After that heart-to-heart with Erica, something suddenly clicked for me—I couldn't keep punishing myself for Caesar's mistakes.
I figured Elvis would be happy to hear from me when I called. I never expected that a privileged prince would have his voice trembling the moment he picked up.
His car was parked downstairs, and he stood in the evening breeze with his arms open wide. I smiled and ran straight into his embrace.

We kissed right there in public, completely oblivious to everyone around us. Passersby stopped to watch and actually cheered for us.
Elvis looked down at me and sighed. "Miranda, if I hadn't heard from you soon, I was about to come find you myself.
"I regretted everything by the third day. You'd just gotten out of a relationship like that, so it's completely normal not to want to jump into another one. I was too impatient, and I shouldn't have pressured you that way.
"I was thinking that if keeping things casual for now would make you more comfortable, then we could do that. I didn't want to lose the woman I love because of some ridiculous pride, like Caesar did."
I'd be lying if I said I wasn't moved after hearing Elvis's thought process. My call today had even interrupted an apology dinner he'd been preparing.
Elvis pressed his forehead against mine, his voice low and rough as he spoke. "Miranda, I don't know what's happening to me, but just thinking about you makes me lose all control."

I stood on my tiptoes and kissed his forehead. "Me too."
Elvis's gaze was burning, seeming like he wanted to melt me on the spot.
"So what are we now?" he asked.
I looked down, pretending to think it over. When I saw his hands trembling slightly with nerves, I decided to stop teasing him.

"My boyfriend, of course!"
After that day, Elvis and I were officially together. He never made me feel insecure, and I lived surrounded by love every single day.
I suddenly remembered something Erica had told me once.
She had told me that when looking for someone to love, I should find someone who was genuinely good, not just someone who was good to me. That was because people who were only good to me could take that kindness away someday.
Unfortunately, I was so head over heels for Caesar back then that I didn't get what she meant. After getting together with Elvis, Erica said I immediately became radiant and looked even more attractive than before.
"That's what love does—it's like tending a flower. The more beautiful you bloom, the more it shows how well Elvis loves you."
She had teased me at one of our get-togethers. I smiled and didn't argue with her.
"So, how is it? Are you happy with Elvis?"
Erica looked at me curiously, and I nodded.
"You're happy, I'm happy, and Elvis is happy. Caesar's probably the only one who's miserable. Just thinking about how miserable he's going to be makes me absolutely thrilled!" she said gleefully.
I laughed at Erica's childishness before saying, "Let's not bring up Caesar anymore."
In that moment, I was surprised that I could say those words so calmly, as if that person had nothing to do with me anymore. My heart didn't stir even the slightest bit because of him.
So, when Elvis took Caesar's call, I was half-asleep and didn't stop Elvis from being provocative. If anything, seeing this occasionally childish side of Elvis made him even more endearing.