The Nevada desert, vast and stark, eventually gave way to the first tentative signs of civilization. Billboards for sprawling casinos and dazzling shows began to dot the roadside, growing larger and more frequent with every mile. Remy, who had been excitedly planning a future filled with artisanal cheese-delivering pigeons, gasped, pressing her nose to the RV's panoramic window.
"Theo! Look! We're here! Vegas, baby! The land of questionable decisions and even more questionable fashion choices! It's glorious!" Her voice was pure sunshine, utterly unburdened. The last remnants of her perceived ticking clock had vanished, replaced by an infectious, boundless zest for life. She bounced in her seat, practically vibrating with excitement.
Theo chuckled, a low, rumbling sound in his chest. He watched her, a profound tenderness softening the usual sharp lines of his face. Her joy was a tangible thing, a constant source of wonder and delight for him. He remembered the fierce, almost desperate edge to her enthusiasm when she thought her time was limited. Now, her excitement was pure, unadulterated anticipation for a future that stretched out endlessly. And that future, he promised himself, would be with him.
The velvet box, tucked securely beneath his seat, felt like a burning ember, a constant reminder of the monumental question he was about to ask. He had spent the last few days agonizing over the perfect moment, the perfect setting. A romantic dinner? A quiet moment under the stars? But this was Remy. Her world was chaos and vibrancy, and somehow, the sheer, audacious spectacle of Las Vegas felt… right. It was a place of new beginnings, of reinvention, a glittering antithesis to his shadowed past.
He navigated the RV through the increasing traffic, the city's iconic skyline rising into view. The Strip unfurled before them, a dazzling ribbon of neon and glass, a sensory overload designed to overwhelm. Remy was a breathless symphony of gasps and exclamations, pointing out every iconic landmark.
"Oh my god, it's the Eiffel Tower! And a pyramid! Theo, it's like someone threw a giant architectural party and invited everyone!" she shrieked, then spun in her seat, her hand coming to rest on his arm, her eyes shining with pure delight. "This is going to be amazing! What's first on our list, Theo? A ridiculous buffet? A magic show? Do you think they have giant churros here?"
Theo tightened his grip on her arm, his thumb stroking her skin. He leaned in, his voice low, his lips brushing her temple. "Whatever you want, Remy," he murmured, his gaze intense, filled with an unspoken promise. "Everything you want." He felt her shiver, a delicate tremor that had nothing to do with the city's chill.
He managed to secure a spot at an upscale RV park on the quieter side of the city, a small oasis of calm away from the Strip's relentless energy. Even there, the distant hum of the city, the faint glow of the neon, permeated the air. As he parked, and the engine died, the silence felt charged, pregnant with possibility.
"I need to make a few calls," Theo said, forcing himself to move, to maintain some semblance of his usual routine, even as his heart pounded with anticipation. He needed to touch base with his contacts, ensure the Vegas neutralization was indeed complete and stable before he focused entirely on his personal mission. And he needed to formulate a loose plan for the proposal.
Remy nodded, already pulling out her phone. "And I need to research the exact location of the largest souvenir shop. I have a feeling Betsy needs a tiny, glittery Vegas hat to commemorate her sacrifice for our love." She looked up at him, a mischievous grin spreading across her face. "Also, I've got a really good feeling about hitting a casino. I'm feeling lucky, Theo. Dangerously lucky."
Theo's eyes gleamed with amusement. "Oh, I have no doubt, Remy. Dangerously lucky." He loved that about her. Her audacity. Her unshakeable belief in serendipity. It was exactly the kind of chaos that, with the threat now cleared, felt like an exhilarating adventure.
He slipped away to make his calls, confirming the all-clear from his family. The Vegas operation was a success. The path was truly open. His mind raced, not with tactical maneuvers, but with romantic ones. He pictured the ring, safely hidden. He pictured Remy's face, bright with wonder. He knew, with a certainty that settled deep in his bones, that tonight, or tomorrow, very soon, he would ask her. He would ask her to be his wife.
Returning to the RV, he found Remy humming, meticulously polishing a pair of absurdly large, sequined sunglasses she'd bought at a gas station. She looked up, her blue eyes shining with excitement, completely unaware of the life-altering question he was about to pose.
"Theo!" she exclaimed, leaping to her feet and throwing her arms around his neck, pressing a quick, fierce kiss to his lips. Her body, soft and warm, molded against his. "Vegas is going to be amazing! I can feel it!"
Theo held her tight, breathing in her scent, feeling the vibrant hum of her energy against him. He smiled, a genuine, unguarded smile reserved only for her. "I know, Remy," he murmured, his voice deep with promise. "I know." The glittering lights of the Strip beckoned, and within their embrace, a future, bright and wild and utterly theirs, was waiting to begin.