Chapter 243: Operation: Proposal

Chapter 243: Operation: Proposal

Miller

My head felt like it had been run over by a Zamboni. Twice. I woke up with a deep, aching throb behind my eyes and a mouth that tasted like I had licked the bottom of a wine barrel.

I yawned hard, stretching my arms above my head as the sheets slid down my bare chest. The room was bright, morning light pouring in through the glass doors that led to the balcony.

Salt air drifted inside, carrying the distant sound of waves. For a second, everything felt perfect until I reached to my side and my hand met nothing but cool, empty sheets.

Leo was not there.

My heart slammed against my ribs. The fear hit fast and stupid, the kind that comes from too many late nights worrying about him pulling away.

I sat up too quickly, the room spinning slightly as I scanned the space. The bed was rumpled where we had fallen into it last night, my clothes still in a pile on the floor from when Leo had gently undressed me.

But there was no Leo. The balcony doors were cracked open, and the sheer curtains drifted lazily in the breeze, yet the room felt too quiet.

"Leo?" My voice came out rough.

Then the door to the hallway clicked open.

Leo stepped in, carrying a tall glass of water in one hand and two white tablets in the other. He looked fresh, wearing loose shorts and a soft white T-shirt that clung lightly to his shoulders.

The morning light caught on his glasses, and he smiled the second he saw me sitting up.

"Good morning," he said softly, closing the door behind him with his foot.

Relief flooded me so hard I almost laughed. "Morning," I rasped, rubbing the back of my neck. "For a second, I thought you had disappeared on me."

Leo crossed the room and sat on the edge of the bed beside my hip. "Rhys gave me these. Advil. You needed them after last night." He held out the tablets and the water. "Take them. Your body is still metabolizing the alcohol, and dehydration makes hangovers worse."

I took the pills and swallowed them with a long gulp of cold water. It felt like heaven sliding down my throat.

When I lowered the glass, Leo was watching me with that quiet, caring look he gets when he is in full doctor mode but trying not to sound like it.

I set the glass on the nightstand and reached for him, pulling him into a hug.

My arms wrapped around his waist, and I buried my face in the crook of his neck, breathing in the clean, coconut scented warmth of his skin. "I got way too drunk last night," I mumbled against him. "Could not even do anything. Sorry I turned into a singing idiot instead of... you know."

Leo laughed softly, the sound vibrating through his chest into mine. He hugged me just as tightly, one hand rubbing slow circles between my shoulder blades. "You will have your moment," he promised, his voice warm with amusement. "I am not going anywhere. And you were adorable last night. Drunk Miller might be my new favorite version. I have to admit."

I pulled back just enough to kiss his cheek, my lips brushing his soft skin. "You are too good to me."

Before I could say more, Leo turned his head and our mouths met.

It started slow and warm, the kind of kiss that feels like coming home.

His lips were soft, tasting faintly of the island air. I cupped the back of his neck, my fingers sliding into his hair, and he leaned in deeper, parting his lips so I could taste him properly.

The kiss deepened, passionate in that quiet, morning way where every small movement mattered. His tongue brushed mine, gentle at first, then bolder.

I felt the heat build between us, the way his hand gripped my shoulder, the soft sound he made at the back of his throat when I tilted my head and kissed him harder.

My free hand slid down his side, pulling him closer until he was half straddling my lap on the bed.

The sheet slipped lower. Things were definitely getting heated, my body waking up fast, his breath quickening against my mouth, his fingers tightening in my hair.

A sharp knock on the door made us jump apart.

"Guys, it is time," Rhys called from the hallway.

I groaned, my forehead dropping to Leo’s shoulder. "Time for what?" I muttered, still catching my breath. "What the hell does he want?"

Leo chuckled and kissed the top of my head. "You will find out. Come on, get dressed."

I pulled on shorts and a clean T-shirt while Leo waited, then we headed out hand in hand.

The terrace had been completely transformed. The housekeepers Rhys had hired must have worked early. The barbecue mess was gone, the table wiped clean, fresh flowers arranged in a vase at the center, and comfortable chairs set in a loose circle.

