My muscles lock one by one.
She unravels further, her words tumbling out with raw terror she doesn't try to hide. "You're going to hate me, Brax. Or you're going to bail. Those are the only outcomes. Either option ruins everything, and it's my own fault."
"Valentina, you're being a bit harsh toward yourself," I offer.
She shakes her head violently. "No, this is my fault. I announced we were in love and getting married. I set you up for a lifetime of resentment, and I know it. So don't stand there and pretend you're fine."
Her chest rises and falls in rapid, uneven breaths. Her hands tremble at her sides. The woman who commands an arena with a single look is no longer in the room.
Something tightens viciously in my stomach. I move toward her slowly. I softly command, "Stop spiraling."
"Don't tell me?—"
I take her shoulders, anchoring her. "Valentina."
Her lips press together, tight and pale.
I mumble, "I've never seen you like this."
"I'm just being honest."
"You're being—" I stop myself before the wrong word fires this higher. "You're letting your mind run."
"It's not running. It's accurate."
I shake my head. "Minx. You're wrong."
"I'm not."
I insist, "You are."
"How? Tell me how I'm wrong, Brax."
"Well, I'm here, so I'm not bailing on you," I point out.
She blinks harder. Her eyes turn glassy. She argues, "Then you're just going to resent me for eternity."
Something in me snaps clean in half. Before I think it through or weigh the consequences, I drop to one knee right in front of her.
She stutters, "Wh-what are you doing?"
I slip my hand into my jacket pocket, pull out the velvet box, and open it. A massive square diamond sits in a platinum claw setting. It's cut so sharply it captures every glint of light. Rows of smaller diamonds surround it. The band is a seamless line of gems, shimmering like frost.
She doesn't move except for her hands trembling against her sides.
Before I can stop myself, a bold, unapologetic declaration comes out of my mouth. "Listen, Minx, I'm not going to hate you. You're the only woman who has ever challenged me, clawed at me, pushed me, and still pulled me in with the same breath."
Her eyes dart from the ring to my face.
I add, "You crashed into my life like a damn hurricane, and somehow everything makes more sense with you in it. So if I'm going to take a seat, then I want you next to me."
She swallows hard. Her breath comes out shallow.
A wave of nerves hit me hard. I try to tease, but it comes out sounding strange. "I guess this is where I ask you to marry me."
Silence crashes through the room. Tension builds to the point my skin crackles.
Her eyes move from me to the ring, back to me, and the unreadable expression on her face slams more anxiety straight through my ribs.
