Chapter 5
1507 Words
Alex’s Point of View
I wake up before the sun is fully up. The room is quiet, the only sound is Melia’s soft breathing next to me.
I roll and lie on my side before propping up my head on my hand, watching her sleep next to me peacefully.
Melia is curled up slightly, her hair a tangled mess on the pillow, her breathing slow and soft.
For a long moment, I just look at her. There is this strange warmth settling over me, something that I haven’t felt in years. Or maybe ever.
But as the warmth spreads, so does the weight of what this means. This is it. This is the moment.
If I give her the chance to walk away, she will. And she won’t come back.
My jaw tightens. No. I am not letting that happen.
I quietly slip out of bed, careful not to wake her. I grab my phone on the table and step out onto the balcony. The air is cool against my skin. I close the door behind me quietly before scrolling to my contacts and hitting call.
The phone rings once before someone answers.
“Sir?”
My assistant, Jared answers groggily.
“Wake up. This is important.”
I say.
“I… yes, sir. I’m up”
“Good. I need you to go to the best jewelry store in the city. Right now, and pick out an engagement ring.”
There are a few minutes of silence.
“An… engagement ring?”
He asks hesitantly.
“Yes.”
I say sharply.
“Don’t make me repeat myself. I want something elegant, something with flowers or vines. No cheap crap. And I need it here in
thirty minutes.”
“Thirty minutes? Sir, that’s…”
He begins but I cut him off.
“Make it happen. I will text you the address.”
“Yes, sir. Of course.”
He says and I quickly end the call. I send him her address before locking my phone. For a second, I just stand there, staring out at the early morning skyline. My pulse is steady. My mind is clear.
This is happening. I am really doing this.
Thirty minutes later, I see his car pulling up. I make my way back inside, and slip on some before quietly making my way out of the room and towards the front door.
“Thank you, Jared.”
I say as I take the small velvet box from his hand. He nods his head, staring at me hesitantly.
“What?”
I ask, arching a brow at him and he sighs.
“Sir, are you sure about this?”
He asks, and I nod my head, a small smile tugging at the corners of my mouth.
“I have never been more sure of anything in my life, Jared. Thank you again, I’ll see you on Monday.”
I say before closing the door. I turn and walk back to her bedroom. I sit down on the edge of the bed, before opening the box. The ring glints faintly in the early light and I smile down at it.
“Perfect.”
I murmur, closing it carefully before making my way to my jacket, tugging it into my pocket.
I slip off my pants again, and I lay back down next to Melia again.
I watch her again and she begins to stir.
A small frown creases between her brows as she slowly opens her eyes. She doesn’t realize that I am watching her. She moves quietly, slowly sitting up, as if trying not to make a sound.
I fight back a smile. She is actually trying to sneak out.
She grabs her clothes, slips them on, and tiptoes towards the door.
And just as her hand touches the doorknob, I decide to speak.
“Melia.”
She freezes, her hand hovering mid-air.
I let the silence stretch for a second before I speak again.
“Where are you going?”
I make my way to the edge of the bed. She turns around slowly, her shoulders a little stiff.
“Hi.”
She says quietly.
“Hi?”
I repeat, arching a brow at her.
“Seriously? Is that all I get? Just hi?”
She shifts on her feet, fidgeting with her fingers nervously.
“Good morning.”
She adds quickly.
“Good morning.”
I repeat after her slowly, leaning back on my hands. I watch her throughout our entire conversation, fighting against myself not to smirk at her nervousness.
"You have to marry me, Melia."
I say firmly and she stares at me.
“This is insane.”
She says, shaking her head and I shrug at her.
“Maybe, but last night happened. And I’m not letting you pretend that it didn’t.”
“Alex…”
“You have to marry me, Lia.”
I cut her off, not giving her a chance to finish her sentence.
“This is insane, Alex. You can’t really expect me to marry you because of last night.”
“Of course I can.”
She rubs her forehead.
“I don’t know. This is a lot.”
“It is. But pretending last night didn’t happen isn’t the answer.”
“I wasn’t pretending.”
“Then what are you doing?”
She opens her mouth, then closes it again.
“I don’t know.”
“I do.”
I say, stepping closer, and she takes a small step back.
“Alex…”
“No, just let me talk.”
I cut her off, shaking my head. Her lips press together, but she nods.
I guess it is now or never.
I take a deep breath before speaking.
“I have been in love with you for years, Lia.”
Her eyes widen, but I hold up my hand, stopping her from speaking.
“For years I have watched you be with him. For years, I smiled and pretended that it didn’t tear me apart every time you held his hand. Every time you laughed with him. Every time you looked at him like he hung the moon.”
“Alex…”
She says, her voice soft, but I shake my head once again.
“Just let me finish before you speak. I kept my mouth shut because it was him. My best friend. And because you deserved to be happy. Even if it wasn’t with me.”
She swallows hard.
“Why are you telling me this now?”
“Because last night changed everything.”
I say, stepping closer to her.
“Because, for the first time, I had the chance to hold you in my arms. And I don’t want to go back to pretending that that isn’t what I want.”
Her breathing quickens.
“Alex…”
“I am not asking for time. I am not asking to wait and see where this goes. I am asking you to stay.”
Her eyes drop to the ring again, and she sucks in a sharp breath.
“Oh my god, Alex. This is nuts.”
She says, shaking her head. I take another step closer.
“I know. It is absolutely insane. But I know what I want, and it is you. I have never wanted anything more in my life. So, marry me, Lia.”
“Alex…”
“I have spent years loving you in silence. Years thinking I would never get this chance. But I have it now. And I am not letting it go.”
I say quietly. She stares at me, completely still.
I look straight into her eyes, grabbing her hand.
“I love you. And I am not saying this just because of last night. I am saying it because it has been true for a long time. And last night… last night made me realize that I want to spend the rest of my life with you.”
Silence stretches between us.
Her hand shakes slightly as she tucks a strand of hair behind her ear.
“This is insane.”
She whispers again and I nod my head.
“Yeah, but so is pretending that it didn’t happen.”
I say softly. She searches my face, searching for something. I don’t look away. I let her see everything, no jokes, no mask. Just me.
Something in her eyes softens and the panic I saw a moment ago starts to fade away. I step even closer, our chests almost touching, gripping her hand tightly.
“Lia… Say yes.”
I whisper. She takes a shaky breath.
“Alex…”
“Say yes. Please.”
Her lips tremble slightly before she speaks.
“Yes.”
She whispers softly. I blink at her in surprise.
“What?”
She lets out a small, breathless laugh.
“I said yes.”
She repeats softly. For a second, I just stare at her, not entirely believing what I just heard.
Then a slow smile spreads across my face.
She said yes.
- Writer
