I am basically running up and down the bedroom and closet, trying to get ready as quickly as possible. This is all my fault for deciding to join Angelo in the shower in the first place, now i myself, who was half way done with getting ready, will have to start all over again.

Angelo on the other hand, will only take about ten minutes to get ready, and probably scold me for being late.

I stand infront of the dressing mirror, furiously try to dry my hair with a towel, while he comes up behind, making sure to brush into me, grabs something off the tabletop and lingers just enough to annoy me.

I remove the tower off my head and look at him through the reflect.

"You don't have all day, hurry up" He winks and walks away.

I sit down and look at him again through he mirror, he looks relaxed, doing his thing, knowing he will be done before me.

My hair and my face will be the biggest problem for me right now. I decide to go with a tight bun on top of my head. I don't have time for anything fancy, i already ruined the hair i had people spend hours working on earlier.

This is a really special day and i want to look my best. My best friend is getting married, who would have thought. Luke is getting married and i couldn't be happier.

The past two plus years, have been great for him and i am so excited that he is taking this step.

A step Angelo and i would have taken too along time ago, if it weren't for me. Today isn't just Luke's wedding day, but it would have been my engagement day too, instead, it's the day i rejected another one of Angelo's proposals. If i had said yes, i am sure we would be husband and wife right now.

I would be lying if i didn't admit i think about that alot and wonder how nice that would feel. I don't regret refusing the first proposal, we were not ready and it was the right thing to do, we both agreed on that later a hundred percent. It's the second one i have doubts about.

We were both in such a great place with our careers and our family and our relationship was going really really well. Then the proposal happened, and i am not really sure why i said no. I guess some of the reasons Angelo initially had against marriage, sort of sunk into me, and i was just afraid of rocking the boat when everything was going so well.

Plus after making it clear we were never going to take that path before, i thought i would make him sweat it out abit....anyway i genuinely thought we would talk about it further when it happened, but to my complete surprise and horror, our family and friends popped out from hiding and the narrative that i had said no, was sealed in ink.

I would have gotten married if he really wanted to, i told him that, but he said it wasn't the same thing, and i remember that that's exactly how i felt too when he suggested way back that if marriage meant that much to me, he would do it even though he didn't believe in it.

I wanted to talk about it further, but it had to wait until after everyone was gone and even then, he didn't want to talk about it anymore, said that everything was ok. But the fact that he didn't want to talk about it ever again, or even just joke about it, made me realise just how much it really bothered and cut him deep.

It's been a year now, and my biggest fear, is that he will never ask me again, because i would say yes, in a heartbeat if he did. I also don't like knowing i hurt his feelings.

I look at him now, sitting on the bed, tying his shoes, then lazily putting on his watch.

He has a whole bunch of expensive wrist watches in his closet drawer, but he only ever wears that same one, everyday. The same watch i gifted him, and the same wallet too. Every single day.

It warms my heart, i should have said yes. I want to say yes.

But i am so afraid he will never ask me again, and i wouldn't blame him. I have thought about asking him myself, or atleast just talking about it, letting him know how i feel, but wouldn't that be selfish on my part, to sudennly change my mind again, and expect him to just get on board? What if he is not ready now, or just not interested anymore again.

"You are wasting time, stop staring" he mumbles, without even looking up at me. He literally just felt my gaze.

I shake my head and concentrate on myself.

"Ahhhh" he sighs, laying back on the edge of the bed with his feet still touching the floor, now fully dressed, except for his jacket.

I pulls out his phone and starts pressing it, as he waits for me.

After a while, i walk to the foot of the bed, close to him.

I could just ask him right? i mean, women do that nowadays. Would i have to kneel or something too? Or make a big romantic gesture? Perhaps i could just throw it in the conversation casually, or maybe like a joke and see how he reacts to it.

But considering i let him down twice, this guy has just enough crazy in him to roast me, or say no, just to teach me a lesson.

"More staring? Did you want something Ms Wright?" He asks, without looking away from his phone.

Ms Wright?

I don't like how that sounds right now.

I bet he did that on purpose.

The smirk on his face says he did.

"I am ready" I say.

He puts his phone down and looks at me from his position on the bed, then sits up, and looks at me up and down slowly, then smiles.

"You look absolutely beautiful" he murmurs, standing up.

"Thank you, you don't look so bad yourself" I respond, taking his hand as he leads me out of the room.

*

"I can't believe Luke is really getting married." I turn and murmur to Angelo as we sit in church, waiting for the bride to walk in.

He scoffs.

"You can say that again" he responds, looking a little disinterested in the subject. I turn to my Mom, who was also invited, considering that she has such a close relationship with him, and i find that like me, she looks just as excited and emotional.

We are in church, the place looks beautiful and angelic, the atmosphere is charged with love and good vibes, i am surprised Angelo isn't tapping into it.

I can see Nick and Ally, sitting a few pews away from us, looking all loved up. Nick was invited because of his business relationship with Eva's family.

