I open my mouth to continue, but before I can get another word out, Max comes barreling through the sand, Niko right behind him, both of them heading straight for the castle.
“Blyat!” I curse under my breath, but it’s too late. Max, in all his excitement, dives headfirst into the sandcastle, sending sand flying in every direction. Niko’s right behind him, laughing as Max digs furiously into the sand like he’s on a mission.
“Max! Niko! No, no, no!” I shout, but neither of them listens.
Max’s paws are a blur as he uncovers the hidden ring box. Before I can react, the damn dog grabs the box in his mouth and takes off running.
Wren blinks, stunned. “What the hell…?” She’s staring at the destroyed sandcastle, completely oblivious to what’s going on. She still doesn’t know.
Luka’s laughing so hard he’s doubled over, tears running down his face. “This is… too good,” he wheezes between gasps. “Max,suka, you’re killing me!”
Blyat!I glare at him, but there’s no stopping the chaos now. “Luka, not helping.”
Wren looks from me to Max, who’s now sprinting down the beach with Niko in tow, both of them covered in sand. “Wait… was there something important in there?” she asks, her voice half confused, half suspicious.
I rub my face, feeling the heat rise to my neck.This is not how it’s supposed to go.“Yeah. There was.”
“Wait,” Wren’s eyes widen, realization dawning, “don’t tell me…”
Before she can finish her sentence, I’m already chasing after Max. “Max! Drop it!Suka, get back here!”
Sophia’s holding onto Niko now, trying to calm him down, while Luka’s still laughing like an idiot. Max, however, thinks this is the best game ever and just keeps running, the box dangling from his mouth.
Finally, after what feels like an eternity, I catch up to him. “Give it here, boy,” I say, panting as I reach for the box. Max gives me a proud little bark and drops it at my feet, tail wagging like he’s just saved the day.
I grab the box, wipe off the sand, and turn back to Wren, who’s standing there, arms crossed, watching the whole scene unfold. She’s still got that look on her face, the one that says she’s not sure whether to laugh or punch me.
I walk back toward her, my heart hammering in my chest. I can hear Luka chuckling in the background, and Alex is standing by Wren’s side, his wide eyes bouncing between us.
“Papa has a supwise!”
Finally, I drop to one knee, holding the now slightly sandy ring box in front of her. “Wren Davis,” I say, my voice a little rougher than I planned, “would you marry me?”
For a second, everything goes quiet. Even the waves seem to stop. Wren just stares at me, her mouth slightly open. I can’t read her expression, but I can feel the tension building.
And then she shakes her head, taking a step back. “No.”
“No?” I repeat, stunned, still kneeling there like an idiot.
She runs a hand through her wet hair, looking torn. “Dimitri… I… I can’t. Not like this. Not now.”
I’m still frozen, the ring box in my hand, Luka’s laughter fading into the background. This is definitely not how I expected it to go.
Epilogue
Wren
3 years later
Just act normal, Wren. Don’t freak the fuck out.
The auditorium buzzes with excitement as I adjust my graduation cap for the hundredth time. Three years of busting my ass, and here I am, about to get my Associate Degree in Nursing.
Fuck yeah, I did it. Maybe I ain’t so bad after all.
“Momma, you look pretty!” Alex’s voice cuts through the chatter. He’s six now, all gangly limbs and mischievous grin. Looking so handsome in the suit.
I ruffle his hair, grinning. “Thanks, kiddo. You clean up nice yourself.”
