SARAH Can someone please tell me why Jaxon has been weird as hell all freaking afternoon? Between his awkward silence and weird obsession with his phone, it’s really hard to pick which is getting on my nerves more. And every single time I’ve called him out on it, he’s looked at me with innocent eyes round with remorse—only to do the same fucking thing again. During my mani-pedi, he excused himself twice to make calls. And now, as I step out of the car at the vineyard, he’s practically vibrating with nerves. I’ve asked, believe me, over and over again if he’s okay, and I’m about to do it again. For the fifteenth time in five hours. PSA: I’m not exaggerating. “You okay?” I ask, watching him fumble with his keys. He fiddles with the top button of his grey shirt. One would think it’s ninety degrees out here with how much he’s sweating. I watch him blink twice before turning to me, the brightest fake smile glued on his face like a mask. “Perfect. Great. Why wouldn’t I be?” He grabs my hand, a little too tight. “Come on, let’s go around back.” I squint, staring straight at him. “Why?” He looks thoughtful for a second before he blurts out. “The sunset view is better from the lake.” Careless, I note. There had been no mention of seeing the sunset. So, there’s definitely something he wants me to see. It might be linked to why he’s been jumpy all evening. “We just got here. I would like to show Ronan and Malachi my hair before we…” “They’re out back,” he cuts in. When I don’t budge, realization flickers in his eyes. Jaxon stiffens for a moment, but he quickly recovers and stretches his hand out again. “Trust me.” Something in his voice makes my stomach flip. I heave a sigh, rolling my eyes. “Fine.”As we walk down to the back to see the sunset he so desperately wants to show me, my heart slowly sinks to my stomach. It’s an odd feeling, really. The vineyard is very quiet, the lights in the house are turned off—which makes sense if Ronan and Malachi are out at the back. Maybe we’re having dinner by the lake. I did get this dressed up for dinner anyways—but it feels like there are at least twenty pairs of eyes watching me from every corner. My knees buckle slightly, and Jaxon throws his arms over me, but his eyes are facing the balcony. I frown and poke his arm. “Is there someone up there?” He blinks at me. “What?” My scowl deepens, then he shakes his head. “What? No. No. I’m sorry.” He slowly steadies me, but his right arm remains glued around my waist for the rest of the journey. “Jaxon, I swear to God, this better explain what the hell has been going on with you all evening, or I’m going to have serious issues with…” I freeze. Every single bone in my body connives with every muscle to keep me glued on the spot. Jaxon’s right arm trembles behind me, and I know why now. I can fucking see why. The entire path to the lake is lined with lanterns, glowing soft and warm in the approaching dusk. String lights are woven through the vineyard behind us, creating this canopy of stars. Tears gather in my eyes, but even that feels frozen. And the dock…the dock is lit up, straight out of a dream, stretching out over the water. “Jaxon,” I whimper, unable to turn to him. “What…what is?” He gulps down so hard, I can hear him. “Keep walking, baby.” My legs feel shaky as I move forward. The lanterns guide me down the path, and that’s when I see them. Ronan and Malachi, standing at the end of the dock, both dressed in matching navy blue suits. It’s only at that moment I realize Jaxon is wearing the exact same thing! My heart is racing faster than I know how to control. “What’s happening?” I whisper. “Go to them,” Jaxon says softly, releasing my hand. “I’ll be right behind you.”Oh my God. Oh. My. God. I walk. Each step feels surreal, and I’m shaking so hard like it’s winter in Antarctica. The cold breeze that blows through the fabric of my moss green backless dress doesn’t make things any easier. The lilies near the gazebo are at the perfect height. I can see straight over them to the lake: a mirror to the nearly thousand lights all over the place. I try to laugh, but I end up choking on the sob in my throat. All this for dinner? But I know…I can feel it. This is something huge. When I reach the dock, Ronan extends his hand. I take it, and he pulls me close. “Hi, kitten,” he purrs, kissing the side of my head. “Hi.” My voice cracks. “What is all this?” “This,” Malachi says from my other side, “is us telling you what we have wanted to say since the night at Vincent’s bar.” All of me, by John legend, filters through the air immediately after Malachi's done speaking. Then the mist screen over the lake flickers to life, and suddenly I’m staring at myself. Me in Mykonos, laughing at something off-camera. Me in the hot air balloon, face full of joy. Me asleep in their bed, peaceful. Me and Kevin at my college graduation, young and filled with hope and joy. I’m also so skinny, I can’t help the laugh that rips through my throat amidst the tears rushing down my eyes. “When did you—” I pause, trying to breathe. “How did you get these?” “We’ve been planning this for a while,” Jaxon