I also notice Rachel is here too with her boyfriend, whispering and talking closely together.

I smile and turn to the front, and look at Luke, and find that he is already looking at me, i smile even wider. Luke is standing with his brother, Shawn, who is the best man, and Cole his other friend from work. They all look incredible in their black tuxedos.

Luke winks at me and i chuckle softly, feeling like the joy will burst from my soul. I feel so happy and proud of him. He and Eva made it work. They had a hesitant start, but shot off like a kite once they got over their initial inhibitions.

He took me to lunch recently, and said 'She's the one Mary...she makes me feel like i can do anything, be anything. And i can't imagine my life without her. I think i want to ask her to marry me' he had said. And now here we are.

He took her to meet his family and they instantly fell in love with her.

When he starts to talk about her, he just has this glow about him, and it makes me so happy that he found something like that. Something like what i have too.

We have come along way, he and i, saw each other through some deep moments. Seeing him now, looking so content and happy, makes me want to cry. He smiles and mouths 'I love you' and i smile and do the same.

Angelo, who upto now, i thought was disinterested and not paying attention, catches that and scoffs again.

"Are you crying? the wedding hasn't even started yet" he asks condescendingly, elbowing me in the ribs.

"I am just really happy, ok?" I pout.

He gives me a look, as if he wants to say something more, then looks away without saying anything at all, shaking his head alittle.

Church Bells ring, and we are all stand up as the bride walks in, looking like a vision in white, her father at her side.

The whole ceremony goes on beautifully, and by the end, i am a complete emotional mess.

Through out the whole ceremony though, every now and then, i would feel Angelo look at me longer, or squeeze my hand, and by the end of it all, our fingers are entertwined lovingly, and before, we stand to walk out of the church, he kisses my shoulder and cheek.

The reception goes on just as beautifully. We share a table with Nick, Ally and Rachel and her boyfriend Chris.

Later, Angelo and Nick leave our table to talk to Eva's father with whom they are well acquainted, I remain at the table with Ally, Rachel and Chris.

I turn and watch Angelo, talking with his hands in his pockets, and throwing his head back in laughter over something someone says.

I never get tired of that view, watching the way his muscles fit so perfectly in his clothes.

He walks and talks with such confidence and boldness, such that it commands both respect and attention. Right now, his hands in his pockets are causing his suit pants to stretch over his backside, showing off the taut back muscles, the strength in them so magnificently evident. I stare longingly at the view.

Because of his close working relationship with Eva, they share alot of mutual friends and acquitances, so I have watched him talk to many people in the room, some of whom, he has introduced me to already, and each time, i find myself admiring how everyone stops and pays attention when he speaks.

Looking at that man, who commands so much respect and recognition, and knowing that he is mine, knowing that to me, he is just a man that loves me so unconditionally, so completely, who looks at me like i am the most valuable, precious thing in any room we are in, and my heart warms at the thought.

Watching him laugh, is my aphrodisiac. To me, that's when he is the most sexiest. When he laughs so genuinely, his face reflects the slightest bit of his dimples, his eyes sparkle, and it makes him look so young and youthful, full of life, and i fall in love with him all over again. It overwhelms me.

"What's wrong?" Ally asks, watching me watch Angelo.

"What? What do you mean?" I ask, briefly looking at her, then back at my man.

"You are looking at him as if he is something that is out of your reach. Actually, you look like you have a little crush on him" she chuckles.

"Awww, that's so cute" Rachel murmurs.

I sigh and look back at them, pouting. further

"What if he never asks me again?" I say out of the blue.

"Ask you what?" Ally asks.

I give her glare and she laughs in realisation, a little too loudly such that it draws people's attention. Even Angelo and his group look back at us briefly.

"I am sorry, but are you serious?" She giggles.

"Forget it" I say, grabbing my wine glass and taking it all down in one take.

Mom looks at me wide eyed from another table, and shakes her head in wonder.

"You want him to propose again?" She whispers this time and i nod.

"Aww Mary, then why not just ask him about it. Or tell him you changed your mind?" Rachel says.

"After what i did? What if he changed his mind, i wouldn't blame him. I don't think i could handle rejection the way that he does" I reply.

"Mary, Angelo loves you, i am sure if he knew you felt like this, he would ask be happy to ask." She says, but honestly, i don't know.

"Just ask him... Women can do that too you know" Chris says.

"No way...I just...aahhh..maybe it's the wedding that's making me feel this way...I will probably feel differently tomorrow, just forget it" I say, putting on a fake smile.

But who am i kidding, i am not fooling anyone, not even myself.

"I mean, it's Angelo, we love each other, and we can always talk to each other about anything, I should be able to tell him this right? So i changed my mind and would like to get married and........."I stop talking when Rachel gives me a warning glare and clears her throat.

"Hey babe, can you come with me for a moment, i want to introduce you to someone" Angelo says, standing right next to me. I didn't even see him coming.

