The Boys Who Loved Me - Krista Wolf Page 0,76

shower stopped. Rather than hand them out, he waited until Warren was dressed and ready, which took all of three minutes.

“We ready?” he asked, sliding his belt through the belt loops to complete his ensemble.

“Well thanks to you I should probably change my panties,” I chuckled. “But other than that—”

Suddenly they were around me, as they so often were. It happened extra abruptly this time. A glass of champagne was shoved into my hand, and before I knew it we were making a toast.

“To us,” said Luke. “And three whole years together.”

My eyes glassed over a little. Especially as they all spoke in turn.

“Three amazing years,” added Warren. “With the most amazing girl in the world.”

He clinked glasses with me, as my gaze fell on Adrian. His eyes were glassy. I’d never see him this close to crying.

“These…” he hesitated, his voice thick, “… were hands down the best three years of my life.”

He looked at me, and I all but melted.

“I love you Kayla.”

“So do I,” said Warren.

“So fucking much,” Luke grinned.

Our glasses clinked, and before I knew it we were drinking together. I could barely get the bubbling liquid past my throat, though. I had so much to say.

“I… I’m so in love with you too!” I practically cried. “I mean, I never could’ve imagined. I’m the luckiest girl in the world! To have your friendship, your companionship, our history together — all of it, at once.”

I couldn’t help but look down. The moment was too overwhelming.

“And most importantly of all,” I said, raising my gaze again. “Your love…”

My speech ended abruptly when I realized something was being held out to me. It was a rectangular silver box, with a shimmering blue ribbon. My heart nearly stopped.

“This isn’t an engagement ring,” Warren spoke up, “but this is an engagement.”

He handed me the box. The hand that took it trembled so violently, I could barely close my fingers.

“We want to marry you,” Adrian said next. “You’re already ours. Hell, you’ve always been ours…” His face broke into a beautiful smile. “But right now, we want more than anything to make you our wife.”

His hand closed over mine, steadying it. I was bawling. Crying…

“The three of us went ring shopping,” Luke began softly, “and we quickly learned one thing.”

I sniffed, drying my eyes as he stood there looking back at me. “And what’s that?” I croaked.

“That we really suck at it,” Luke smiled. “That’s why we thought you’d like to pick out your own ring. That we could take you ring shopping as many times as it takes, and you could find something exactly perfect.”

“Just like us,” Warren winked.

I was out of my mind by now. Totally overwhelmed by emotion, as Luke’s hand joined Warren’s in touching my wrist.

“Then w—what’s this?” I asked, still trembling. I held up the box.

“Open it and find out.”

In the end I couldn’t do it — they physically had to help me. Warren held my wrist steady while Luke pulled on the ribbon. Adrian carefully removed the lid, revealing a beautiful heart-shaped locket on a long silver chain.

I gasped and reached instantly for my own locket… and found nothing but my bare neck.

“Do you have any idea how hard it was to get this off you without you knowing?” Luke smiled.

Slowly I plucked out the locket and held it up by the chain. It was definitely mine. The same one from the time capsule.

“When you told us the story of how you dug this back up,” said Warren, “the three of us were touched. It’s a symbol of your past. An important piece of your history, in remembrance of your loved ones.”

I couldn’t breathe. I couldn’t see. My tears were streaming now, down both sides of my face.

“We’re your future now,” said Adrian. “The four of us — and more of us…” he slid one hand down over my belly. “A family. Forever.”

Slowly, Luke reached out and opened the locket. A tiny photo took up each side now, where only blank space had been. Smiling pictures of my mother and father, frozen in time, on each side of the heart.

“But this family,” Warren said gently, pointing to the tiny photos, “is one we never want you to forget. And you do that by keeping them here, next to your heart.”

Gingerly he took the chain from my trembling fingers. Adrian helped him slide it around my neck, and together they engaged the clasp. The locket fell between my breasts, resting where it always did. Only now