Photo shoots, Ethan learned as he played the role of dutifulboyfriend, were shockingly tedious affairs, and everyone on the crew wasimpressed with Roman’s patience and professionalism.
After the Colosseum came a day of shooting at TreviFountain, followed by the Spanish Steps, just below their hotel. Then theirtime was their own again, the city theirs to explore.
There was only one event left on their schedule.
And only Ethan knew about it.
But Roman had his suspicions, and at dusk one night as theylay entwined on one of the cushioned loungers on their suite’s balcony, Romanasked, “Want to tell me why you told me to bring my own tux?”
“Nope.”
“Or why you brought one too?”
“Tomorrow night we’re headed to the opera,” Ethan said andenjoyed the sight of Roman’s jaw going slack and his eyes going wide. “Turnadot.Your mother’s favorite.”
“The opera,” Roman said, his voice thick.
“You’re gonna cry,” Ethan said.
“I’m not. Shut up.”
“You’re crying. I knew you’d cry if I told you.”
Roman sank back down onto Ethan’s chest. “I’mgentlycrying.”
“And that’s just fine. I love that you’re my bigmuscle-bound boyfriend with a soft, gooey center.”
“I’m not a pastry, Ethan.”
“Maybe not, but you’re good enough to eat.”
Which he did a fair amount of later that night and thefollowing day.
As they walked with crowds of operagoers toward the starkfaçade of the Teatro dell’Opera di Roma, Ethan’s heart was in his throat.Inside, the theater was several stories of gold gilt and red velvet, with fourrows of boxes ascending toward the domed, frescoed ceiling. He’d reserved thema box on the second level. With one hand on the small of his back, he gentlyushered Roman ahead of him into their box, heart hammering as Roman pulled backthe red velvet curtain.
When Roman froze with a small gasp, that’s when Ethanrealized it had all gone to plan.
He watched Roman bend down and pick up the small velvet boxthat had been resting atop a rose laid across one of the chairs. Ethan vowed toemblazon this image in his memory, to hold it close for all time—Roman, wideeyes glistening as he picked up the ring box, one of the world’s most beautifulopera houses stretching out behind him.
Then he turned. Behind Ethan, Rachel, Andy, and Donnie,who’d arrived the day before in secret, stepped through the curtain and intotheir little box.
Blinking back tears, Roman stood up straight.
And that’s when Ethan sank to one knee, gently taking thering box from Roman’s palm and opening it.
“Restless Roman, you will forever run circles in my heart.I’d tell you that you were everything I dreamed I’d find one day, but I didn’tknow to dream of someone as wild and beautiful and wonderful as you. Throughoutour lives, we have meant different things to each other. But from this dayforward, I want to play only one role in your life. The man who protects you,nourishes you, and loves you.”
“I get to cry now, right?” Roman croaked.
“If the answer’s yes, then of course, baby.”
“Yes,” he said, nodding as the tears came. “Yes, EthanBlake. I will marry you.”
“Now’s the part where you kiss him, Romy,” Rachel whispered.
As more heads turned to take in the scene in their box andthe familiar pose of a proposal was recognized, a little ripple of cheers brokeout. And they kissed for the first time as fiancés.
A short while later, they were sitting hand in hand as LucyRusso’s favorite aria, the one that had once sustained her heart, rose to therafters and beyond. And as the music soared, Ethan, hand in hand with Roman,felt like he’d touched the sky once more.