Please tell me he didn't hear any of that.

I smile and look up at him, he smiles back and pulls my chair out.

Shit!

He introduces me to not just one but a couple of people who seem to be keen readers of my work with Lorenzo's publishing firm.

I turn back to our table and see Ally and Rachel, looking at me in amusement, probably laughing at me and i turn back to Angelo before they distract me.

For the first few minutes, i am tense, wondering if he overheard anything, but in his typical way, he is quite casual and does not give off anything. Eventually i let it go and relax.

Like he always does, he introduces me to people and just lets me rumble on with them as he watches on, only adding to the conversation when it is required. It used to bother me at first. I always felt like i didn't know what to say to his associates or friends.

"I like how you handle yourself. You hold your own. You're confident and are up to date with many subjects of interest. You are interesting to listen to, and it makes me very proud to stand next to you" he had responded.

So now, that has made me even more confident, often making him the center of our conversations and jokes, knowing that if the conversation got uncomfortable or awkward at any point, he would put a stop to it.

*

Before the newlyweds leave for their honeymoon, i manage to have a moment alone with Luke and again with both him and Eva, to wish them well in their new life together.

Eventually, the day ends and it's time to go home.

*

Back at the house, as we leave the car and head in the direction of the house. Angelo asks if i want to take a walk outside for a bit, before going inside.

"You just read my mind. I was going to ask you the same thing" i say, taking his hand.

The night is beautiful and it gets me excited about being outdoors. The holidays are coming up and we have our very first family vacation planned in a couple of weeks. This will include all of his family and mine for a week together in Tuscany, Italy.

We reach the stairs leading to the lawn and i finally pluck up enough courage to speak about what he could have heard earlier.

"Can i ask you something" I ask.

"Anything, shoot" he says.

He stops walking and leans against the wall on one side of the steps and faces me.

I liked it better when we were walking and i didn't have to look at him directly when speaking.

"Ok, uhmm, before at the wedding, when you came to get me so i could meet Lt Frazer, did you hear what i was saying?" I ask, liking how straight forward the words came out, despite how much my stomach is stirring right now.

" I did" he answers simply.

Ohh!

"You did?" Another confident sentence, so far so good.

" Yes" he replies, his hands in his pockets, his gaze unreadable.

C'mon, gimmie something.

" Wh...what did you hear?" I finally faulter

He looks away for a bit, then looks back at me.

"I heard what you said" he shrugs

"What did i say?"

"Mary? You know what you were saying, what to you want me to do, repeat it?" He says, still leaning against the wall very casually, his hands still tacked in his pocket.

I frown.

"I just..." I turn around, and then look back at him.

"You are enjoying this aren't you?" I ask.

He looks too cool, almost cluesless, makes me wonder if he as actually heard anything at all.

I hold his gaze and i consider changing the subject....then he smiles, almost as if he just realised he broke me.

"Angelo....!!!!" I grumble.

He smiles more and opens his arms.

"Come here" he says softly.

I continue to stand there, a couple of steps above him.

"I just...."

"Marianne, come here" he says more firmly.

"No, i want to say something.....

......Look, i know that there are alot of good qualities about me that you love, like the fact that i am smart, witty, beautiful......." I smile and chuckle at the last one and Angelo just full on smiles, and bites his lip, looking and listening to me.

"I mean, it's hard to resist.......but i also know that i am stubborn, too stubborn sometimes, indecisive, I overthink, maybe just a little bit, and maybe just a little bit annoying as well sometimes..... fill free to stop me....." I offer, but he just shakes his head and waits for me to continue.

"I know it's not easy loving me....i don't know how you put up with me sometimes....but lately, and especially today, i have been thinking..........thinking about everything i thought i ever wanted in my life...everything i had planned out...and realised none of that happened the way i wanted...instead, i got you and you gave me far more than i could have ever imagined for myself...You are my greatest treasure.

And i am not talking about thee incredible, wealthy, intelligent man that everyone holds in such high esteem, i am talking about the man..the one who would drive me to work in the morning, then go back home so he could go to work too, the one who encouraged me to drive when i was too terrified to do it myself, the one who went to visit my Mom so he could convince her just how much he cares for me, the man who thinks i am the most beautiful woman in the world, even though i know that am not, the one who gave me two children, when i thought i would get only one.

Today i feel like i can fly, like i am soaring, in everything i do, my career, at home, everything, not because you gave me wings...but because i know that you will always be there to catch me if i fall....

.....before, i was always so afraid of everything, of failing, of being alone, of letting people down...now, the only thing i am afraid of, is losing you...." I say and sigh.

He is no longer smiling, but looking at me intensely.

"I guess what i am trying to say is....."

His smile returns and i blush...he knows what i want to say, but won't go easy on me.

"What's that?" He asks, his voice, hoarse and heavy.

Crap!!....

I am really about to say this..

"Come here" he says again, when i hesitate, extends his hand towards me.