ARIA'S POV
The box was open.
The ring inside it was perfect and I didn't know how he knew. I had never pointed at anything, never mentioned a preference, never stood in a jewelry shop window and said that one. But it was exactly what I would have chosen. Pear-cut, simple band, clean lines. Nothing performing. Just the stone and the setting doing their job without apology.
It looked like my work.
I didn't know how he knew that either.
Well, He didn't give a speech.
That was the thing. He opened his mouth and what came out was simply true.
"I love you." He held my eyes. "I know I don't deserve to ask this yet." A pause that was not uncertainty, just honesty. "I'm asking anyway." His voice didn't waver. "Will you marry me?"
I didn't plan my answer.
It arrived before I made any decisi
