“It’s not an argument, doll.”
Melina slid back into the proper position in her seat, crossing her arms over her chest. “What were you trying to get at then?”
A bit of nervousness settled in Mac’s gut.
He wasn’t entirely sure why.
He adored this woman.
Loved her entirely.
Melina was everything, and more, he could have ever wanted in the person he chose to spend the rest of his life with. But they were driving in a car, going forty across a bridge, with cars all around.
It wasn’t romantic.
Would she even want that?
Roses, a big night out, and all eyes on her when he asked?
Was that Melina’s thing?
Mac didn’t think so—he didn’t think this was exactly right, either.
He felt silly.
“Mac?” Melina asked when he stayed quiet.
“What do you want after today?”
“I don’t know what you’re asking me.”
Mac sighed, and ran a hand through his hair. “You know, like kids or do you want to go back to school?”
Melina quieted for all of three seconds before she said softly, “Kids.”
He wasn’t sure if that was a confirmative reply or not.
“Yes, you do, or no, you—”
“Maybe … someday,” she interrupted. “Is this about the whole wedding thing?”
Mac’s head whipped to the side, and he took in the confusion on Melina’s features before his gaze was back on the road. “What wedding thing?”
“Your mom said something about a wedding—Neeya mentioned a wedding. Is there something going on that I don’t know?”
Somehow, Mac managed to laugh that off without the strain in his voice showing too much. “No, that is just people voicing their wishes.”
“Oh.”
A bit of sadness colored up the word.
Mac couldn’t have missed it if he tried.
That sign he’d been waiting for—the one that told him Melina was ready for that question, if he decided to ask it—was glaring at him right in the face.
“But it’s not just what they want,” Mac said, giving her another look.
Melina was already back to staring out the window, her attention gone from him. He knew that was just her way of hiding her disappointment. “It’s fine, Mac. It’s not something people do just to please other people.”
“Melina.”
She didn’t look at him.
Mac reached out to touch her thigh.
Again, nothing.
“Doll,” he said, firmer than before.
Melina blew out a breath. “What?”
“Would you look at me?”
“For what? There’s nothing to say.”
But there was—and hurt filled her voice.
She could hide a lot of things from everyone else, but the woman couldn’t hide a fucking thing from him.
Never.
“Melina.”
When she looked away from the window, Mac slowed his car to a stop, forcing the vehicles behind him to stop, too. Horns honked, and cars tried to maneuver out around their car to get past.
It didn’t work, and it only left them gridlocked in a traffic jam on the middle of the bridge.
Mac didn’t give a fuck.
He was far too busy staring at his girl.
“We should move,” Melina said as someone else honked their horn.
“I have other shit to do.”
Melina rolled her pretty brown eyes. “I wouldn’t want you to do it—ask me—just because someone else wanted you to.”
“There is no one else who ever had any opinion to voice about you that was important to me—except you, that is.”
“Mac—”
He pulled the black velvet case from his pocket, quieting whatever she was getting ready to say. Opening his palm flat, he held the jewelry box up for her to see.
The horns kept honking.
Cars kept inching forward.
Mac never moved.
“I’ve had it for months,” he told her, “just sitting there waiting …”
Melina’s gaze flicked between the velvet box and Mac’s eyes. “Waiting for what?”
“Apparently, nothing—I was being stupid and overthinking shit.”
Humor danced on her beautiful features. “Oh?”
“I do that a lot with you. I never really know what you’re thinking, even if I act like I do. But I love that, doll, because you keep me on my toes. You make me better—you’ve got my back.”
“Always,” Melina whispered.
Mac popped open the top of the velvet case, showcasing a princess-cut, two-carat diamond nestled in a crown of smaller stones on top of a white-gold band. Melina chewed on her bottom lip, a smile growing as she took the engagement ring in.
“You are—by far—the best thing to have ever graced my life. And I am—by far—the luckiest man because you picked me. Marry me, Melina.”
“That didn’t sound like a question. You’re supposed to ask, Mac.”
“I didn’t really have to ask,” he murmured.
Melina met his gaze again. “Because you knew I’d say yes.”
“You still have to say it, doll.”
“Was there ever any doubt?”
Mac grinned. “Not now.”
Melina just stared at him, quiet and still.
“Do you want me to make a bigger show of it?” he asked. “Shout it from the rooftops—better yet, the roof of the car?”