Thank you, Elli Adler.

Vaughn made a face then asked, “Why? What are you doing?”

“We’re picking up necklaces for Mekena and her mom. They have a little charm with the ashes of Mekena’s sister who passed a month or so ago in it,” Markus said, and he didn’t miss the sadness that took over Stan’s face or the pure alarm on Vaughn’s.

“Oh, yeah, count me out on that. Not to sound insensitive, but that’s sad as hell,” Vaughn said, holding his hands up. “I’ll be at the bar.”

He turned and walked away, leaving Jayden to shake his head. “He’s such an ass.”

Markus scoffed but shrugged his shoulders. “You don’t have to leave, bro.”

“No, man, it’s good. Go ahead, I’ll go eat and entertain JoJo. Come join us after, please,” he said, more to Stan than Markus, due to the simple fact that Markus was his ride, so obviously, he’d be coming.

“Yeah, maybe,” Stan said, holding his hand out. Jayden took it as Stan said, “Just in case, it was good to meet you.”

“You too,” he said with a nod before turning and walking away, sending Markus a small smile of encouragement.

He didn’t even know he needed it until that moment.

Sucking in a breath, Markus looked at Stan. “Let’s do this.”

Entering the store, they told the clerk why they were there, and she took them to the viewing room. As they waited for the jeweler who was in charge of the special pieces Markus had ordered, Markus leaned back in his seat, looking over at Stan.

“So, how are you?”

Stan nodded, wringing his fingers together. “Okay, taking each day as it comes.”

“Linda any better?”

He shrugged. “Some days, but it’s been hard. On both of us.”

“I’m sure, but I think this will help a bit.”

“Yeah, thanks for this. It’s a wonderful idea, and I think she’ll love it. So will Mekena.”

“I hope so,” Markus said optimistically as he crossed his arms over his chest.

“How’s Mekena? I haven’t talked to her in a few days.”

“Working a lot and getting the apartment exactly how she wants it. It’s going well,” he said, letting out a breath. He hated small talk. It drove him crazy, but he was nervous. He wasn’t sure why, but he was. He knew Stan liked him; that wasn’t the problem. Really, he wasn’t sure what his problem was, but his heart was pounding and his stomach was a mess.

Thankfully, the jeweler who had done Markus’s order entered with a smile on her face. He was excited when Jayden had suggested Marylou to him. She was a genius when it came to jewelry, and when Markus told her what he wanted, she came back at him with the most amazing stuff. Stan had loved the design, and Markus was excited to see the final piece.

“Hey, Markus. Mr. Preston, I presume,” Marylou said as both men stood, shaking her hand. Markus noticed in her other hand were three little boxes, and his heart kicked up in speed as she set each out. He knew what each one held, and the last one made his heart skip a beat and then crash into his stomach. He felt Stan look at him, but it was only for a second before he looked back down at the three little boxes.

“I thought we only ordered two?”

Marylou smiled as she nodded. “You did, but this third box is something special that Markus ordered,” she said with a wink, and Markus smiled over at Stan, who just looked confused. Reaching for the first two boxes, she opened them to reveal a beautiful pendant that almost looked like a galaxy of stars, but it was really crushed up jewels mixed with Skylar’s ashes. It was stunning, and on the back, it was engraved with, “I’ll meet you in the stars.”

Markus reached out, cupping Stan’s shoulder as he fought back tears.

“It’s beautiful.”

“It is,” Markus said, the emotion thick in his voice.

“I’ll give y’all a moment,” Marylou said, walking out the back, and Markus smiled when Stan looked over at him.

“This was a great idea.”

“I hope they think so too.”

“They will,” he said, running his finger along the pendant. “You’ve been really great, Markus. I don’t think I’ve said that enough. Linda and I really appreciate everything you’ve done for our family. Taking care of Mekena, of us, cooking, cleaning—it’s been really great of you.”

“I wouldn’t want to be any other way,” he said, his voice rough and not really sounding like his own. “I love Mekena. I’d do anything for her.”

“Oh, I know. We all know… Hell, everyone knows,” he laughed, wiping away his tears. “The way you’ve stood by her is really something, and I’m very lucky to know you’re the man who loves my daughter.”

Swallowing hard, Markus held Stan’s gaze and said, “And the man who wants to marry her.”

Stan paused, his eyes widening. “I’m sorry, what?”

Reaching for the third box, Markus opened it to a stunning four-carat teardrop diamond that had a row of smaller half-carat diamonds encircling the band. Holding it up, he knew he had the biggest, goofiest grin on his face, experiencing the same feeling of wonder he had when he first saw the ring. He had only meant to come to the store to order Mekena’s and Linda’s gifts, but then he saw the ring he knew belonged on Mekena’s finger.

The ring that symbolized his love for her.

Meeting Stan’s wide eyes, Markus’s grin grew. “I never have nor will ever love anyone like I do Mekena. I want to marry her. I want to make a life with her, but I can’t do that in good conscience without knowing you support us. So may I please marry your daughter?”

Stan looked away and shook his head. “She’s so young.”

Markus’s heart dropped, taking his breath away, but somehow, he said, “Eh, she’s very mature, though.”

Stan laughed. “She’s been very mature since she was about nine.” Markus’s heart was in his throat as he waited for Stan to answer him. When he looked up to Markus, he was smiling. “She’s my baby, and I’ve always had such a special place in my heart for her. She’s so damn smart, sarcastic as all hell, and I swear, sometimes I think I can’t love her enough. But then I met you, and I can’t help but feel like you love her even more than I do.”