The morning sun sparkled off the ocean below, and the air smelled like coffee and salt.

Rhys was already there, and he stood when he saw us, grinning like something huge had just happened to him.

We all sat down, and Leo did not waste time.

"Miller," he said, squeezing my hand under the table, "Rhys has something big to tell you. He is planning to propose to Kayden before we leave the island."

My eyes went wide. I stared at Rhys. "Wait... propose? Like, marriage propose?"

Rhys nodded, rubbing the back of his neck, suddenly looking a little shy for the first time since I had known him. "Yeah. I want to do it here. On the island. Before we go back to the real world and the season starts again."

I let out a low whistle, a huge grin spreading across my face. "My boy has grown up," I said, wiping a fake tear from the corner of my eye.

I reached across the table and clapped him on the shoulder. "Rhys freaking Calder, the guy who used to act like he did not believe in anything permanent, is about to put a ring on it. I am actually proud of you, man. This is huge."

Rhys laughed, his cheeks turning red instantly. "Yeah, well... Kayden changed everything. I want him to know I am all in. Forever. I love him so much, and I do not want to wait any longer."

Leo jumped in smoothly. "So we need to help plan it. Let’s do something special, something that feels like us."

Rhys leaned forward, his elbows on the table. "I was thinking of something simple, but I want it to be perfect. He deserves perfection because he is Kayden. So, any ideas?"

I sat back, the hangover fog clearing as my brain started working. "Since we are on the island," I said slowly, the idea forming as I spoke, "we should use everything we already have here."

I glanced out at the water, then back at them. "Here is what I am thinking. We take the yacht out at sunset tomorrow evening, just the two of you. We will set things up with whatever planners you hire, then you bring Kayden to join you. I am thinking a cove proposal."

Leo smiled beside me, nodding.

Encouraged, I continued. "If you do not have planners yet, get some immediately. We will set up a small area on the beach, nothing over the top. Just soft lighting we can turn on as the sun goes down, a blanket, lanterns, something magical that will make Kayden feel special the moment he sees it. You get down on one knee right there in the sand, with the waves behind you. Tell him the truth, that this island is where everything changed for you two, and you want every future sunset to start with him."

Rhys burst into laughter. "I love the idea. Very magical indeed. I do not need the coconut shell box though. I already have a ring prepared."

"Oh, sweet," Leo said, nodding excitedly. "The sunset timing will trigger all the right endorphins and serotonin. It will feel magical without being staged. Beautiful moment indeed," he added, fist bumping me.

I grinned. "Exactly. We can even have the jet skis ready nearby, so if Kayden gets overwhelmed, you can race back laughing or something. Keeps it light, like you wanted."

Rhys rubbed his hands together, already looking more confident. "I love it. Miller, you are a genius." He winked at me.

"Anything for my boy who is in love," I teased, and he burst into laughter.

We spent the next twenty minutes going over details, where to hide the lanterns, what Rhys would say, how we would distract Kayden during the setup.

I suggested a fake "engine check" on the yacht so Leo and I could slip away and set everything up.

Rhys practiced his words under his breath while Leo gave him quiet advice on pacing. The conversation flowed easily, full of teasing and laughter, the kind that reminded me why these guys were my family now.

Toward the end, as we finalized the timing, a soft yawn came from the doorway.

Kayden shuffled onto the terrace, his hair sticking up in every direction, eyes still half closed. "How long have I been sleeping?" he mumbled, rubbing his face.

Leo did not miss a beat. "Approximately nine hours and forty two minutes, which is well within the optimal restorative sleep range for adults recovering from emotional stress and physical activity. Your REM cycles were probably excellent."

Kayden blinked at him, then burst out laughing. Rhys and I joined in immediately, the sound echoing across the terrace and out over the water.

"Only you, Leo," I said, pulling him closer and kissing his temple. "Only you would turn a hangover nap into a medical report."

Kayden dropped into the empty chair beside Rhys, still chuckling. "I do not even want to know what you three were plotting while I was out. But whatever it is... it better involve more of that Osea Sunset Grill tonight."

We all laughed again.