says, appearing at my back. I’m surrounded by them now, cocooned in their warmth. Ronan turns me to face him fully. His blue eyes are intense, burning with something that makes my knees weak. “Sarah,” he starts, and his voice is rough. “I’ve spent most of my life carefully constructing walls so no one could get in, hurt me again,” He reaches up, cupping my face with both hands. “Then you showed up and destroyed every single one. You made me want things I never let myself want. Made me believe I could be more than what I was.” I shake my head. “Ronan—”“I’m not done.” His thumb brushes away a tear. “You’re the center of everything. Our family, our future, our reason for breathing. And I need you to know that for the rest of my life, I’m going to protect you, provide for you, and love you with everything I have.” He steps back, and Malachi moves in front of me. “Hey, sweetheart,” he says, voice soft and a little shaky. He clears his throat. It doesn’t make it better, but I don’t give a shit. Nothing else matters right now. “You know I’m better with actions than words, but you deserve the words too.” He takes my hands in his, squeezing gently. “You walked into our lives and made everything make sense. All the pieces that never quite fit suddenly clicked into place. You’re the kindness I didn’t know I needed. The softness in all our sharp edges. And loving you…” his voice breaks, “…loving you is the most important and best thing I’ve ever done.” “Oh my God!” I cry out loud as streaks of tears rush down my cheeks uncontrollably. The more the brothers try to wipe it away, the more it comes. Soon, they give up, and decide to just let me feel it, all the joy that leaves me a sobbing mess. I try to fan the tears away with my fingers, but it's no use. Jaxon’s in front of me now, and he looks more serious than I’ve ever seen him. The boyish grin and shifty smile is gone. All I see now is a determined man, a strong willed one. “Baby,” he says, taking my face in his hands. “I’ve never been good at playing it safe. Never been good at holding back. But with you, I don’t have to. You take every piece of me, the intensity, the emotions, all of it, and you don’t just accept it. You love it.” His Hazel brown eyes are glassy. “You love me. All of me. Just like the song.” He pauses, and I chuckle. “And that’s the most terrifying, incredible thing that’s ever happened to me.” He steps back, and suddenly all three of them are dropping to one knee. If this is a dream, I don’t ever want to wake up. “We know this isn’t conventional,” Ronan says. “We know the world might not understand,” Malachi adds. “But we don’t care,” Jaxon finishes. “Because you’re ours, and we’re yours, and that’s all that matters.” They each pull out a box from their pockets. Three boxes. Three rings. “Sarah,” they say in unison. “Will you marry us?” My lips part, but I can’t speak. Can’t breathe. Can’t do anything except stare at them through my tears. “Take your time, baby,” Malachi says, smiling through his own tears.Take my time? To hell with that! I’ve waited so long for this, I have no intention of wasting one more second! “Yes,” I finally find my words. “Yes, yes, oh my God, yes!” They’re on their feet in an instant, and I don’t even know who kisses me first. It’s a tangle of hands and mouths and laughter and tears. Ronan’s arms around my waist, Malachi’s hand in my hair, Jaxon’s forehead pressed against mine. “I want to see them,” I demand, pulling back just enough to look at the rings. Ronan goes first, slipping a platinum band on my left ring finger. The center stone is teardrop-shaped, surrounded by tiny diamonds that make it look like it’s floating. But it’s the color that steals my breath: deep crimson, almost scarlet. It’s not a ruby. I’ve seen rubies. This is… different. Brighter somehow, more vivid, like someone distilled the color red down to its purest form. Malachi’s ring goes on my right hand. His is rose gold with smaller diamonds trailing around it like stars. Jaxon slides his onto my left hand, stacking with Ronan’s. It’s bold, white gold with an alexandrite center stone surrounded by diamonds. I hold up both hands, staring at them. Three rings, and a promise of forever. “They’re perfect,” I whisper. “You’re perfect,” Ronan corrects. “We got one more thing,” Malachi says, grinning. He pulls out his phone and taps something. The music changes, and suddenly fireworks are exploding over the lake. I gape at the colors bursting across the water while my photos continue cycling behind them. “You guys are insane,” I laugh. “This is completely over the top.” “You love it,” Jaxon says smugly. “I do.” I look at each of them, these three incredible men who somehow chose me. “I love all of this. I love all of you.” “Good,” Ronan says, pulling me against his chest. “Because you’re stuck with us now.” “Forever,” Malachi adds, wrapping his arms around both of us. “And ever.” Maybe it’s the proposal, maybe it’s my hormones again, but the scent of the colognes fill me with an overwhelming need for one thing, and one thing only: them. Fuck dinner. I want them to make love to me here and now.