Page 95 of Monstrosity

"Hell of a day," she says as I settle beside her.

"Good day though."

"The best." She holds up her hand, admiring the ring in the fading light. "I still can't believe it's real."

"Believe it. You're stuck with me now. Officially stuck."

"My favorite kind of stuck." She curls into my side. "The girls were amazing today. They're so happy."

"They've been waiting for this," I admit. "Florencia asked me months ago when I was going to marry you."

"What did you tell her?"

"That things like that take time." I laugh. "She said I was being too slow."

"Smart girl."

"Gets it from her mom." I kiss the top of her head. "Both of them."

We sit in comfortable silence for a while, watching the sun set.

This is what I never thought I'd have again—peace, happiness, a future to look forward to instead of just surviving.

"What kind of wedding do you want?" I ask eventually.

"Nothing huge. Just family, the club. Maybe in the backyard? The girls would love that."

"Whatever you want. Long as you're there and you say 'I do,' I'm happy."

"That's all?" she teases.

"Maybe a cake. Cali was pretty insistent about cake."

"Multiple cakes," she corrects. "Can't disappoint our wedding planners."

"God forbid."

"Rio?" Her voice goes serious. "I want to do something for Flora. In the ceremony, I mean. Honor her somehow. She's part of our story."

This woman. This amazing, perfect woman who understands that loving me means loving all of me, including my past.

"She'd like that," I manage past the lump in my throat. "Maybe... maybe the girls could do something? Light a candle for her or something?"

"That's perfect." She tilts her face up for a kiss. "I love you."

"Love you too. Future Mrs. Rojas."

"Mm, I like the sound of that."

"Yeah?"

"Yeah." She stands, pulling me up. "Come on. Let's go celebrate our engagement properly. Again."

"Insatiable," I tease, but I'm already following her inside.

"You love it."

"I love you," I correct, pulling her close as soon as we're in our room. "Everything about you. Your heart, your strength, the way you love our girls."