I Couldn't Ask For More

~Roman~

It’s funny how time flies by when it felt like yesterday; I was naked, kneeling down on one knee, pleading for Viviana to accept me and be my wife.

Three months have gone by since then.

In our villa’s guest room in Las Mencía, I studied the reflection of the man staring back at me in the full-body mirror.

A perfectly pressed Prussian-blue suit clung to his body with crisp white dress shirt underneath and a tie with light blue and silver patterns clinging to the collar. A boutonniere of white orchids and lavenders attached to his lapel, a miniature version of his wife’s bridal bouquet.

What he wore looks expensive, a magazine-worthy attire, but that isn’t what he wanted to freeze at this moment. It’s the happiness etched on his face.

“Goddammit. I’m getting married,” I said out loud, hoping it would make the floating in the cloud sensation in my chest go away. “This is real. Believe it, you idiot.”

Since that night in Positano, I wished to pull the days forward, and now that it’s here, I want to slow it down and rush into it in equal want, eager to call Viviana Mrs. Roman Castillo.

Fuck. After this day, she’ll have my name permanently. I can’t fucking believe this.

“Believe it,” Xavier chuckled, strutting inside the room in his gray groomsmen suit.

“Want me to punch you in the gut?” Bellowed Nico, following Xavier inside.

I bid goodbye to my solemn inner monologue as Mateo, Lu, Bo, and Diego chimed in with their suggestion on helping me believe all of this was real. Congratulations from my friends flooded my ears.

Lu went behind the mini bar, took out shot glasses, and poured each of us a shot of whiskey.

“To Viviana, for taking back this idiot,” Mateo cajoled, raising his glass.

“To naked proposals,” Diego butted in, which had all of us chuckling.

“To fucking naked proposals,” I second.

“May you fulfill your promise of protecting Viviana, or I’ll have to put a bullet between your eyes,” Bo said, which silenced the laughter inside the room.

I swallowed hard as chills spiraled down my spine. Bo and Viviana had been thick as thieves, and I know for a fact that he is much like an older brother to her. They have this connection I would never understand, and his threat was the nail to the coffin that this day is indeed fucking real.

Bo slapped my back. “Congratulations?” His words came out like a question more than an offer for a toast.

“Fuck, Bo,” Xavier grunted. “Can’t you just shut your mouth? Look what you did. Roman is paler than his dress shirt.”

I want to agree with Xavier. I prefer the silent Bo more than this one standing beside me.

“I promise to take care of her, Bo,” I said, patting his back in return, grateful for his concern for Viviana. “And if I fuck anything up, do me a favor and speak to me before putting a bullet between my eyes.”

With that, everyone laughed. As the mood lightened, we raised our glasses and finally ended the fucking toast.

Everyone scattered around the room as we waited for the wedding planner to tell us it was time to take our spots in the garden where we will have our wedding. It was intimate. We wanted to share this leap in our relationship with only our closest friends and family.

I kept glancing at my wristwatch while speaking with Xavier about his itinerary with Zia and Franco while they were in town. There was a knock on the door, and Nico volunteered to open it while I gave Xavier the list of best places to see here in autumn.

“Roman,” Nico called.

“Is it time?” I turned, only to halt at the sight of Rio standing in the doorway.

“Hey,” he smiled. The last I saw him was when I flew him to Red’s in L.A., that was five months ago. He was flesh and bone back then, with hollow eyes, cheekbone, and collar bones sticking out of his skin. Now, he looks a lot better. The light in his gray eyes was back, but hesitation was clearly written on his face.

I took away the distance between us and hugged him like it was the last time I’d ever be able to do so.

“You fucking made it,” I said, slapping his back.

He hugged me back. “I did.”

I wished for him to be here, but I didn’t want to get my hopes up. Viviana pushed me to send him one as we were sending out invitations. I was hesitant to do so since I thought it would only add to his stress. Now, I’m fucking glad we did.

Everyone exited the room, giving Rio and me time to catch up. Viviana made it possible for him to have a pass by calling in a few favors, and it made me lightheaded to know that Rio talked to her first before coming here.

“She kinda hates me again,” Rio said as we stood on the balcony overlooking the busy crowd gathered in the garden.

It was like an enchanted garden down there, one could mistake it was springtime rather than fall. Flowers decorated the makeshift aisle between rows of gold chairs with white cushions. It begins with an arch overflowing with white roses, dotted with orchids and lavenders and ends in the makeshift altar where we will be saying our vows under the a pergola of the same white and purple flowers bespeckled with fairy lights.

“Give her time,” I offered, but Rio merely chuckled.

“She told me to fuck off because I ruined her makeup for showing up here looking better and sober. She said it’s easier to hate me when I look like a wreck and then wrapped me in a bone-crushing hug. I don’t even know if she was hugging me because we were starting to be okay or if she aimed to kill me.”

I shook my head, laughing. “I guess it’s both.”

A comfortable silence hovered between us as people filled the seats in the garden.

“I… I want to say thank you,” Rio said, shoving his hands in his pockets. “For not giving up on me when I gave up on myself.”

A lump swelled in my throat. I won’t take credit for his improvement because that was all on him. But it was nice to hear and see a glimpse of the sober Rio, my brother who was full of life and hope.

I squeezed his shoulder. “We don’t give up on our family, Rio. If I go down that road, I hope you won’t give up on me too.”

He hummed. “I think Viviana will kick you in the nuts before I can.”

Despite the sincerity of our conversation, I laughed out loud, thinking of how lucky I am to have her in my life. “I bet she would.”

“She’s a gem, Roman,” Rio said. “I’m happy you ended up together despite everything that happened.”

“Me too… and I couldn’t ask for more.”