Devotion (Club Destiny 5)

Luke watched her, feeling the eyes of the group behind her boring into him.

“I need you to let me get through this before either of you say anything at all.”

Luke nodded, as did Cole, but neither of them said a word. Luke wasn’t sure he’d be able to find his voice if he had to.

Sucking in a deep breath, Sierra took the piece of paper and unfolded it, glancing down as she did.

“Back when the three of us made this official,” Sierra motioned the three of them with her hand, “the two of you gave me rings which I proudly wear each and every day.”

At the mention of her rings, Luke glanced down at her finger, expecting to see the two bands they’d given her, but they weren’t there. His heart skipped a beat, and he wondered whether they’d be making use of those defibrillators they’d had installed.

“I won’t lie, I’ve always dreamed about having a wedding, wearing a white gown and walking down the aisle. However, all of those little dreams of mine seemed so insignificant when I met the two of you and fell in love with not one but both of you at the same time. I decided I could easily live without that tradition because it didn’t mean anything if I couldn’t have both of you.

“However, one thing I’m not willing to sacrifice in this relationship is the comfort and reassurance that the little piece of paper that so many people take for granted can bring to a relationship. Having that paper might not be necessary when it comes to explaining my love for both of you, but it is something that would help us not to feel so temporary.”

Luke swallowed hard as he watched a single tear streak down Sierra’s face as she glanced back and forth between them. He no longer felt the stares of the people behind her because somewhere along the way, he’d tuned out everything except this woman and the man standing beside him.

“In the last couple of months, the three of us have finally come to terms with our own insecurities, and honestly, I wasn’t surprised to find that each one of us felt exactly the same way. This isn’t temporary. It never has been. I know we’re feeling our way through this, but one thing I’m not willing to do is to let either of you think that we won’t get through the ups and downs. Together.”

Glancing down at the piece of paper and then back up at them, Sierra smiled. It was the most beautiful smile he’d ever seen.

“I’ve learned from some very open and honest people, who have been so kind as to share their experiences with me, that we aren’t the only ones who have wanted something more… how should I say this? Permanent?

“Hold this,” Sierra handed him the piece of paper, “but don’t read it.”

Luke grinned. He was just about to do exactly that. Watching her, he noticed that she had a small black velvet box in her hand that had been hidden behind the paper. She slowly opened the lid and reached inside before looking back up at them both.

“I’m not willing to marry just one of you because I wouldn’t be able to choose and quite frankly, I don’t want to. I want to marry both of you. I don’t need the State of Texas to give me permission to do this in order for me to make it official. When you read the paper – not yet, when I tell you to,” Sierra inserted the last part as Luke was just about to look down at the paper.

The crowd behind her laughed.

“I want this to be binding because no matter what, my heart belongs to both of you and it always will. I know that the two of you feel the same about me, as well as one another,” Sierra said as she swallowed hard. Luke wanted to reach out and pull her into his arms. He fought the urge.

Sierra reached out and took Luke’s hand, sliding something over his left ring finger and then doing the same to Cole before she looked back up at them, more tears filling her beautiful blue eyes.

“What you’re holding might not be a marriage license honored by our great state, but it is a legal contract. It’s real. Paper or not, I need you both to understand that you belong to me. Today, tomorrow, forever.” Glancing down at the rings and then back up at them, Sierra continued, “I had them engraved.”

Sierra pulled her ring from her finger and held it up for them to see. Luke noticed that she did have the original rings they had given her, only now they were soldered together to form one.

“All three of them say the same thing,” she said, her voice breaking. “Everlasting Devotion.”

As though her last words opened the dam, Sierra’s tears began flowing steadily, and Luke was unable to stop himself from reaching for her at the same time Cole did.

Applause broke out behind them as the three of them stood motionless in front of a sea of people witnessing this moment right alongside them.