She nods and wishes me good luck again before heading off to grab more glasses. Youssef finds me soon after that, sliding a hand around my waist after I’ve dropped off the last of the glasses.
“I think they’re about done here. Take one with me before we head out?”
He holds up his other hand, and I notice the tequila bottle with about two shots’ worth of liquor sloshing around the bottom.
I narrow my eyes. “Did DeeDee give you that?”
He grins. “Maybe. I might have mentioned I wanted a moment alone with you.”
He takes my hand and starts steering me away before I have a chance to question him. We move past the staff members finishing last minute tasks and head for the kitchen. The hallway leading there is dark, but when we turn the corner, I find the steel appliances all strewn with multicoloured string lights that make the empty room glow.
“Uh, Youssef, why is the kitchen full of Christmas lights?”
He chuckles, and I turn around to face him. His skin is lit up with all the different colours.
“I was going to use candles, but apparently that’s a safety concern, so DeeDee found these in the bar’s storage closet. I figured you would find candles too cheesy anyway, so this is my attempt at a romantic setting.”
I blink. “Why do we need a romantic setting?”
He shrugs, still grinning at me. “Because I wanted a moment just for us. We’ve missed a lot of those.”
“No.” I shake my head. “We’ve always been exactly where we need to be.”
I believe that now, with everything I have. This path is the right one.
He stays quiet for a few seconds, and then he nods. “You’re right.”
He steps past me, and that’s when I notice the little tray set up with two shot glasses and lime wedges. I suspect DeeDee has struck again.
“Have a drink with me?”
He pours the shots and holds one out to me before raising his and catching my eyes.
“To us.”
I just look at him for a moment—really look. He’s beautiful. It’s not just his face or his eyes or his smile. It’s everything he is, everything he means to me. I feel it every second I’m by his side.
Whatever comes next, I know that’s where I’ll be.
“You ready?” he asks.
I clink my glass to his. “I’m so ready.”
* * *
