The next week passes in a blur. We’re not going to set a wedding date just yet, but we’re going to wear our rings.

For now, that’s enough for me. I know we need to do this the smart way and set up everything in a prenup first, draw up our wills, all of that. We drive down to Miami on Thursday, because he wants to be at the office first thing Friday morning to clear out his office.

I know Desi isn’t looking forward to breaking the news to his parents. Mostly the news about him leaving the firm and leaving Miami. Ironically, the news about him marrying me isn’t what he’s worried about, because at least they’re not homophobic bigots.

They’re just very…classist, I guess?

I always sensed his mom resented me. Before all of this, I didn’t realize how much of that was due to the fact that she wants to live vicariously through her son’s achievements. I mean, it takes the wind out of her sails if she feels she needs to hide the fact that he walked away from a job making a lot of money to return to a quiet small town, restart his practice there, and settle down with the man he loves.

That’s not very flashy, to be sure. Not when she’s got friends whose children are doing amazing things all over the globe in a wide variety of activities both personal and professional.

Desi wants to pack up the condo and load the truck before telling her. So we can get out of town quickly once it’s done. I hope that timeline works for him, except I have a feeling Freddy might still spill the beans to Desi’s parents before Desi’s ready to deal with them. That was one wet-hen angry dude when he left my house. According to Desi, Freddy’s supposed to be terminated from the firm today. Once that occurs, who knows what’ll happen with the guy?

I don’t feel sorry for Freddy one bit, either. Desi’s mine.

Thank god.

Desi’s arranged for a real estate agent to meet us at the condo Friday morning after we return from clearing out his office, so she can take pictures before we start packing and making a mess. Our goal is to leave Miami on Monday morning at the latest. We might be able to leave Sunday, depending how fast we can complete the packing.

As we drive to Miami, we don’t talk much about the confrontation I’m certain hovers not too far over the horizon. Part of me knows Desi’s dedicated to me. He’s wearing his ring, isn’t he?

Part of me still replays Freddy’s barbs in my head and wonders if I made the right decision.

I hope I did. I love this man and want to spend the rest of my life with him.

Late Thursday evening, we’ve just arrived at his condo when his personal phone rings.

He groans and answers. “Hi, Mom.”

I leave him there in the living room and head to his bedroom, to the master bathroom there. I don’t want to listen to him talk to his mother. All I want to do is get a good night’s sleep so we can kick butt in the morning. We’re picking up the moving truck on the way to the office. We brought some boxes with us, so we can get started on the kitchen tonight, but the bulk of the moving will take place tomorrow and Saturday.

I emerge from the bathroom to find him sitting on the end of the bed and looking morose. “Well?”

“Mom and Dad are on their way over here.”

My gut tightens. “And?”

“I’m going to tell them when they get here.”

I don’t know what to say to that, so I stare at him and wait for him to continue.

“Freddy just left their place, sobbing his heart out to them.” He looks disgusted. “Obviously, his story bears little resemblance to the truth.”

Relief fills me and I walk over to sit on the end of the bed next to him. “And?”

“I told her Freddy’s a liar and if they want the truth they need to come here now.”

“You told them to come over?”

“Yeah. I’m not waiting. They already know something’s up.” He reaches for my hand and laces fingers with me. “You’re still stuck with me.”

I tightly squeeze. “Do you want me to leave while you talk to them?”

“Absolutely not. You’re my fiancé and I love you.”

My heart swells with joy. That’s the first time he’s used that particular word within my earshot, at least. Fiancé, I mean.

“Yeah?”

“Yeah.” He frowns. “Wait, did you worry I’d—”

I silence him with a kiss. “I love you—stop talking.”

Twenty minutes later, the door buzzer sounds and I’m standing next to Desi when he opens the door.

His mom reacts first and instantly. “What are you doing here?”

I hold up a hand. “Hello, Mrs. Keiser. Long time, no see.”

“Desiderio, what is the meaning of this?”

Desi waves them in and closes the door behind them. “Let’s cut right to the chase—I’ve resigned from the firm and I’m moving back to Maudlin Falls to marry Tom. I’m listing the condo tomorrow.”

I don’t think we could have shocked her more if we’d both sprouted extra heads and eyeballs. “What? You can’t do that!”

“I already have done it, Mom.” He drapes an arm around my shoulders. “Freddy got fired because of a lot of things he’s done that are shady, not just because of what he tried to do to me. I was the last straw.”

“B-but you make so much money!”

Desi’s voice drops, deep and cold. Vicious. “Last time, Mom. I’ll write you and Dad a check you can go deposit in the bank to reimburse you for my college and law school education. Take it or don’t, I don’t care. But this is the absolute last time you throw it in my face that you paid for me to go to college.”

“What are we supposed to tell our friends?” she wails.

His father quietly stands behind her, arms crossed over his chest as he stares at his feet. He looks very uncomfortable, but I suspect it has more to do with her than Desi’s revelation.

“How about the truth? That your son is an attorney, he’s very happy with the man he’s going to marry, and he’s returned to Maudlin Falls to be with him. If you’re ashamed of your son, that’s your problem, not mine. It’s not my job to be an accessory for you to flash in front of your friends.”

Her mouth gapes like a fish and she’s about to speak again when Desi’s father lays a hand on her shoulder and squeezes, silencing her.

“Son, I’m very happy for you both.” He makes a point of looking me in the eyes. “I always did like you, Tom. If this is what Desi wants and needs to be happy, then of course you have our love and support.”

His mom’s head snaps around as she stares at him. “But—”

“No buts,” his dad says, cutting her off. “I love Desi. I’m done letting you try to mold him to whatever perfect vision you have in your brain about his life. Time for you to let go.” He returns his focus to Desi. “Of course you aren’t going to pay us back for college. We wanted you to be able to make a living for yourself, and you are. If we needed the money, it’d be different, but we don’t. Will you let us take you boys out for dinner?”

I follow Desi’s lead and he looks relieved. “Thanks, Dad. Yeah, that’d be nice.”

They hug, then his dad hugs me. “You might as well call me Dad, too, son,” he says. “We’ve certainly known you long enough.”

His mom stands there, stunned. “We need to talk about this, and—”

“The only thing we’re talking about,” his father says, “is where we’re going for dinner. Just stop it. Now.”

Her mouth snaps shut and she stares at him, but I think Desi’s dad just found his spine.

Finally.

Thank goodness.

Later that night, as we’re lying in bed with full stomachs, we’re too tired and emotionally wrung out to do anything but hold each other and talk.

“I think your mom finally realizes her hold on you is over.”

“Yeah,” he says, snuggling me tighter against him. “Thank you.”

“For what?”

“For your patience.” He kisses me. “For forgiving me. For the second chance.”

“Yeah, well, you’re worth it.” A sweet quiet fills the room. “As long as you don’t give our cat peanut butter again.”

He bursts out laughing and it’s the best sound in the world next to him telling me he loves me.