’t have to do this. I’m not going anywhere.”

“I’m not doing this out of obligation. I’m doing this because I love you, you complete me, and I want a piece of you with me at all times.”

She gazed into my eyes and then kissed the top of my head like she always did. “You don’t have any idea what this means to me.”

“Well, it means a lot to me, too—possibly even more. Babe, before you, I was walking around on my own as if I didn’t need anyone or anything. I thought I was happy, but I had no idea what happy was. You made me see things with brand-new eyes. With your love, you chiseled away my protective wall, and I opened my heart to you, which has been, hands down, the best decision I’ve ever made.” I stared into those beautiful, misty eyes.

“Everything always leads back to you. Life without you wasn’t really living. Love without you wasn’t really loving. And being without you is no longer an option. You’re mine, and I’m yours—in the past lives, in this life, and for all the future lives we get. But when we meet again, our souls will look back at this moment right here, and know that we had the greatest love of all.”

There wasn’t a dry eye in the house, not even Ty’s.

"You are the sun that brightens my days and the moon that guides my nights. I’d be lost without you." Leia wiped the tears off my cheeks and studied me one more time.

“Let’s get this show on the road!” Ty yelled, and it was obvious he was trying to play off his emotions. “You might be crying for a different reason once it starts.” He chuckled, and I gave him a warning glare.

Needless to say, this was a night I would never forget. It was full of laughter, fun, love, and Ty losing an eyebrow, but that was a story for another time. What I would remember the most was the feeling I had every minute I spent with Leia. And I said a special thanks to the universe for letting me get to relive that over and over.